Harrogate and Knaresborough MP urges Government and North Yorkshire Council: get vital new SEND school open

Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has called for the opening of the planned new secondary school for SEND students in Bilton Woodfield. Originally planned to be opened in September 2024, the opening date was pushed back to September 2025, but it is now unclear as to whether that will happen. 

The school is planned to take over the site of the former Woodfield Community Primary School, which was forced to close in December 2022 after suffering decreasing pupil numbers and an “inadequate” ruling from Ofsted. After the closure, North Yorkshire Council promised to keep the site for educational use and decided that there was sufficient demand for an autism specialist secondary school. 

Work by the Council has begun on improving the building and Cllr Anabelle Wilkinson, Executive Member for Education. Learning and Skills at North Yorkshire, confirmed to Mr Gordon in an email that the Department for Education had been notified of the Council’s preferred Academy Trust to run the school and she was now awaiting a decision. Tom has been contacted by many local parents desperate for the school to open so that they can get their children the support they need. 

In Parliament, Tom requested a meeting with the Minister to discuss the school, and try to get to the bottom of when parents can expect it to open. The Minister failed to reveal anything of this mystery, but did agree to meet with Tom. 

Commenting, Tom said: 

“So many of my constituents have contacted me to ask the same question: when can they expect to get the dedicated, local provision they need for their children. We’re hearing next to nothing from North Yorkshire council, but people need answers.

“That’s why I’ve brought this issue to Parliament today. Parents shouldn’t have to sit by and wait – we need a clear answer from North Yorkshire Council, and steer on when this support will finally become available. 

“I am delighted to have secured a meeting with the Minister, and I will fight to ensure we can speed up the decision-making process and get these specialised educational services that are so badly needed in our area open as soon as possible.”

ENDS