School & College

The EHCP

All young people applying to St Catherine’s School and Sixth Form College must have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The EHCP must detail that the student has a significant language disorder to be considered for admission. 

Your first step

If you feel that St Catherine’s might be the right placement for your child, then please complete our Enquiry Form. This will be reviewed by our Admissions Co-ordinator to see whether we may have a space for your child. 

Application review

If we have a space for your child, our Admission Co-ordinator will contact you to ask you to submit a more detailed application along with the student’s EHCP and other relevant paperwork. Your application will then be reviewed by our Assessment Team.

Once we have reviewed your application, and if we feel that we can support your child, then we recommend that you attend one of our Open Days with your child.

Trial Days 

Following your visit to the school, we will invite your child for a three-day/four-day trial; this helps us all ascertain whether St Catherine’s is right for them. 

We want to reassure parents that the trial is not an ‘interview’. Your child won’t be put under any pressure and there are no right or wrong answers. Our purpose is purely to get to know and understand them better, in order that we can be sure that we are able to offer the right sort of support. 

Once the trial is completed, our team will decide whether we feel we are the best placement for your child.

Note: Local children attend trials on a non-residential basis and may attend one or more trial days. For local children, these trials may take place alongside other children.

Important notes:

We would like families that are seeking placement at St Catherine’s to be aware that:

• Timing: We recommend that parents/carers contact us 18 months prior to the date that they would like their child to start at St Catherine's School and College, i.e. for a start date of September 2027, we would recommend you contact us in summer term 2025.
• Residential: Please note, residential places are only offered to students who are of secondary age and above. Day placements can be offered to students from Year 4 and above, if there is a cohort.
• Autism: Whilst we recognise the comorbidity of language conditions and other forms of neurodiversity, such as Autism, a diagnosis or primary need of Autism alone cannot be considered by the admission panel. This is due to the school taking a neuro-affirming approach to social engagement and participation.
• EHCP tribunal: Parents considering a formal local authority EHCP tribunal hearing may find it helpful to contact St Catherine’s to discuss their particular circumstances.
• Fees: Fees are usually paid by local authorities but, in certain circumstances, may be paid privately. There is no cost for an admissions trial at St Catherine’s, but if you are not offered a place following the assessment and require a report from our professionals, there will be a fee to pay.

Making an initial enquiry

If you are interested in a place at St Catherine's for your child, please complete the Enquiry Form. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss anything before completing the form, please contact our Admission Co-ordinator, Charlotte Cosgrove, on 01983 852722. Email admissions@stcatherines.org.uk