Admission Process

Alfriston School is a state funded Special School Academy for girls aged 11-19 years. We meet the needs of students with moderate learning difficulties and/or speech, language and communication needs. All pupils have an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) in place.

Our admissions are determined by the Local Authority and pupils are admitted to the school via the Special Schools Admissions Panel. For information about the process and procedure, please look at Buckinghamshire Council Local Offer website which can be found by clicking here.

Please note the school does not take any direct admissions.

We ask parents / carers to request that their Local Authority apply to Buckinghamshire Council on their behalf for a possible place at Alfriston.

Each application, once received from the relevant Local Authority, is considered on an individual basis. We consider documentation before a decision is made as to whether we are able to meet a child’s individual needs, both academic and social, and whether these needs are compatible with pupils in the same cohort and learning environment. If appropriate, the Admissions Officer will meet with parents and the potential student as part of the process to assess whether Alfriston School can meet their needs.

Induction Days

Pupils are offered a transition programme prior to School Transition Day which typically comprises of two visits to Alfriston School with their parents / carers. On these visits they will tour the school site with current Alfriston pupils, who act as tour guides, and meet with the Admissions Officer.

In July we take part in the county-wide School Transition Day. This day allows pupils transitioning from Year 6 to Year 7 to experience a range of activities with their peers and to meet members of staff.

Induction Programme

After their entry in the Autumn term, new students will take part in an induction programme through their Pastoral lessons, PSHE lessons and a ‘Personal Discovery’ programme delivered by our in-house Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy and Wellbeing teams.

Parents / carers are invited to 2 induction evenings: at the beginning of the Autumn term and then after the Autumn half term holiday. These enable all parents / carers to find out about the organisation of the school, meet with our Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist and our Head of Wellbeing. The evenings also give the opportunity for new Year 7 parents / carers to meet, and encourage friendships and social interaction for the students outside school.

We always want the transition to Alfriston to be a happy experience for pupils and their parents / carers. We will tailor the process to ensure we integrate new pupils successfully and smoothly.

For more information on the Local Offer for SEND please click here.

Home to School Transport

Home to School Transport is arranged by Buckinghamshire Council and parents. For more information on how to arrange home to school transport please click here.

Boarding Admissions

Boarding admissions at Alfriston School are not offered at the point of initial enrolment. Instead, they are considered for students already within our school cohort. The process is typically initiated by school staff, parents, or other professionals working closely with the student, based on identified needs.

Boarding placements are intended to support specific developmental goals, such as preparing for adulthood, increasing independent living skills, accessing the wider community, engaging in social interactions beyond the family unit, and reducing long-term reliance on social care in adulthood.

Each admission is carefully assessed to ensure it is in the best interest of the student and aligned with their individual support needs. Admissions are assessed and authorised by the Local Authority for each student prior to joining the Alfriston School boarding provision.