Meet the heads: Tony Richards, Dr Alison Neill, Guy Cowper, Clifton High School
The school is now lead by the triumvirate of Dr Alison Neill (head of upper school), Tony Richards (head of lower school) and Guy Cowper (director of operations) forming a team that is leading the school through an exciting period of development, and its diamond-edge educational model of having separated gender teaching a research has shown this to be more effective.
One major change in the last year is to make the school co-educational throughout. The junior and preparatory schools have been co-educational for a few years, but this year has seen boys coming into the school in years seven, nine and the sixth form. Boys from years seven to nine will be taught separately for English, maths, science and modern languages, but benefit from mixed teaching in all other subjects. This is known as the diamond-edge model, and Clifton High School is unique in Bristol for offering this.
Dr Neill says: "Boys add a new dimension and vibrancy to the life of the upper school. They have become involved in all aspects of school and been welcomed wholeheartedly. It has been heart-warming to watch boys and girls interact in a mature and supportive fashion and it can only add to the learning experience."
The new executive has presided over an excellent set of public examination results. There was a 100 per cent pass rate at GCSE and A'Level.
Some students reached county and national level in their sports, some are trained life-guards while others have taken the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. There are Sea Cadets and, an opera singer and gifted drama students.
Clifton High School is at the very cutting edge of 21st century education. It and strives to respond to the challenges these exciting times have for our young people.
