Work under way on new school for autistic children

Building work has begun to create a new secondary school for autistic children.

The £2m scheme is transforming the former Woodfield Community Primary School, at Bilton in Harrogate, which closed in 2022.

The new school had initially been expected to open in September, but earlier this year North Yorkshire Council said it would not be completed until September 2025 but did not give a reason for the delay.

The school, which will include state-of-the-art classrooms, a sensory room and outdoor learning spaces, will cater for 80 autistic pupils aged between 11 and 19.

The council said the school will help address a rising demand for specialist education in North Yorkshire.

It said the number of young people identified with special education needs and disabilities and an education, health and care plan (EHCP) in the area had increased by more than 110% since 2016.

The growth in demand means an additional capacity of 350 special education needs and disabilities school places will be developed over the next three to five years.

Woodfield Community Primary School closed in 2022 after an inadequate Ofsted rating forced the school to become a sponsored academy, but it failed to secure a backer.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Annabel Wilkinson, said work to "create this vital facility was progressing well".

"It will help to meet a rising demand for special school places in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and the surrounding area.”

Under the plans, the building work involves the remodelling and refurbishment of the existing building creating modern classrooms.

Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on the council, said was great to see "new life being breathed into the former much-loved school".

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.