School Admission Arrangements 2023/2024
Students Joining in Year 7
All transfers from Year 6 to Year 7 for residents living in the Borough of Southend-on-Sea are coordinated by the School Admissions Team at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. To find out more details about schools in general in the Southend area, please visit the following website: www.southend.gov.uk/admissions
Secondary School Admissions 2023/24
Applications for a September 2023 transfer to Year 7 must be submitted between 01 September 2022 and 31 October 2022.
The Secondary Admissions Booklet will be available from 01 July 2022
Our admission criteria is available here.
Applicants from overseas click here
In-Year Secondary School Admissions
Click here to view the In-Year Admissions Application Form (Parent/Carer Section)
The following Guidance Notes provide information on how to apply for a Secondary School place for your child during the school year. Applying for a school place during the school year is referred to as an ‘In-Year’ admission.
Applications are usually necessary due to:
- Moving or having moved to Southend on Sea
- Changing address in Southend on Sea
- Wishing to change school
Admissions for September each year to the Year 7 Group is not an In-Year admission. Admission is co-ordinated for this Year Group by the Pupil Access Team, Southend on Sea Borough Council. To find out more details about schools in general in the Southend area, please visit this website which includes links to school websites, together with a copy of the Secondary School Admissions Booklet.
The Admissions Booklet details the name, address, admissions limit and admissions criteria of all the Secondary Schools in the Borough.
If you are moving into the Borough (from either overseas or within the UK) or are moving house within the Borough and wish to change school you will need to provide Southchurch High School with a copy of either a tenancy agreement/exchange of contracts letter. These documents must be provided to the School before an offer of a school place can be given (tenancies for a period of less than 6 months will not be accepted).
Moving schools is a serious step to take. Before applying for a place at an alternative school in the Borough, please discuss the reasons for your request to move with your child’s current Headteacher. Your child must continue to attend their current school and you must ensure you do not remove your child from school before securing a place at another school.
Before you apply at Southchurch High School
It is advisable to find out about schools in the Borough by considering the details from various sources:
- Ofsted website: www.ofsted.gov.uk
- Admission Booklets/admissions criteria: www.southend.gov.uk./admissions
- Contacting the School directly
- The ‘Where I Live’ section on the Local Authority’s website: www.southend.gov.uk
- Check the location of the school to your home address and consider how your child will travel to school. In some cases, transport may be provided using specific criteria on distance and/or specific benefits. Full details can be found at www.southend.gov.uk
Many schools are already full which means that the nearest or catchment schools for your new home address may not be able to offer your child a place.
Please note if you have more than one child trying to obtain a place this can be very difficult. In some cases parents/carers may find that they can place one child into the school but not any others. Parents/carers should consider very carefully if there are sufficient places at their preferred school when making an application.
How to Apply for a School Place at Southchurch High School
- Please complete the Southchurch High School In-Year Application Form answering all the questions.
- Return the Application Form to Southchurch High School.
- If you are applying for more than one school, you may have to complete more than one Application Form. You will be required to contact the schools directly.
What Happens Next?
- All In-Year admissions will be dealt with as soon as they are received. Southchurch High School aims to process the application within 7-14 school days
- Where there are more applications than places, Southchurch High School will apply the over subscription criteria to decide who has the highest priority. Those applications with the highest priority will be allocated a place at the School filling the available places.
- In very few cases, particularly for vulnerable children who may not have had a successful experience at previous Schools, the application may be referred by Southchurch High School to the Local Authority for consideration under the Fair Access protocol.
- If you are moving into the Borough and have been unable to secure a place at any of your preferred schools, you should contact the Fair Access Team, Southend on Sea Borough Council, who can advise you of alternative school places in the Borough.
- If you have applied to Southchurch High School and a place cannot be offered, you will be advised in writing of the reasons and you should contact the Fair Access Team, Southend on Sea Borough Council, who can advise you of alternative school places in the borough.
- If you are declined a preference you have a right to have your case considered by an Independent Appeal Panel. Details on how to appeal and where to obtain further information will be included in your correspondence.
Appeals
You can find our appeals booklet here.
Please click here to download a copy of our appeals form.
Southchurch High School commission the Local Authority to run the School’s Appeals. For further details please visit the Local Authority’s website below:
School Admission Appeals
Waiting Lists
Southchurch High School maintains a waiting list. If a Year Group is full and you have been unsuccessful in gaining a place, you can request that your child be placed on the waiting list. Students’ names will be kept on the waiting list for approximately one school year.