ACADEMIC
A Level Examinations
Clifton High School’s broad A level curriculum offering is exemplary.
Twenty-seven subjects, alongside a range of additional ancillary courses and the bespoke ‘Above and Beyond’ programme, cater to our students’ individual interests and talents.
We support students in their wider academic progress, to include subjects such as Sociology, Psychology, Economics and Politics in our comprehensive A level provision, together with complementary subjects that include Core Mathematics. The majority of our students choose to study three A levels and up to two additional ancillaries, so their academic experience is personally tailored to their future pathway whilst affording breadth and variety.
Experienced and knowledgeable subject teachers, small class sizes and tutor groups ensure a high level of personal support for each student on their individual academic journey. Whether pursuing degrees like Medicine or Engineering, competitive Degree-level apprenticeships, or Art Foundation courses, our A level offering enables students to embark on future study at their first-choice university or higher education college.
A Level Outcomes
We are proud of the academic outcomes achieved by our students, whereby most of our students are able to access their first choice university. In 2026, 63% of A level grades were A–B, with more than 33% awarded at A–A*. More than 20% of students achieved the equivalent of three A grades or higher.
Academic achievement is central to our education, yet at Clifton High we believe overall success is about much more than results. We value the young people our students become and how they leave us with confidence, curiosity, compassion, and ready to make their mark on the world.
Excelsior Forums
Excelsior Forums provide a weekly opportunity for our most able learners to extend their thinking, broaden their horizons and embrace intellectual ‘stretch and challenge’ opportunities.
Covering a diverse range of academic, sporting and creative topics, Excelsior Forums welcome guest speakers who bring professional expertise and first-hand industry insight to our students. These sessions offer valuable perspectives on a wide range of industries, career pathways and future opportunities, encouraging students to develop their knowledge, curiosity and critical thinking while inspiring them to consider new possibilities beyond the classroom.
Forums are compulsory for Sixth Form Academic Scholars in their A level subject areas. They are also open to all students allowing them to also take advantage of what this programme offers.
The 4Cs: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication
and Collaboration
The 4cs are developed throughout a student’s learning journey at Clifton High School and are embedded across many subjects rather than confined to one area of the curriculum.
Whether a student is conducting scientific research, debating an issue, designing a creative project or exploring digital innovation, they are encouraged to question, imagine, express and communicate with others. By applying these skills in our Skills for Tomorrow programme, students develop the adaptability, independence and resilience required for a lifelong love of learning.
At Clifton High School, we understand that technology continues to transform the world, but we also believe that human qualities remain at the heart of our successful education. We place emphasis on learning with consciousness as well as social and emotional intelligence, all whilst encouraging students to be empathetic to others, understand their own strengths and realise individual brilliance.
Students in this generation are navigating an increasingly interconnected world. They are developing the ability to understand and communicate with people from different backgrounds, cultures, traditions and heritages. It is through projects included in the Skills for Tomorrow programme that they learn to consider multiple perspectives, discuss real-world scenarios and communicate with empathy and respect, all with an open-minded approach to being responsible members of a global society.
Skills for Tomorrow
At Clifton High School, our education prepares students not only for opportunities of today, but for the possibilities of tomorrow. Alongside academic knowledge with a focus on achievement, we equip our students with the skills, confidence and understanding they need to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world. We recognise that future success will depend on what students know, how they think, communicate, collaborate, adapt and apply knowledge.
Our innovative Skills for Tomorrow programme brings together knowledge and skills from across the curriculum to support students in their understanding of how to respond to the world around them. Developed by our Head of Transformation and AI, with co-development from the University of Glasgow, the programme draws upon extensive inter-disciplinary research and has been presented at both the Council of Europe Digital Citizenship Conference and UNESCO Headquarters.
Through the Skills for Tomorrow programme, students explore the defining opportunities and challenges of their generation, from artificial intelligence (AI) and digital citizenship to sustainability, globalisation, wellbeing and social responsibility.
AI is already transforming the way we learn, work and communicate. At Clifton High School, students develop an informed and responsible understanding of AI, exploring how technology works, what it can do and how it is implicated by ethical, social and environmental issues.
Sixth Form students consider topics including AI literacy, prompt engineering, data ownership, privacy, AI ethics, safety and the future of digital tools in the workplace. They are encouraged to question, evaluate and make informed decisions to develop digital confidence, judge analytically and engage responsibly with emerging technologies.
The challenges of the future rarely fit within the boundaries of a single subject. Yet, at Clifton High School, students may explore real-world issues within the Skills for Tomorrow programme. They work across disciplines to investigate authentic problems and develop practical solutions using design and critical thinking as well as creative problem-solving skills. It is important for them to understand how their learning can have a real-world impact.
Our Head of Higher Education and Careers provides individual student guidance throughout their Sixth Form journey and our annual Careers Fair helps every student identify and pursue the pathway that is right for them.
Students at Clifton High School are encouraged to look beyond the classroom to consider varying perspectives and understand their place within both their local community and the wider world. They see how they can contribute to positive change through cultural, global and sustainability learning and engage in community projects, charitable activities and initiatives that may help them discover international opportunities.
Extended Project Qualification
In addition to A levels, students may also complete an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This is intended to stretch a student's research and investigative skills within an area of particular interest to them. An area of study is often selected that is complementary to the subject they are considering at degree level and that, in itself, extends A level learning.
The EPQ is highly valued by universities as it demonstrates a student’s ability to plan, research and write autonomously, and in some cases it can facilitate university entry.
Clifton High School intends to facilitate all of the subjects listed above. However, if demand is low for a particular subject in any given year, we may review the offering.
Alternative subjects may be available through sponsorship, and we kindly request parents to contact us directly for further information and clarification.
