4 minute read
Clifton
Many (especially Cliftonities) would say it has been a fantastic year for Clifton House in nearly every aspect of school life. We started the year by bolstering our tutor group with the lovely Dr Boddy who has guided the Fifth Form through a trying and important year of GCSEs.
The Clifton girls have had a pretty successful year yet again and typically placed in the top 3 in most House events. Quite an achievement! This consistency was not only with results but with enthusiastic attitude put into the Inter-House sporting events. This is thanks to the eager help of the many members of the House who are part of the first XI teams and the extraordinary number of sport captains in the upper sixth. The junior girls followed in the older ones’ footsteps, competing well with great House spirit in all events. Finally all Clifton girls came together and dived into the swimming gala with some incredible new school records set by several girls in the House.
For the first time in 5 years a full school sports day was held and it was worth the wait. The junior and senior boys in particular excelled on the field coming 2nd in both competitions. In an amazing performance the senior boys won the Inter-House rugby in a spectacular event. Throughout the House the boys jumped to take part in every Inter-House event. Despite occasionally missing out on victory they had inspirational team spirit and made the House proud.
There was a large, enthusiastic turnout of Cliftonities for the Inter-House cross country. It’s important that we all come together
and show Clifton’s true colours (yellow for gold of course!) as the whole House came together with many members achieving fantastic top 10 results.
One of our favourite events is the Inter-House singing. This year Clifton blasted the judges with an enthusiastic performance of
I Predict A Riot by the Kaiser Chiefs. To everyone’s surprise Clifton - for the first time in recent history - placed 3rd in the Inter-House competition; this felt like such an achievement we had practically won. Obviously, it was incredible to finally hit the podium position however even without the bronze, House Singing brought great fun and truly demonstrated the House spirit and no doubt we were definitely the loudest!
As a strong academic House too, Clifton actively participated in House Debating and the School Challenge. We happily retained the crown of the Inter-House Debating and we have now won the senior competition 3 years in a row! Our erudite juniors also won the junior debating competition and we reached the final of the school challenge too, thus showing how wide the variation of skills is throughout the House.
Unfortunately due to higher powers a usual highlight of the Clifton year; our House Dinner, was unable to be organised. However, through the ashes, a new tradition was born as the Upper Sixth and our tutors enjoyed a lovely leavers’ meal at the The Durham Ox. This makes a large change (arguably for the better) from the classic Pizza Express. House Dinner is a brilliant occasion for everyone to enjoy together with fantastic company and food. Rather than holding it in March, this year our House Dinner was a couple of days before the end of our final year, a much more memorable time.
At the beginning of July 2019 we said goodbye to our very vocal year Upper Sixth Cliftonities. Yet as we say goodbye there are plenty of hellos as we welcome the new Third Form to the house in the September term. This year Clifton was aptly led by our Heads of House Ellen Storey and Alex Phillips who supported the house, helped organise house teams and events and led the Clifton pupil body exceptionally. We couldn’t have achieved what we have in this year without their help and enthusiasm.
And so we come to the end of another year of victorious activities and we look forward to the new year to come. We’d like to mention that Clifton House wouldn’t be the same without its group of loyal staff supporters: Mr Spencer, Mr Fuller, Mrs Lunadi, Mrs Hall, Dr Boddy and our canine member, Wispa. Yet of course, last but certainly not least, our ever devoted House Master Mr Snelling. All of us in Clifton can’t thank you enough.
To another wonderful year, here comes Clifton 2019-2020!
Ellen Storey and Alex Phillips
