Southfield School for Girls is one of only three single-sex state schools in Northamptonshire. Students choose to come to Southfield from a very wide geographical area stretching from Northampton town to the West and the borders with Leicestershire to the North, Cambridgeshire to the East and Bedfordshire to the South.

We have no catchment area so our students make a positive choice to come here for their secondary school education. We have an increasing number of girls who transfer to Southfield for their 6th form studies and more than 20 boys and girls who follow particular A-Level courses here part time as a result of the co-ordination arrangements between the six secondary schools in the Kettering area.

Admissions at the start of the secondary phase of education

The thought of moving from primary to secondary school can present some fears, especially when there are so many months to contemplate it. Southfield has always received very good reports about the way we prepare girls for the move and how quickly they settle into the school. OFSTED Inspectors confirmed that the school has a very warm and friendly atmosphere and praised our arrangements to support girls who are joining the school. Parents and students agree very strongly with inspectors' judgements.

Teachers from Southfield visit all the primary schools to talk to girls and answer any questions they have. Many of the students who come to Southfield are the only ones moving here from their primary schools. We find that they very quickly make friends and even those who arrive together often change their friendship groups quite soon in their first term. It is extremely rare for anyone to feel friendless at Southfield.

Individual subject profiles are received from primary schools and discussed with primary school teachers to allow for continuity. The information is passed on to each student's teachers. After the first half term at Southfield, a profile of learning styles and progress is worked out for each girl, discussed with parents and their daughters and then targets for future progress are set.