"Boys and girls are as different above the neck as they are below it." said Dr JoAnn Deake, PhD, an acclaimed educator and psychologist with more than 20 years experience helping children develop into competent and confident adults. 

Close attention has been paid at Clifton High School to a national shift in the thinking of many educationalists that boys and girls learning together at certain ages and in certain, identified subjects but apart in others, has far-reaching benefits both socially and academically for both genders.

The curriculum at Clifton High for Years 7-9 is specifically tailored to meet the adolescent needs of each gender. From the ages of 11-13, boys and girls benefit from learning in single sex classes for certain subjects such as mathematics, English, ICT, the sciences and modern languages while still benefitting from mixed viewpoints and interactions in other subjects where they are taught together. All subjects return to being fully co-educational from Year 10 onwards for their chosen examination subjects. Clifton High School is unique in Bristol in offering this Diamond Edge Model of education.

Sixth form students choose from a wide range of subjects and the timetable is structured around their choices. The excellent tutorial system provides guidance and encouragement as students follow their academic interests and prepare to move on to next stage of their education with confidence.