Admissions Process | Clifton High School Bristol

Children typically join the Hive Pre-School shortly after their third birthday, ideally at the start of a half-term. As entry at this stage is tailored to each child and their family, we invite parents to book a personal tour with our Admissions Team to observe The Hive on a typical School day.  During this visit, parents will have the opportunity to meet teachers and our young learners, explore the facilities in which they learn and gain a genuine sense of our vibrant environment.  

We encourage families to book a visit as early as possible to secure their preferred date and time.  Please book your visit here.

If you would like to proceed with a registration application after your visit, please contact the Admissions Team, who will guide you through the process, provide an offer pack and request an acceptance deposit of £480 along with the relevant paperwork.   

Please note that an offer of a place will be conditional upon the successful completion of the requirements outlined in steps 3 and 4.

Closer to your child's entry date and following their third birthday, families who have secured a place at The Hive Pre-School will be invited to attend an Assessment Morning. This provides an opportunity for our staff to get to know your child in a relaxed and informal setting, alongside current children.  

The Assessment Morning helps both families and the School ensure that The Hive environment is the right fit for your child. It also enables teachers to observe your child’s development in relation to the age-appropriate Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) milestones outlined in the Government's 'Development Matters' framework. For further information, please refer to the Admissions Policy linked here. 

With parental consent, we also request a confidential reference from your child's current nursery or registered childcare provider.  This allows us to build a fuller understanding of your child’s individual needs and supports a smooth transition into The Hive. 

Following a successful Assessment Morning and upon receipt of a satisfactory reference, the Admissions Team will formally confirm your child's place at The Hive.   

In the unlikely event that the outcome of the Assessment Morning or the reference is not deemed satisfactory, we will discuss this with the family, and, in such circumstances, any deposit paid will be refunded in full.   

Before starting at The Hive, children will be invited to attend two Taster Morning sessions to help support a smooth and positive transition into School life.  Throughout the process, our friendly Admissions Team will be on hand to offer guidance, answer any questions and provide families with all the necessary information required. This will include advice on purchasing uniform items and practical arrangements for your child’s start date.  

We understand that starting pre-school is a significant milestone for children and their families. Our experienced and nurturing staff work hard to ensure that every child feels happy, settled and supported from the very beginning. We are confident that our new pupils quickly embrace their new environment, establish routines and build new friendships.   

Once your child has officially joined The Hive, their class teacher will become your primary point of contact. 

We warmly welcome families to visit Clifton High School, either through a personalised tour with a member of our Admissions Team or by attending one of our Open Events.  These bespoke visits provide an excellent opportunity to experience our vibrant School community, meet current pupils and staff, explore our facilities, and gain a deeper understanding of life in the Infant School. They also offer valuable time to discuss your child’s individual needs and ask any questions you may have about the admissions process.   

We encourage families to enquire at the earliest opportunity, as this enables us to provide the most suitable date and time for you.  Please book your visit here. 

Upon registration, children are invited to experience life at Clifton High School and become familiar with their new environment. 

For entry into Reception, children enjoy a Stay and Play session where they will have the opportunity to explore, learn and play alongside current pupils. 

For entry into Years 1 and 2, children will be invited to attend a Taster Day, where they will experience a typical School day, meet future classmates, and take part in a range of classroom activities. During the visit, the class teacher will spend some informal one-to-one time with your child to gain an understanding of their current abilities in English and Mathematics. 

At this stage of the admissions process, we will also seek your consent to request a confidential reference from your child's current pre-school or school. For applicants to Years 1 and 2, we will additionally request a copy of your child's most recent school report to help us gain a fuller understanding of their academic progress and pastoral needs.

Parents are given the opportunity to meet with our Head of Infant and Junior School, alongside our wider team. At this time, we would offer individual guidance, provide information and discuss all aspects of School life so you have the confidence that the Infant School is the right environment for your child. 

The final stage is for our Admissions Team to send an offer pack, formally inviting your family to join our community and celebrating your decision to entrust us with your child's education. Once you have accepted our offer, you will be asked to complete the acceptance paperwork and pay the required deposit to secure your child's place. 

Once enrolled at Clifton High School, children will be invited to attend our fun and engaging Move on Up Morning during the Summer Term, while parents will be welcomed to our Year Ahead Information Events. These opportunities help families become familiar with Infant School life, meet key members of staff, and learn more about the exciting opportunities available as part of our community. 

Our friendly Admissions Team is always on hand to support you throughout the process and is happy to guide you through all aspects of School life, including uniform purchases and arrangements for the start of term, or your child’s individual start date. Once your child is welcomed into the Infant School, their class teacher will become your primary point of contact. 

Once enrolled at Clifton High School, children will be invited to attend a fun and engaging Moving-Up Morning during the Summer Term, while parents will be welcomed to a Year Ahead Information Evening. These events provide an excellent opportunity for families to meet key members of staff, connect with other parents, and gain valuable insight into the opportunities and experiences that come with being part of the Clifton High School community. 

Our friendly Admissions Team remains on hand to support you throughout the process and is happy to guide you on all aspects of School life, including uniform purchases and arrangements for the start of term, or your child’s individual start date. Once your child is welcomed into the Junior School, their class teacher will become your primary point of contact. 

Children who attend a Year 7 Experience Day will also be invited to sit Entrance Examinations in January.  

Our Entrance Examinations are designed to help us understand each child's strengths and potential, providing a fair and comprehensive assessment of their abilities. The assessments currently cover English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and are set internally by Clifton High School's Heads of English and Mathematics. We do not provide past papers in advance.  

All candidates are automatically considered for an Academic Scholarship, with decisions informed by their Entrance Examination results, school references and current school reports. At this stage, families may also wish for their child to be considered for a Music, Sport or Individual Brilliance Scholarship or a Bursary, which is awarded based on an assessment of household financial circumstances. We will also contact your child's current school to request a confidential reference. 

Candidates applying for Music or Sport Scholarships will be invited to attend their respective assessments during the first two weeks of January.  

Please be aware that applicants for a Music Scholarship should typically be working at Grade 3 or above on at least one instrument, while Sport Scholarship candidates are generally expected to be performing at county level or above in at least one sport. Candidates shortlisted for an Academic Scholarship will be invited to attend an interview with the Head in January.  

Those applying for an Individual Brilliance Scholarship will be asked to submit a portfolio or other supporting evidence demonstrating their particular talent, achievement or skill by January. This forms part of our holistic scholarship process, enabling us to recognise and celebrate pupils who demonstrate exceptional academic potential and a commitment to making the most of the opportunities available at Clifton High School. 

After completing our admissions process, successful candidates will receive a formal offer letter from the Admissions Team at the end of January, recognising their achievements and warmly inviting them to join us.  

Entry into Year 7 is a competitive process and, where places cannot be offered immediately, candidates will be placed on a waiting list, with priority determined by the outcomes of the Entrance Examinations.  

We hope that you will choose to accept our offer and begin the next stage of your child's educational journey with us as a valued member of the Clifton High School family. To secure your child's place, you will be asked to complete the acceptance paperwork and submit the required deposit. 

Once officially enrolled at Clifton High School, children will be invited to attend Six Mix, their first transition event, while parents will be welcomed to a Year Ahead Information Meeting. These occasions provide an excellent opportunity for families to get to know one another, build connections within the School community, and gain a deeper understanding of the many opportunities and experiences available at Clifton High School. 

Our friendly Admissions Team will continue to support you throughout the transition and is always happy to answer any questions you may have. They can provide guidance on all aspects of School life, including uniform purchases and arrangements for your child's start date. Once your child joins the School, their Form Tutor will become your primary point of contact, helping to ensure a smooth and successful start to Senior School life. 

We warmly invite you to attend an Open Event, especially our Sixth Form Open Evening, or a private tour of the School and Walters Sixth Form Centre. Either of these opportunities allows you to meet our current students, specialist teachers and tutors and to experience a true sense of life at Clifton High School. Book here. 

At the Sixth Form Open Evening, detailed information about A level subject choices and our academic curriculum is presented by our Head of Sixth Form, Heads of Department and our dedicated Sixth Form Tutors.  

For families considering entry into the Sixth Form, current Year 11 pupils together with prospective entrants are invited to attend a Sixth Form Experience Day in November of the preceding year. This provides an exc,ellent opportunity for children to enjoy a range of taster A level lessons and gain insight into Sixth Form life at Clifton High.  

If your child is considering joining the Sixth Form from another school and is unable to attend the Experience Day, our Admissions Team may arrange a personalised tour and Taster Day at a date and time that is convenient. They will be paired with a current student who is studying their preferred A level subjects, giving them a sense of what life will look like for them at Clifton High School. 

Scholarships at Clifton High School are designed to recognise exceptional talent, potential and commitment to a student’s chosen discipline, which should be one of their A level subjects, Music or Sport. Applications for a scholarship in the Sixth Form may be made upon registration, and by writing to the Head for consideration.  

Thereafter, the Admissions Team will update individuals on the interview process, detailed below.  

Non-Scholarship applicants will be invited to attend an interview with both the Head and Head of Sixth Form, typically on an evening in January, with alternative dates available upon request. 

Scholarship applicants will be invited to attend a Scholarship Interview Evening, typically on an evening in January, with alternative dates available upon request. As part of the scholarship assessment process, candidates will be interviewed by the relevant Head of Department for their chosen subject or discipline. For practical subjects such as the Creative Arts, applicants will be asked to present a portfolio of work. Music candidates should be working at Grade 5 standard or above on at least one instrument and will be asked to perform two contrasting pieces on their principal instrument. Sports candidates should be competing at county level or above in at least one sport and be able to demonstrate both sporting achievement and commitment to their discipline. 

Following the interview process, our Admissions Team will send offers to successful candidates recognising their achievement in securing a place in our Sixth Form and formally inviting them to join our community.  

Upon receipt of an offer, the decision lies with the family in the hope that you choose to accept your place and embark on a journey through Clifton High School’s Sixth Form.  

Once a place has been accepted and students are enrolled in the Sixth Form, they will be invited to attend our Sixth Form Transition Day, which offers the opportunity to meet and get to know future classmates through team-building activities and social experiences.

Parents will also be invited to our Year Ahead Information Evening, where our Head of Sixth Form and the Year 12 Tutor Team will provide an overview of life in the Sixth Form, outlining academic opportunities, independence and the characteristics that form the Sixth Form experience.