Welcome to Clifton College
Clifton College in Bristol is a leading independent UK boarding school and day school, for girls and boys aged 3-18 years.
Welcome to Clifton College A school in which all of the pupils are valued in all that they do and in every aspect of their intellectual, sporting and spiritual lives. (More...)
Mark Moore Head of College
LEARNING ENVIROMENT
French
You might think that learning French is a bit hard, but we have a special teacher who sings songs and plays games with us - it's really fun!
At Butcombe, French is delivered in an interactive style by a specialist teacher, using the fully structured 'La Jolie Ronde' resources. It is offered twice per week, in 20-minute sessions, as an optional extra for children aged 3-6 (Nursery, Reception and Year 1) then as a timetabled subject (35 minutes per week) for children aged 6-8 (Years 2 and 3).
The children enjoy learning French at an age when they are most receptive to assimilating new language, in an unpressurized way using songs, games, flashcards, real objects, puppets and French storybooks. By the time they leave Butcombe they have a good basic grounding in basic spoken French vocabulary and structures, an excellent preparation for greater demands in the Preparatory School.
You can book extra French Tuition classes for your child. Please download the form and return it to Annabel Purnell, either via email or you can drop it into reception.
French Class Booking Form Download the French Class Booking Form.
ICT
ICT is when we use computers. We also learn how to use a digital camera and do research on the internet.
Information Communication Technology is part of everyday life and pupils need to become more aware of the effects that changing technology is having on the school, workplace, home and the community. They will then be better placed to meet the demands of our ever-increasingly technological society.
All pupils from Nursery to Year 3 have the opportunity to experience and explore ICT. Each classroom has two Networked computers which are upgraded regularly to meet the demands of ever-changing technology. In addition, we have two mobile suites of eighteen laptops, which are used for weekly ICT lessons in Y1-3. Each year group, including the Nursery and Reception, is equipped with an Interactive Whiteboard, and by September 2006 this will be extended to every classroom in the school. We have two full-time ICT technicians and one part-time support assistant who provide expert technical backup and support ICT teaching throughout the school. Butcombe staff are skilled in teaching ICT and have a high standard of personal knowledge and skills. ICT training is an ongoing area for professional development.
ICT is a core subject of the National Curriculum. Our ICT Scheme of Work follows the guidelines set out in the National Curriculum, but is also linked to termly topics within each year group in order to provide a meaningful context to ICT teaching and learning. We aim to enable children to confidently and independently use and apply information technology skills across all curriculum areas, from as early an age as possible. ICT supports and enriches children’s learning experiences through a variety of resources - personal computers, programmable robots, tape recorders, CD/DVD players, television, video, digital photography and access to the worldwide web.
The ICT departments within Clifton College work closely together to ensure continuity of teaching and learning between the Year groups and Key Stages.
The school’s ICT policy is available on request.
Staff
ICT Coordinator: Lisa Parker ICT Teaching Support: Cath O’Sullivan
Learning Support
Learning Support means that we can get some extra help with our lessons if we need it.
At Butcombe, we aim to provide an inclusive environment where all children have access to the full curriculum and where their individual needs are met in the most appropriate way.
Some children experience learning difficulties, which mean that special educational provision needs to be made for them. A child may also be identified as extremely able, and will need opportunities to develop their particular talents and skills. Children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) may also require individualised support.
The school follows the guidelines set out in the DfES SEN Code of Practice, regarding the identification and provision for children with additional learning needs. Details of this are set out in our Special Educational Needs Policy. We aim to identify a child’s needs as early as possible in order that these can be quickly and appropriately met. We seek to develop an active partnership with parents in order to share concerns and information on a child’s progress. Pupils are also actively involved in developing their own learning targets.
Special provision may include withdrawal from the classroom to work individually or in a small group with the SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), specialist support teacher, EAL teacher or Learning Support Assistant. Provision may also be made through the use of differentiated teaching materials or teaching styles within the classroom. Butcombe staff are skilled in dealing with a variety of special needs, and the SENCo and support teacher are both qualified Dyslexia specialists. Specific resources, including ICT, are made available to meet the needs of children with additional learning needs and designated rooms are available for the teaching of individuals or small groups. The school works closely with a number of outside specialists, whose expertise may be called on to assess and make recommendations for children with additional learning needs.
The Learning Support departments within Clifton College work closely together to ensure continuity of provision for children with additional learning needs.
The school’s Special Educational Needs policy is available on request.
Staff
SENCo: Lisa Parker Able Child Coordinator: Dr Wendy Bowring Specialist Support Teacher: Amanda Bath Learning Support Assistant: Sarah Michallat EAL Teacher: Laura Opie Visiting Educational Psychologist: Peter Parkhouse (APT Ltd)
Useful Links:
The parents and carers page on TeacherNet Special Educational Needs - A guide to the law and your rights
Music
There are lots of chances to do music here. You can play recorder, sing or learn an instrument and take part in a concert!
At Butcombe the Music curriculum is delivered by a specialist music teacher. Following the popular 'Music Express' course, the children develop their musical skills using percussion instruments and voices. Recorders are taught in Years 2 and 3 and our peripatetic music teachers offer a wide range of instruments, including voice.
All our children perform regularly in concerts, assemblies and services (Harvest, Nativity and Easter). A full-scale musical show is staged each year in the Redgrave Theatre, in which all children from Years 2 and 3 act, sing and dance to a remarkably high standard.
You can book extra Music Tuition classes for your child. Please download the form and return to Annabel Purnell, either via email or you can drop it into reception.
Sport and PE
Each week throughout the year, every year group has four timetabled slots for PE and Games. These include swimming, indoor PE, indoor games, and outdoor games. The activities within these lessons change each term.
During these sessions in the Summer Term, all children will participate in swimming, dance, athletic activities, fielding and striking skills and games.
In addition, there are a wide variety of extra-curricular clubs that the children can attend after school - rounders, cricket, gymnastics, tennis, karate, judo to name but a few. These clubs also vary each term.
Events
On March 17th Butcombe held its annual Mini-Triathlon. Every child in Year 3 is a member of a team of eight that compete against each other in three different fields of activity - swimming, cross-country and athletic skills. Local schools are invited to join in the fun and this year, eight visiting schools came to enjoy an afternoon of non-stop sport and physical activity. There were seventeen teams in all and a total of 150 children were involved. Along with the support of many parents, it was a huge success and Butcombe came joint first with The Downs School!
The following Thursday (23rd March), the whole of the Year 2 participated in an afternoon of sport up at the indoor sports centre at the Sports Ground (Beggar Bush).
Events in the Summer Term
Year 3 have started to have friendly fixtures against other schools. Dates for this term are:
Wednesday 24th May - Butcombe v Torwood House, cricket and rounders at home Thursday 25th May - Butcombe v The Downs School, cricket and rounders at home Thursday 15th June - Butcombe v Clifton High, cricket and rounders at home
All results will be published and we wish every one involved the best of luck!
Anne Askew PE Teacher
Year 13 Psychology pupils spend the day with Butcombe children
For two days before Christmas, Year 1 and Year 3 classes were invaded by a number of students from the Psychology Department in the Upper School. For their A level exams, the Year 13 students were investigating a number of different aspects of children's development. The Year 1 and Year 3 pupils in Butcombe were the perfect guinea pigs for a series of fun tests and experiments!
The children listened to stories, solved puzzles, answered questions, poured water into beakers, copied sequences of actions and even had to catch a ball standing on one leg! One task involved placing a toy robber out of sight of several toy policeman – all of the children were very good at this! Another task required the children to pretend they were farmers and move a chicken, cat and horse around a farmyard. Lots of interesting findings emerged: One finding was that 7 to 8 year-olds prefer to choose a same-sex playmate for most play activities. Girls said that they would invite a girl to their house for tea or to play after school, whilst boys chose a boy. However, when they were asked who they would like to ask for help with their schoolwork, both boys and girls said that they would ask a girl for help. The Year 13 students also found that - without exception - the Butcombe children were more advanced in their moral reasoning than most theories of moral development would predict. Both boys and girls tended to give altruistic answers to a hypothetical dilemma even if it would mean they would be told off. For example, Butcombe children would always help a child who was hurt even if they knew they would be told off for being late to school.
The children who took part were enthusiastic and helpful and the projects gave the A level students a real insight into doing research with 5 to 8 year-olds. All of the Upper School |