At Clifton we believe that we should send our students out into the world able and qualified and with basic life skills that will last a lifetime. The Clifton Pledge encourages students to engage and take part in experiences which will help them to understand the world around them and be able to play a positive role in their community and beyond.

The Clifton Pledge is designed to make students more resilient, independent, confident and determined.

The Clifton Pledge is divided into the following three categories, with examples of some of the tasks you may carry out.

pledge categories

Active Citizenship

Help out at a school event
Fundraise in school
Learn a greeting in 5 different languages

Life Skills

Work as part of a team or group
Create a revision resource
Show independence at home

Cultural Experiences

Regularly attend an extracurricular club
Go on a school trip
Understand local geography

about the pledges

The Clifton pledge has a Bronze Silver and Gold award and these are presented throughout the year at awards ceremonies.

Key Stage 3

Bronze:

Help out at a school event
Learn a greeting in five different languages
Fundraise in school
Keep up to date with current affairs and share with your form

Silver:

Help out at an event outside of school
Research a national organisation who supports a specific group e.g. Rush Home, REMA, SYEDA
Fundraise for a project outside of school e.g. Colour dash
Write a formal letter to a key adult in school to campaign for change.

Gold:

Be a peer mentor
Participate in a cultural event
Organise an event
Organise & participate in a debate on a key topical subject

Key Stage 4

Bronze:

Be a peer mentor
Share an element of diversity with your peers e.g. bring and share a food you eat at home
Fundraise in school
Improve your political literacy by understanding key British parties

Silver:

Contribute to a project that improves the school
Research a local organisation who supports a specific group
Fundraise for a project outside of school e.g. Colour dash
Improve your understanding of the history of politics in Britain

Gold:

Contribute to a project that improves the environment or local community
Lead a cultural event
Organise an event
Understand political structures and key examples from around the world

Key Stage 3

Bronze:

Complete an analysis of your likes and dislikes
Work as part of a team or group
Create & use a revision resource to improve your attainment in a subject
Complete a personality survey

Silver:

Research a career choice
Negotiate and present your ideas
Show independence at home e.g. iron your own clothes and sew on a button
Keep a well-being journal

Gold:

Interview a person from your chosen career
Take a leadership role in a presentation or project
Show independence in the wider world e.g. make a Dr’s appointment, organise your own bus pass
Overcome a difficulty

Key Stage 4

Bronze:

Evaluate a workplace encouter
Create a resource to share in form tutor time
Regularly attend a revision session and follow your own timetable at home
Attend a well-being session

Silver:

Write a detailed personal statement
Participate in an assembly
Show independence at home e.g. budget for & cook a meal, do your own washing & ironing, clean a room to a good standard
Being a well-being idea into school

Gold:

Complete a work experience (minimum of 15 hours)
Present at a formal event
Show independence in the wider world e.g. open a bank account, and make your own way to an interview
Lead a well-being session

Key Stage 3

Bronze:

Regularly attend an after school club
Achieve 80% in 10 A.R. Quizzes
Go on a school trip
Understand local Geography e.g. know about local landmarks etc.

Silver:

Represent Clifton in a sporting event, competition or production
Get to the top of your class ‘Reading League’
Visit a cultural hotspot
Research local role models

Gold:

Achieve recognition in an external sporting event, group or production
Get into the ‘Reading Millionaire’s Club’
Earn an EDIS trip
Research key historical events that occurred in Yorkshire

Key Stage 4

Bronze:

Regularly attend an extra-curricular club
Read a book from the ’10 Books to Read Before Leaving Clifton’ list and write a review for the library
Plan and go on a day-trip outside of Rotherham
Understand British Geography e.g. significant towns, rivers, landmarks etc.

Silver:

Represent Clifton in a sporting event, competition or production
Read 3 books from the ’10 Books to Read Before Leaving Clifton’ list and write a review for the website
Attend a cultural event outside of school
Research significant British role models

Gold:

Achieve recognition in an external sporting event, group or production
Use the Summer Reading List to develop knowledge in at least 3 of your GCSE subjects
Go on a residential visit
Research British values and show how they apply in your life

Why are we encouraging students to achieve pledges?

Pledges encourage students to get involved in a wide range of different activities in school and outside school.
Students will gain a wide variety of new and exciting experiences which will increase self-esteem, raise confidence, make them feel ‘good’ about themselves
They inspire students to have drive and tenacity, to stick at a task, to understand how to set, work towards and achieve long term goals.
Students will gain valuable life experiences and skills to help them progress to further study and an exciting career, putting them on a path to success.
They help shape students to become more prosperous, well-rounded young adults.
Above all, pledges help students to have a more valuable and enjoyable experience at school.

Why are Pledges important?

The Clifton Pledge sets high expectations for our students and demands personal accountability
Students will be provided with new experiences, learn new skills, develop existing knowledge, gain in confidence and grow as an individual and as a ‘team player.’
Together the attributes and skills developed throughout the Clifton Pledge aim to develop students' aspirations about their future, their abilities and drive them on to great things.
The Clifton Pledge embodies the Clifton Way and this is an expectation of our entire school community.