Open Evening Virtual Tour
Welcome from the Headteacher and Virtual Tour
Welcome from the Head of Sixth Form
Open Evening FAQs:
Admissions
Southgate School is a heavily oversubscribed, mixed comprehensive neighbourhood academy. It is non-selective and draws from its immediate community, on average just under two miles. Each year Southgate School receives approximately 1300 applications across the six preferences for 240 places in Year 7.
What is Southgate School’s Admission Policy?
Our admissions policy is published on the school website under the ‘Information’ tab – ‘Admissions’.
In the case of oversubscription, after the admission of students with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), where the school is named, priority for admission will be given to those children who meet the criteria set out below, in the following order:
1. Children in public care (looked after children) and children who were adopted (or subject to residence orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after.*
* Children adopted without having been previously looked after are not included in this criterion.
2. Children for whom a particular school is appropriate on exceptional medical grounds. Such applications will be considered under this criterion only if they are supported by an attached written statement from a doctor. This must demonstrate that there is a very specific connection between the child’s medical need and the school requested.
3. Children with a brother or sister (sibling) who will be attending the school at the time of application. The children concerned must be living at the same address.
Note: Siblings are defined as brothers or sisters of children already on the roll of the school. The term ‘sibling’ means a full, step, half, adopted or fostered brother or sister, but not cousins.
4. Children whose parent is a member of staff who has been employed at the school concerned for two or more years at the time of application and/or children of a member of staff who has been recruited to fill a vacancy for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
5. Children genuinely resident within the school’s designated priority zone.
6. Children living nearest to the school measured ‘as the crow flies’, that is, in a straight line from the child’s home to the main entrance of the school (travel by private car or public transport will not be taken into account).
When it is not possible to admit all applicants to a particular school within any criterion, priority will be given to those living closest to the school measured as in criterion 6 above.
How do I apply to Southgate School?
All admissions to the school must be made through the Local Authority; Enfield. Registration and applications are made online at www.eadmissions.org.uk, with the deadline at the end of October.
How are places allocated?
We do not select students for admission to the school. This is the responsibility of the Enfield Council Admissions Service; they allocate places based on our admissions criteria. It is very important that parents rank their preferences carefully, as only one offer will be made and this will be the highest ranked school for which a child has qualified under the admissions criteria.
What is the catchment area?
We do not have a set catchment area; each year the furthest distance offered can reduce or increase based on the applications received. In March 2018 the furthest distance offered was 1.74 miles, in 2019 it was 1.24 miles, in 2020 it was 1.9 miles, in 2021 it was 2.6 miles and in 2022 it was 2.8 miles. Distances are calculated by the Local Authority.
Is there a waiting list?
Yes. This is maintained by the Local Authority and is usually based on distance. If a place becomes available, the child at the top of the list will be offered a place. Note that a child’s place on the waiting list can change; it can move up or down. If, for example, a child moves into the area and lives closer to the school than a child who is already on the waiting list, then the child already on the list would move down a place.
How can I appeal for a place at the school?
Applicants who wish to appeal against the decision of the admissions authority to refuse their child a place at the school should contact:
EDUCATION APPEALS
Clerk to the School Admission Appeals Panel
PO Box 367
Cuffley
Herts. EN6 4XZ
Fax: 0844 4431813
Email: clerk@educationappeals.com
Appeals are held in the summer term prior to the September start. The Appeals panel of three members is completely independent of the school. At the appeal hearing the school will state why it cannot take another child on roll (as it is full) and parents have the opportunity to say why a place should be offered to their child. The panel then makes their decision and informs the parent and the school.
