A high school student appeared in Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with sexually exploiting an 11-year-old.

The 17-year-old Southampton resident appeared in court wearing his school uniform.

He was not required to enter a plea as the charge must be heard in Supreme Court.

The offence was alleged to have taken place between June 1 and September 30 this year.

Neither the defendant nor the victim can be identified for legal reasons.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner released the defendant on $5,000 bail with a surety. He is expected to return to court later this month for the matter to be mentioned.