[3] In 1876, LT-Col. Pears discussed the possibility of founding a day school for girls in Clifton with Dr Percival, Mr Wollaston and others interested in starting an education.

Around this time Clifton was at the height of its expansion with the Victoria Rooms, RWA, Christchurch and Whiteladies Road all recently constructed.

Within a year of opening, the school needed to expand and as such, on 23 January 1879, moved into a large house that had been built in 1876, on College Road.

In Years 7 to 9 boys and girls are taught separately for English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Games.

[4][5] During the summer break of 2022, Clifton High School revamped some of its facilities and began construction of a new building for the Sixth Form.

One of the school's oldest traditions, Rose Day was established by Clifton High's first head teacher, Miss Woods, in the 1880s.

In the 1950s and 1960s the houses were named after the school's founders and early benefactors, Budgett, Percival, Pope, Pears, Winkworth and Wollaston.

The school co-owns the Coombe Dingle Sports Complex, in partnership with the University of Bristol, which has facilities including lacrosse, rugby and football pitches, and indoor and outdoor tennis courts.

[8] In 2022, Clifton High revamped a large number of facilities, including the dining hall and arts department.

Construction of a new Sixth Form Centre finished in March 2023, and was named after former headmistress, Joyce Walters.

The school also opened the Walters Bistro, a café serving students and teachers in the Sixth Form Centre.