[1] The school is situated just east of the Cat Hill roundabout of the A111 and A110, between Cockfosters and Oakwood tube stations.

The Trent Park campus of Middlesex University is nearby to the north, on the northern fringe of Greater London's conurbation.

In 2015, after 15 years as headteacher, Anthony Wilde left Southgate School and was replaced by Martin Lavelle.

On 11 February 2009, Southgate was awarded Outstanding Status, one of only two in the London Borough of Enfield.

[citation needed] On 16 October 2019, Southgate School was awarded Good Status; this is the most recent Ofsted inspection.