Admissions

Watch our presentation for Year 5 parents here: https://southfield.coopacademies.co.uk/join-us/

Co-op Academy Southfield provides education for students aged 11 to 19 years with clearly identified special educational needs who have an Education Health and Care Plan. Bradford Council is the home local authority which places students at Southfield, following consultations under the SEND Code of Practice 2015.

The academy is designated for pupils and students with Severe Learning Difficulties, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The academy’s Funding Agreement is for 260 pupils, however there has been approval given by the LWY Headteacher Board in January 2019 for this to be raised when additional building work had been completed. The Trustees of the Co-op Academies Trust agreed in January 2021 to cap this at 310 pupils, based on the capacity of the existing building(s). A review of building capacity is under way so that a further application can be made to the Regional Schools Commissioner to resolve the school capacity number.

The majority of students will be admitted on the basis of an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP), which names Co-op Academy Southfield, but occasionally the local authority arranges for students to be admitted who are in the process of being assessed for an EHCP, or for a period of assessment. In order for this procedure to be effective sufficient time must be allowed before transfer to satisfy all parties concerned that the suggested placement is appropriate.

In considering the suitability of a placement, Co-op Academy Southfield will take all reasonable steps to meet each student’s needs, but will also take into account the effect this could have on the existing school population in terms of behaviour, health and safety, quality of learning within the class group and potential risk to vulnerable peers. The academy will always consider the efficient use of resources and the impact on the provision of efficient education of other children when responding to consultations for a place. Although SEND designation alone will not be a reason to decline a consultation for a place, the academy does make provision for some very vulnerable and fragile students and so does not provide a suitable and safe learning environment for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) identified as part of their pattern of special educational needs.

Parents and carers who may be considering Co-op Academy Southfield as a suitable placement for their child, should contact Bradford’s SEN team first (01274 435750) to discuss a possible placement.

A preliminary visit to the school can be made by contacting the Deputy Headteacher to arrange a suitable date and time. General ‘open’ visits are scheduled once per half term to minimise disruption to the curriculum and students’ learning. Further information is available from the school’s website.

Post-16 Admissions

Parental preference for Southfield should be shared at the year 10 annual review and documented by the chair of the review meeting.  This document is shared with the LA who will issue a consultation request to Southfield.  Once Southfield are satisfied that they can meet the needs of the student and are able to provide the provision detailed in the EHCP, a new EHCP naming Southfield as the post 16 provision will be issued by the LA and the place is reserved for that student.

In line with our Equality Policy, Co-op Academy Southfield accepts students irrespective of gender, religion, sexuality, disability, race or belief.

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Policy

Check out full our admissions policy it’s available on our policies page.

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Visit

Please make sure to arrange a visit, we’d love to show you around!

We are pleased to announce that visits for prospective parents and students to have a tour of the school can now be booked by calling Reception on 01274 779662.

To keep covid secure and ensure that you can ask all the questions you want, we are booking groups of no more than 6 people at a time.

Arrival time is between 3.15 and 3.30pm, with the tour starting at 3.30. Tours last around 30-45 minutes.

Available dates for tours are:

• Tuesday 25th May 
• Tuesday 1st June
• Tuesday 8th June 
• Tuesday 15th June
• Tuesday 22nd June
• Tuesday 29th June
• Tuesday 6th July
• Tuesday 13th July 

Other days may be available on request.