- The founder and first headmaster John Percival, along with other forward-thinking individuals, established Clifton High School in 1877 with the wish that his daughter Bessie would gain an education.
- Clifton was an all-girls school until boys began to be admitted to its preparatory school in 1994, and in 2009 it became fully coeducational.
- The school upholds its founding principles of an educational environment free from discrimination and religious dogma. Classes are small, with just 12 pupils in senior and sixth form groups.
- It is the only school in the south west to utilise the diamond model of education: in this case, boys and girls are taught separately for English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics and games in years 7-9, then are taught together from years 10-13.
- Rose Day is one of the school’s oldest traditions, held at Bristol Cathedral annually in June to celebrate the achievements of its senior students. Former pupils, staff and governors become Clifton Rosarians.
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