Clifton College is an all-round school with fantastic music provision, its own dance studio, and a wide array of sports and outdoor activities. Prestigious yet genuinely concerned about the well-being of its pupils, Clifton College offers much more than just a beautiful façade!
Set in Bristol, the college boasts impressive Victorian buildings, a vibrant city location, and beyond that, idyllic countryside. It strives for excellence in all areas — from inspiring teaching and comprehensive pastoral care to a rich programme of sports and leisure. The school’s theatre has a long and successful tradition, and its facilities include, among other things, two of its own libraries.
What we particularly appreciate is the school’s explicit commitment to inclusion — with its own synagogue and an LGBTQ+ club. Mental health is no taboo here; pupils feel able to approach the specially trained staff without hesitation. The school encourages big dreams while keeping pupils grounded — and it shows how much they truly value their time here.
Akademis makes history – A Triple Award-Winning Consultancy (2023, 2024 & 2025) 🏆
Akademis has been recognised three years in a row by StudyTravel for excellence in the education sector:
2025 & 2024: Winners of the StudyTravel Secondary School Award (Best Western European Agency)
2023: Winner of the StudyTravel Star Award
(Best Western European Agency)
The StudyTravel Awards are among the most prestigious honours in international education, recognising outstanding quality, client focus and trusted partnerships. Being the first consultancy ever to win for three consecutive years is something we are deeply proud of. For us, these awards highlight our commitment to offering the very best guidance, personal service and long-term support for families embarking on this exciting journey.
Quick Overview
Age range: 2-18
Number of students: 1148
International students: 15%
Boarders: 35%
Students in Sixth Form: 318
Boarding fees per term:: 17,650 – 18,360 £
The main sports offered alongside traditional team sports: hockey, rugby, netball, cricket
Nearest airports: Bristol Airport (13 km), Cardiff Airport (90 km)
https://www.cliftoncollege.com/
Key Strengths at a Glance
Location in Bristol offers the best of both city and countryside
Excellent facilities for music, theatre, and dance
Open-minded, liberal, and down-to-earth
Two libraries
Clifton College – Photo Highlights
Clifton College in Detail
Community
While maintaining high academic standards, the school never loses sight of broader interests, offering courses in computing, theatre, photography, and personal development. Honesty, tolerance, and kindness are the hallmarks of its community. What’s more, the community extends beyond school life: lifelong friendships, regular reunions, and an active alumni network ensure you never lose touch. You can always count on the support of the school, even long after you’ve left. Among its alumni — though the school does not boast about them — are Olympic hockey champion Lily Owsley and entrepreneur W.O. Bentley.
The Arts
The arts hold an important place here, and creativity is nurtured in every pupil. Clifton College was one of the first schools to have its own theatre, which hosts around 40 productions a year — from School of Rock to Shakespeare. There is also a state-of-the-art dance studio offering classes in almost every style. Music at Clifton enjoys an excellent reputation, with a distinguished music school, numerous ensembles (orchestras, choirs, saxophone group, swing bands, rock bands, and more), and an annual musical. In addition to museum visits and various art clubs, we find it particularly notable that the art curriculum also explores Asian, Egyptian, and Native American art.
Academic Life
Teachers approach a broad range of subjects with enthusiasm and innovation, encouraging pupils to aim high and surpass themselves. In 2021, 69% of A-Level results were A*/A. Subjects range from Latin and Greek to business, design technology, and dance, as well as Mandarin. Art history, philosophy, and computing also feature on the curriculum. Pupils with learning difficulties are supported holistically by a dedicated team of academic and pastoral staff who help them address challenges and flourish. The school also offers two superbly equipped libraries, housing treasures such as a first edition of Newton’s Principia Mathematica.
Sport and Leisure
Rugby for boys and hockey for girls are the flagship sports at Clifton College. In addition to football, athletics, and tennis, pupils can also try more unusual activities like fencing, sailing, shooting, climbing, kayaking, and rowing. Numerous playing fields, a sports centre, and a swimming pool provide ample space for activity. Whether aspiring elite athletes or those less inclined towards sport, every pupil can find something to enjoy. The outdoor programme regularly challenges pupils to grow: survival skills, winter mountaineering, canoeing, rock climbing, and camping trips are all on offer. Weekend activities include horse riding, cinema or theatre visits, community service projects, and even skiing.
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Conclusion – Clifton College
Clifton College is a very versatile boarding school with impressive buildings — yet it is far from the only all-rounder among British boarding schools.
We encourage you to find out more. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for advice. Thanks to our years of close contact with schools, we understand their unique characteristics and can offer you authentic insight.
We are confident that together we will find the right boarding school for your child. We are also happy to advise you on other schools in England. You can find an overview on our Boarding Schools in England page.
Benefit from:
- authentic, first-hand insights
- our excellent relationships with admissions offices
- years of experience in placements
- support with visa questions
What Makes Akademis Stand Out?
- We remain your trusted contact throughout your child’s stay, well beyond the placement process.
- We provide support with guardianship, visa applications and recognition of qualifications within the German school system.
- We offer fully tailored advice. Our school recommendations are unique to each child and can run to 40 pages in length.
- Families receive our 30+ page boarding school guide, packed with practical tips and insights.
- We prepare your child thoroughly for entrance exams and interviews to maximise their chances of success.
- We arrange school visits, ensuring you have the opportunity to experience each school first-hand.
Every boarding school has its own character and ethos. Having personally visited more than 100 schools, we understand these nuances. We also work with schools that do not pay commission, ensuring that our advice remains independent and always in the best interest of your child.
Our roots lie in the UK. For years, we have placed 200–300 families annually into British boarding schools. While our portfolio now includes schools beyond Britain, the UK remains at the heart of what we do.
Our tailored approach results in exceptional acceptance rates. For example, in 2022/23, all seven students we placed at the highly selective Malvern College received offers – a 100% success rate.
We arrange for prospective families to speak with our current students to hear first-hand accounts of life at a UK boarding school.
