Clifton College Website

Head Master's Newsletter

Mr Mark Moore, the Head Master of Clifton College Upper School and Head of College, writes a regular newsletter about developments in the Upper School.

Archive...

Lent 2007

The Lent Term is, like a 400m race, something of a sustained sprint and we have proceeded at a relentless pace throughout. The pupils have been quite magnificent in achieving so much and so well. They thoroughly deserve a rest. No change there then. Indeed many things remain the same. More on change in a moment, but first, what remains the same is the extraordinarily high standards achieved across a wide range of activities.

During the Christmas holidays ten pupils secured offers of places at Oxford and Cambridge, a figure that stacks up very well against similar schools, and many have really good offers - and therefore choice - from other excellent Universities too. From now on the focus for all pupils with public exams next term has to be on maximising their achievement and I'm sure you will help them settle to the task in the holidays. This year, for the first time, the Fourth Form are taking some modules in Science GCSE. As well as the number of pupils who have excelled themselves in academic work this term, Isabel Sandeman won overall first prize for the most outstanding piece in the Bristol Senior Schools Art Competition with Olivia Robinson and Audrey Liang's work highly commended. It is good to see the high quality of our Art gaining recognition.

Music continues to be an essential part of the fabric of life at Clifton and once again, there have been a succession of outstanding musical events including Faure's Requiem, the concert at St George's, the Rotary Concert, House Music evenings and, of course, Choral Congers on the last night of term, which raised the roof. The Chapel Choir sang in Gloucester Cathedral and are due to go on tour to Venice next term. Our thanks are due to Toby Carden, Head of Woodwind and Brass, who leaves us to take up a post as Housemaster at Tockington Manor. I'm sure we will hear from him regularly - he goes with our best wishes.

The week before half term is House Drama Competition week. South Town treated us to a powerful version of Death of a Salesman and rightly won many of the "Oscars" but there were also very strong performances from Watson's and Worcester in particular. The plays ranged widely in terms of ambition, style and content; there is a huge amount of theatrical talent in the school.

The games programme has been particularly demanding. A full fixture list in both hockey and football, cross country, rowing and rugby 7's, not to mention all of the other minor games such as rackets and fencing, which have tournaments away from Clifton, does put quite a strain on a number of boys in particular, and the school as a whole. We almost certainly need to review how much we are trying to squeeze in, especially in sometimes adverse weather conditions and when there are so many other important events this term, such as GCSE mocks.

That said our sports teams, boys and girls, have met with tremendous success. The 1st VII netball team was unbeaten for the second year in succession and the girls won 39 of 56 fixtures across the school. In football the boys played a total of 69 matches,winning 30 and drawing 12 and there are some very promising footballers, particularly at Colts level who reached the final of the Monmouth 6's tournament. In hockey the lst XI are departing for Barcelona as I write and the U14A side, coached by Oliver Cullen and David Atkinson were unbeaten, which is a first for Clifton hockey at that age group. The U15A's lost only once: boys' hockey is definitely on the up.

With respect to individual sporting successes, Emily Atkinson will play for England U16's hockey over Easter and Jamie Smith is Independent Schools Judo Champion (under 60kg), to name just two.

The Inspection this term highlighted the rich and varied programme of activities as an outstanding feature of Clifton. In addition to our major games there are expeditions such as Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh; Clifton in the Community and the CCF go from strength to strength. The Inspection team also identified the 'tolerant and harmonious' community of Clifton and saw Chapel as integral to that. Eleven Upper School pupils were confirmed by Bishop Lee at Bristol Cathedral earlier this month in addition to all of the regular services and morning chapels that are a key feature of a Clifton education.

And so to change. I am determined to do more to enable our pupils to experience the world of work. To that end, in the last week of the summer term during the Away Days Programme all of the Fifth Form are, as you know, to undertake work experience. There is also a Careers Fair for all of the Lower Sixth on Friday 29 June, run by Jo Greenbury. Last year many parents contributed to this event and Jo would be delighted to hear from any of you who would wish to do so this year. Additionally we have hosted two Institute of Directors' breakfasts this term, organised by Fiona Hallworth, which our pupils have attended and they have been a great success. All change is designed to enhance the quality of the educational experience of the pupils. This term we have refurbished the JCR in the Crypt, reintroduced afternoon tea, and will continue to work hard to provide better quality - and more - food. Further developments in the Upper School this year will include the reopening of Court 4 (next to the Triple Courts) and major redevelopments of the Music and Science Schools.

I have pleasure in enclosing information about this year's Commem Ball and the arrangements for Commem which are a little different this year. I do hope you can all come. I enclose also a letter from the Chairman of Council confirming our commitment to doing everything that we can to keep fee rises as low as possible. The government is, as you know, taking a very keen interest in the financial affairs of Independent Schools, from the OFT enquiry of last year to the recent Charities' Act which will enable government to scrutinize each school's existence as a charity for public benefit. We are working very hard to ensure that we can meet any test of public benefit, particularly through the work of Clifton College Services Limited.

In so many ways the school is moving onwards and upwards. Thank you for your continued support.

With best wishes

Mark and Jo Moore

The Inspection this term highlighted the rich and varied programme of activities as an outstanding feature of Clifton. In addition to our major games there are expeditions such as Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh; Clifton in the Community and the CCF go from strength to strength. The Inspection team also identified the 'tolerant and harmonious' community of Clifton and saw Chapel as integral to that. Eleven Upper School pupils were confirmed by Bishop Lee at Bristol Cathedral earlier this month in addition to all of the regular services and morning chapels that are a key feature of a Clifton education.

And so to change. I am determined to do more to enable our pupils to experience the world of work. To that end, in the last week of the summer term during the Away Days Programme all of the Fifth Form are, as you know, to undertake work experience. There is also a Careers Fair for all of the Lower Sixth on Friday 29 June, run by Jo Greenbury. Last year many parents contributed to this event and Jo would be delighted to hear from any of you who would wish to do so this year. Additionally we have hosted two Institute of Directors' breakfasts this term, organised by Fiona Hallworth, which our pupils have attended and they have been a great success. All change is designed to enhance the quality of the educational experience of the pupils. This term we have refurbished the JCR in the Crypt, reintroduced afternoon tea, and will continue to work hard to provide better quality - and more - food. Further developments in the Upper School this year will include the reopening of Court 4 (next to the Triple Courts) and major redevelopments of the Music and Science Schools.

I have pleasure in enclosing information about this year's Commem Ball and the arrangements for Commem which are a little different this year. I do hope you can all come. I enclose also a letter from the Chairman of Council confirming our commitment to doing everything that we can to keep fee rises as low as possible. The government is, as you know, taking a very keen interest in the financial affairs of Independent Schools, from the OFT enquiry of last year to the recent Charities' Act which will enable government to scrutinize each school's existence as a charity for public benefit. We are working very hard to ensure that we can meet any test of public benefit, particularly through the work of Clifton College Services Limited.

In so many ways the school is moving onwards and upwards. Thank you for your continued support.

With best wishes

Mark and Jo Moore

11 April 2007

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