Admissions

Highfields College – as a Pupil Referral Unit and AP – takes referrals for admission throughout the school year. This work is overseen by our admissions team which is known as Stockport Young Futures.

The first point of contact for all admissions queries is our Admissions Lead Miss Tebbutt – please contact our main reception 0161 4067922 or email helen.tebbutt@highfieldscollege.org.uk.

A further point of contact, specifically for dual registration placements, is our Director of Reintegration Mrs Tierney – please contact our main reception 0161 4067922 or email izzy.tierney@highfieldscollege.org.uk.

Admissions Info For Parents and Carers

Highfields College is a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) and Alternative Education Provider designed to provide specialist support and education for young people. We focus on helping students with complex needs (including SEND), particularly those related to social, emotional, and mental health (known as SEMH).

As outlined above, we do not accept applications directly from parents or carers. Admission to Highfields College is a formal process initiated by your child’s current school or another recognised professional organisation (EHCP Team, Virtual School etc.).

Your child will typically be referred to us under one of three main pathways:

  1. Following a Permanent Exclusion (PEX):
    • This is for children who are resident in Stockport and have been permanently excluded from their previous school.
  2. For Complex Needs (Exceptional Referral):
    • This is for young people who have very complex SEMH and behaviour needs, and their current school has found it near-impossible to provide the right support. These placements are made only under strict, specific criteria. We do consider referrals for students with an existing Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) where there is complex SEMH and related learning issues.
  3. Through a Dual-Registration Programme (Partnership | Step Out | Restart):
    • This is often a preventative measure for students still on the roll of a ‘Partner School’ who are starting to show significant emotional or behavioural concerns. In these cases, your child will be dual-registered, meaning they remain partly on the roll of their mainstream school while accessing our specialist support.

All children joining us start their journey with Stockport Young Futures, our admissions team. This team is made up of experienced teachers and mentors who oversee a two-week induction programme to help your child settle and get ready for next steps.

If you want your child to come to Highfields College…

Parents and carers who consider Highfields College to be an option for their son or daughter should speak to their existing school and/or to any key worker from Stockport Local Authority. They will be able to advise you further as to whether your son or daughter meets criteria and whether a referral can be made.

Admissions Info for Professionals

Highfields College is a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) and Alternative Education Provider funded primarily by Stockport Local Authority (SMBC). Our main remit is to provide for young people resident in Stockport with complex SEMH needs and SEND, specifically in relation to Section 19 duties. Our Admissions Policy – Sept 2025 outlines our placement types and the referral processes around them. The following summary guide may also be helpful: Referral and Admission Summary – Highfields College 25 – 26

The Referral Process

  1. Pre-Referral Consultation: We advise any professional considering making a referral to contact the Stockport Young Futures lead Miss Tebbutt – 0161 4067922 / helen.tebbutt@highfieldscollege.org.uk and/or their named contact within the Education Access Service (Stockport Local Authority).
  2. Referral Form: Referrals are made by completing the Referral Form and Point of Referral Risk Assessment as found below:
  3. Ratification: Depending on the placement type, referrals are either reviewed by the college’s Senior Leadership Team and/or by Stockport Local Authority’s Secondary Panel for Inclusion. Once a decision is made, the professional making the referral will be notified.

Placement Types

The following single-registration placements are offered:

  1. Standard Referral following Permanent Exclusion – Children aged 11 – 16 years (Y7 to Y11) who are resident in Stockport and have been permanently excluded from another school. These students are ordinarily single-registered.
  2. Non-PEX Exceptional Referrals – Children aged 11 – 16 years (Y7 to Y11) who present with complex needs, specifically SEMH with behaviour presentations, for whom a provision cannot be found. These students are ordinarily single-registered. This is operated using strict criteria: Highfields College Non-PEX Referrals Criteria

The above are only able to be referred in by designated Local Authority teams. Standard Referrals following Permanent Exclusion come to the college via the Education Access Service and SPI Panel. All Non-PEX Referrals other than EHCP also come via the Education Access Service and SPI Panel. Non-PEX Referrals with an EHCP come via formal consultation with the college’s Headteacher and review / sign-off by senior officers within the LA’s SEND/ EHCP Team and their respective panel/s. If unsure, please refer to the following document: Referral and Admission Summary – Highfields College 25 – 26

The following dual-registration placements are offered:

  1. Partnership Programme Referrals – Children aged 11 – 16 years (Y7 to Y11) on roll at recognised ‘Partner Schools’ who are presenting as emergent concerns in terms of SEMH with behaviour presentations. These students are ordinarily dual-registered. More information can be found in this guide: Partnership Offer – Guide for Stakeholders
  2. Step Out Placements for Temporary Crisis Prevention – Short term dual registered placements for children aged 11 – 16 years old where there is a relatively sudden, somewhat unpredicted state of crisis – manifesting in a sharp increase in concerning response behaviours within a short period of time, in turn creating a serious breach of the rules and a loss of sense of stability & safety in school. More information can be found in this guide: Step Out (Temporary Crisis Prevention) Placements – Guide for Stakeholders

The above are referred directly by schools.

  1. Virtual Schools Post-16 Intervention Placements (known as ‘Post 16 Skill Up’) – Young people aged 16 – 19 year olds who are in care and NEET, requiring short term intervention to re-assess, re-engage and redirect back into education, employment or training. 10 are commissioned per year. The following must be established and recorded from the start 1) Rationale 2) Objectives 3) Length of the Placement 4) Exit Plan (ROLE Plan).
  2. Restart (Section 19 Non-Attendance) Placements – Short term dual registered placements for children with severe and longstanding attendance issues – with a history of behaviour concerns when attending. These are referred into the college by the Local Authority only.

The above are referred by designated Local Authority officers.

Out-of-Area (OOA) Referrals

Out of Area (OOA) Referrals / Admissions are conditional, based on agreement from the home borough to the college’s charging: Out of Area Placements – Individual Pupil Agreement