Admissions
The Highfield School Admissions Criteria
For all admissions and transport information including booklets and guidance, current admission arrangements and previous statistical information please follow the link to the Herts Direct Admission pages below:
School admissions and transport
Consultation for New Admissions Criteria 2026/27
The Highfield School is consulting to amend its admission arrangements for 2026/27 to ensure our admissions Priority Area serves the cohort for whom the school is the closest school even when outside of the Letchworth boundary that currently determines the priority area. Currently the Hitchin Walsworth ward, inclusive of the Highover Farm area and Purwell is not included in the priority area, despite its close proximity to The Highfield School as its nearest mixed comprehensive secondary school. The inclusion of this ward gives children in this area an increased chance of securing a place at the school. This proposed expansion also future proofs and protects the catchment in the eventuality of further housing development in the area.
In addition, The Highfield School is consulting on the addition of a ‘children of staff’ rule as Rule 4 in our admission criteria. The inclusion of this rule is proposed to support recruitment and retention of staff and to support the wellbeing of employees of Scholars’ Education Trust.
The formal consultation is open between Friday 22nd November 2024 and Friday 17th January 2025. If you would like to comment on the proposed changes, please complete the following form:
https://forms.office.com/e/6FpUxGXyKN
Determined Admissions Arrangements for 2026-2027
School Admission Appeals Timetable
In year appeals
Appeals resulting from in year admission applications will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged
September 2024 entry
Click here for the appeals timetable 2024
Appeals lodged after these dates will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal deadline or 30 school days of being lodged, which ever is the later date.
Appellants (the person who made the appeal) will be sent notification of their appeal hearing at least 14 calendar days in advance of the hearing (unless you've been requested to agree shorter timescales).
Appellants will be sent a copy of the school's case 7 working days in advance of the hearing.
Additional supporting information
If an appellant wishes to submit further evidence, which was not included with their initial appeal, they should ensure this is received at least 7 clear working days, not counting the day of postage or the hearing, in advance of your appeal.
Please remember that any confidential medical/social evidence submitted to the Admission Authority (AA) in support of your application will not be provided to an appeal panel. If you wish to rely on this in support of your appeal you will need to submit this documentation to the appeals team.
Only a short document, such as a doctor’s letter not previously available, will be accepted up to 4 clear working days prior to the hearing. Any additional evidence or information received after this deadline will not be circulated and may not be considered at the hearing.
In year transfers - School Information Booklet
Support for hosts and Ukrainian families with secondary age children
We are asking for In Year Applications to be made for Ukrainian children, these are then picked up by the County Admissions Team and processed under the Fair Access Protocol. The applications can be submitted by the host families in advance of the Ukrainian families arriving, however the County Admissions Team will not allocate a school place until they have arrived into the UK. You can follow this process by clicking the link below: Secondary and upper school places
For your reference, to process the applications we will need two proofs of address within the last 3 months (for example: council tax bill or a solicitor’s letter showing the completion date plus a utility bill). For those Ukrainian families currently living with Hertfordshire residents, please can the Hertfordshire resident provide a covering letter with the In Year application as proof of address along with proof of address of their residency at the address.
In addition to this we require evidence of the Ukrainian family’s arrival into the UK and confirmation of the scheme they are arriving under. Proof of their arrival can be in the form of a boarding pass, date stamped passport / visa or booking confirmation and scheme confirmation can be a copy of their Visa or application / letter from the Home Office or written confirmation that the family are residing with the family under the Homes for Ukraine / Family Scheme.
We have a dedicated email address for any queries relating to school admissions for these families, this can be passed to anyone enquiring with you, we will be able to provide them with a detailed response on how can proceed – ukraine.ukschooladmissions@hertfordshire.gov.uk
The following page is also available for anyone making enquiries: Ukraine support in Hertfordshire
