Questions raised over bid to build homes on Harrogate commercial site

Plans have been submitted to build 12 homes on a commercial site in Harrogate.

Property firm Carter Jonas is advertising the former Buildbase builders merchants site on Prospect Road in Starbeck as a ‘prime residential development opportunity’.

Its sales brochure adds “a decision is expected shortly” by North Yorkshire Council on whether to approve an outline planning application for 12 homes on the 1.02-acre site.

According to planning documents submitted to the council, the site — known as Arville Works — was advertised for sale as a commercial site by property firm FSS but failed to attract a buyer.

An officer at Harrogate Borough Council said in an email in January last year that it would be “really disappointing see the loss of this warehouse and retail showroom”.

The email said FSS had conducted 35 viewings, including second viewings, since September 2020. These led to nine offers, with two deals that progressed to solicitors falling through. But despite this “significant interest”, it concluded:

“Given the length of time that it has been actively marketed and the inability of FSS to secure a deal despite their best efforts, unfortunately it seems that there is little more that can be done in order to secure a successful commercial future for this site.”

The Arville Works site

 


Chris Robbins, a partner at Harrogate commercial property consultants Robbins Associates, questioned this.

Mr Robbins said:

“There is a massive shortage of employment land in Harrogate and Knaresborough, with most of the land allocation being at Flaxby, which does not appeal to many local employers.

“In my view this site should be retained for employment uses in accordance with the Local Plan policy. If it were to come back to the market, I believe it would find a ready occupier or purchaser.”

Cllr John Mann, a Conservative who chairs the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee, said:

“The application remains under consideration with nothing on file to indicate one way or the other whether it will be approved.”

Read more:

‘Stop this madness,’ says anti-Station Gateway campaigner

One of the main opponents of the £12.1 million Harrogate Station Gateway has issued a plea to halt the scheme.

The Stray Ferret reported on Friday that West Yorkshire Combined Authority is expected to approve the full business case for the gateway on Thursday (March 13).

This will pave the way for North Yorkshire Council to begin preparatory work soon before the year-long project gets underway in earnest in September

However, the latest plans for the downgraded scheme have not yet been made public, the cost has risen by almost another £1 million to £12.1 million and an assessment of the scheme has branded it “poor value for money“.

This led retired architect Barry Adams, a Harrogate resident and vocal gateway critic, to issue a plea for a rethink.

In a letter to the Stray Ferret, Mr Adams said the “overwhelming opinion” in Harrogate was that the gateway is a “total waste of public money”.

He added:

“The gateway plan achieves absolutely nothing but disruption to the town.

“We need to get this madness stopped so in the first instance we will once again consider organising an online petition and would ask residents of Harrogate and businesses to give it their full support.

“We need to strike a chord with people before it is too late.”

Mr Adams, who said he represented Harrogate Residents Association and Granville Road Residents Group, called instead for more focus on creating a park and ride bus service and a Harrogate bypass.

He accused Cllr Keane Duncan. the council’s executive member for highways and Conservative candidate to be North Yorkshire mayor, of “drip feeding” limited information on the gateway to boost his image in the run-up to the mayoral election on May 2.

You can read Mr Adams’ letter below.


Cllr Duncan said last week it was an “exciting time for the regeneration” of the town centre. He added:

“It will see pedestrian improvements along Station Parade, including raised crossings and signal junction improvements, a bus lane from Bower Road into the bus station and a south-bound segregated cycle lane. Station Parade will remain two lanes and there will be no changes to James Street.

“The scheme will also see public realm improvements to One Arch and Station Square, and new cycle parking at the railway station.”

Read more:

Letter by Barry Adams

I was not totally surprised when I read the news in a Stray Ferret article that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is expected to agree to approve downgraded gateway schemes in Selby and Skipton as well as Harrogate next week.

We have been drip fed very limited written statements on the de-scoped gateway but the actual plans have not been made public. This is totally inadequate to pass constructive comment on.

As we have stated repeatedly and publicly over the last few years the highways executive had and still appears to have a history of ignoring the democratic process, not listening, being dismissive of public comment, hiding behind a meaningless excess of words in press releases.

However, and in the spirit of co-operation and adopting a positive approach a small interested group has tried to arrange a meeting with Cllr Keane Duncan, the executive member for highways, to understand the full implications of the details. We have been waiting for over two months now for him to confirm an actual date.

We believe all the noise from North Yorkshire Council and Keane Duncan is a publicity exercise massaged to justify the project and now to boost the image of Cllr Duncan, the Conservative candidate in the forthcoming elections for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.  It also appears they are desperately scrambling to rescue their reputation with the Department for Transport and possibly other funding bodies.

This must not be allowed to happen at the long term expense of damage to Harrogate but North Yorkshire Council seem inured to criticism.  As the article points out, the de-scoped gateway has been branded “poor value for money” in a cost assessment of the scheme. It is an utter total waste of money when councils across the country are desperately trying to make ends meet.

From the extremely limited information we have been fed by North Yorkshire Council, this scheme is more insane than the original, wasting even more money.

It is OUR money — we as taxpayers in one form or another will ultimately pay for it.

The overwhelming opinion in Harrogate is that the gateway project even in its scaled back form is still a total waste of public money especially with the extortionate level of consultants’ fees spent to date.

All this appears to put the cart before the horse and we therefore question what opportunity there will be for change if, for example, we are not satisfied with the so called “first class public realm improvements”.

What improvements will there be to the appearance of Station Square, if any?  What improvements will there be for cycling when we have already suggested a way of achieving this in a joined-up way?  What improvements will there be for pedestrians? None.

What improvements will there be to public transport — none apart from the creation of a short length of dedicated bus lane.  Still no mention of park and ride.  What improvements will there be to reducing congestion, the original purpose of a gateway project — absolutely none.

A re-think on a bypass to remove through traffic from Station Parade is required along with park and ride in the town.   The gateway plan achieves absolutely nothing but disruption to the town.  We need to get this madness stopped so in the first instance we will once again consider organising an online petition and would ask residents of Harrogate and businesses to give it their full support.  We need to strike a chord with people before it is too late.

Barry Adams

On behalf of Harrogate Residents Association and Granville Road Resident’s Group

Readers’ Letters: Why does everything in Harrogate have to cater to the young?

Readers’ Letters is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This letter is in response to a feature written by senior journalist, John Grainger, about why Harrogate is so lacking in fun for young people.

Why does everything have to be aimed at the young? No bowling alley, for example.

Before the alley on Tower Street closed, others and I used to play there regularly – and we were not young! We were at least in our 70s at the time.

M&S is gearing their clothing for the young, and most of the shops in town seem to be geared for the young coffee drinkers who appear to have loads of time to be out and about.

We are all living longer and still wish to enjoy ourselves.

A bowling alley in Harrogate would be great.

Valerie Cooke, Harrogate

Why is the Harrogate taxpayer funding London consultants?

This letter is in response to an article about North Yorkshire Council hiring a London consultancy firm to look at alternative uses for Harrogate’s Convention Centre. The council declined to reveal how much it is paying the firm.

Well, so much for democracy!

The rate payers of Harrogate district paid for a London firm – why London? Leeds is closer and possibly cheaper to consult on the Convention Centre.

Tell us how much you spent of our money.

Who decided to use London consultants? As if London cares about Harrogate. Until, of course, Harrogate decides not to vote the London way.

Gillian Knight, Harrogate

Reservoir parking charges: a pay-on-exit system would be much fairer

This letter is in response to a story about parking charges recently introduced at Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs. It highlights problems with the ANPR system and walkers avoiding paying for parking.

We visited shortly after charges were introduced and ended up receiving a fine.

We intended to only walk round Fewston and thought that 2 hours would be ample for this.

What we had not realised was that, although our walk started at 11am, we had actually got there at about 10.45am to put our boots on and go to the loo etc.

It took us a bit longer than the two hours to complete the walk and then when we got back take our boots off. Our total time spent there was 2 hours and 20 minutes – hence the fine.

How do you know how long it is going to take you to do these walks? Especially if people are taking young children or dogs.

A system that charges on exit time taken would be much fairer and would avoid all this.

I note also that, although the charges have been introduced, the gents and disabled toilets are still out of order after several months.

In an isolated location like this vandalism is inevitable and will happen on a repeat basis I would think. How much is this going to cost?

We are now told we need to pay on the app. But from what we saw most people were struggling to understand the existing equipment – never mind an app.

We also noted on the day we walked that a group of walkers had not used the car park and parked at least 20 cars on both sides of the road in Timble village. Is that what the council wants?

Can you please help us to get this awful decision changed? At least payment on exit please!

Colin Calderwood, Wetherby

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Harrogate youngsters shine but competitive festival faces uncertain future 

For nearly 90 years, the Harrogate Competitive Festival for Music, Speech and Drama has been showcasing the diverse talents of up-and-coming performers from across the district. 

The festival, which attracted more than 1,000 entries this year, opened on Friday, March 1 with the promise of a varied programme over three weekends. It will end with a flourish on Sunday, March 17th, when the winning musicians and performers give a final concert.   

For many young musicians and drama students in the area, the festival is a much-loved fixture on their calendar. It offers an invaluable opportunity to perform in front of an audience of peers and receive feedback from professional adjudicators.

Former entrants have gone on to distinguished careers in music and the performing arts, with some of them featured in this year’s programme sharing their fond festival memories. 

Treasurer and secretary Alan Connell is one of them. He vividly remembers taking to the stage as a young violinist 63 years ago when the festival was held at the Royal Hall. He said it was a great experience and can help young performers push themselves and make progress – with some discovering how much they love it. He said: 

“We’ve got quite a lot of teenagers who have been coming since they were little. We get children whose parents performed as youngsters at the festival. Some of the performing arts participants come every year because they intend to pursue it as a profession.” 

Harrogate Competitive Festival winners

Winners Beatrice Adeleke and Sophia Coe with drama teacher Denyse Smith, all from the Knaresborough School of Speech and Drama, and adjudicator Paul Trigg.

An uncertain future 

This year’s opening weekend went very well, said Alan, with more than 60 classes mainly in piano, strings and woodwind, plus some speech and drama. But despite the fantastic start and the healthy number of entries, the festival faces an uncertain future. 

It has struggled to return to its pre-pandemic numbers after being forced to cancel in 2020 and 2021. Since then, the committee has been working to attract more competitors and last year introduced additional classes to appeal to a wider demographic. Alan said this had helped to some extent:  

“This year has been a lot better for numbers, and for the first time in about five years we’ve had enough entries to warrant classes on Friday evenings as well as the weekend. But we’ve noticed that some of the festival’s music classes are not as well attended as they used to be. Schools are no longer encouraged to provide music lessons and it can be expensive for parents to pay for tuition for their children.

“Speech and drama, however, is doing better and overall we are quite confident that if we can keep going for a few more years we can get the numbers back up to pre-pandemic levels.” 

Whether there’s time to do this remains in doubt, however. The festival was founded in 1936 and is run entirely by volunteers as a registered charity.

It costs around £20,000 a year to produce the event, and this is covered through operating income and donations. Grants and funding that were previously available have been cut, as they have for other similar festivals and the arts and music nationally. Entry fees for all classes were increased this year, but the festival is reliant on reserves built up through the generosity of benefactors and donors.

Alan said:

“We don’t consider making a profit but we do think in terms of shortfalls. We need financial support. We’ve been lucky over the last 10 years to have had a couple of nice legacies from a small number of supporters, but it’s very difficult to break even. The festival’s future over the next couple of years is uncertain.”

He added that the volunteers are ‘all getting older’ and they were also in need of new people to help them organise and run the event.

The final concert takes place at Harrogate High School on Sunday March 17, at 2pm. Tickets cost £6 and are available from Alan Connell on 01423 527 586. Contact Alan if you would also like to make a donation to support the festival.

Min pic: Some of the festival competitors and adjudicators

Read more:

Yemi’s Food Stories: Brunch at The Hideaway in Boroughbridge

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in the 2022 series of BBC TV’s Masterchef competition.

Every Saturday Yemi writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food and shares cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

 

The Hideaway is one of those places that locals would like to keep quiet to ensure they can always get a table – but a good secret is worth sharing. At least that’s what I told some Boroughbridge residents I ran into at the restaurant, after they said I am going to be calling Yorkshire’s attention to their ‘hideaway’.

Head chef Ben Keightley invited me to try the brunch-style menu, which takes inspiration from world cuisines. With options ranging from American-style fried chicken and rarebit, to Asian salads and a Moroccan lamb dish, this was an offer I could not refuse.

There was a definite buzz about the restaurant, and I could tell they have made quite an impression since they opened. The décor is calm, inviting and welcoming and the relaxed atmosphere and layout accommodates everyone.

There is a little corner of the restaurant in which you can buy gifts including handmade soaps, candles, books and scarves. I thought this was a lovely way to end the meal.

Moroccan-inspired lamb

I opted for the Moroccan-style braised lamb, served with garlic flatbread, tzatziki, rocket and pomegranate.

I can’t resist fresh bread, so this was at the top of my list and I wasn’t disappointed! The bread was fluffy and slightly crunchy on the outside. The lamb was tender with the fat well rendered down, flavoursome and fragrant from the spices without having any heat.

Yoghurt-based sauces are sometimes bland, but this was well seasoned and provided the creaminess to the dish that married well with the braised lamb. I also loved the simple yet stylish plating.

The red onion and lamb delivered umami and the rocket brought a touch of bitterness. The sauce provided a necessary creaminess and the pomegranate seeds gave pops of sweet juiciness.

The magic happened when you get a bit of every element on your fork.

This was a dish I couldn’t stop eating and one that I would definitely recommend. It is substantial, filling and reasonably priced at £15.95.

Buttermilk chicken

The second dish I tried was the buttermilk chicken with coleslaw and charred sweetcorn.

There is something about charred sweetcorn that immediately takes me back to my childhood in Nigeria. The smell of corns roasting over hot coals would always draw you in.

I am partial to flavour, temperature, and texture combinations, so the play on sweet, savoury, crunch, creaminess, bitterness and acidity was lovely.

I am not a fan of raw onions, but I loved the touch of acidity that the onion brought to the red coleslaw – which was also delicious. Creamy dressings can often feel and taste heavy, but this one was delicate.

The charred corn was sweet and juicy with pops of crunchiness, and the rocket salad complemented the creamy slaw well.

This dish reminded me of my American holidays; crunchy yet juicy fried chicken, drizzled in sweet maple and mustard dressing.

Next time, I think I’ll try the halloumi or truffle fries on the side of this dish.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. For me, a touch more mustard would help to cut through and restrain the sweetness of the maple syrup.

But, this brunch dish is only £14 and is a great value for money.

With plans to start a Friday and Saturday tasting menu on April 4, this is set to be an exciting hangout for all and certainly worth a trip to Boroughbridge.

Read more:

Review: Macbeth reimagined at Leeds Playhouse

Lauren Crisp is a book editor, writer and keen follower of arts and culture. Born and raised in Harrogate, Lauren recently moved back to North Yorkshire after a stint in London, where she regularly reviewed theatre – everything from big West End shows to small fringe productions. She is now eager to explore the culture on offer in and around her home town.  You can contact Lauren on laurencrispwriter@gmail.com. 

Following a previous run in 2022, Leeds Playhouse’s deputy artistic director Amy Leach returns with her dark and edgy directorial vision of the Bard’s Scottish play.

As the performance opens, the stage is stark; an enormous wooden drawbridge stands in the centre, surrounded by a forest of scaffolding towers, each one throwing a searchlight into the air. Hard-edged, cold and inhospitable, the scene is set for the treachery to come.

This central drawbridge rises and descends as the action unfolds, revealing a myriad of imaginary settings, from foggy, desolate moorland, to the interior, intimate spaces of the story, charged with secrecy, whispers and lies. The set, designed by Hayley Grindle, is distinctive and, for me, the play’s crux. Intense, dramatic sound and lighting heighten the atmosphere.

Striking, too, is the cast and creative team’s accessible vision. With its diverse company, the production is created to be accessible to all, with a dedication to audio, amplification and the integration of sign language.

Deaf actor Adam Bassett’s Macduff’s words are relayed out loud by other characters; at times, the transition between language styles is a little tricky to follow, yet more often the approach makes the dialogue even more impactful.

The cast, with their familiar regional accents and their own twists on the delivery of the Bard’s words, make this relatively straightforward to grasp (good news for the Shakespeare-shy among us). Macbeth, played by Ash Hunter of West End Hamilton fame, delivers a convincing portrayal of the eponymous lead.

Yet, the interpretation and addition of certain scenes featuring the male characters are overplayed. I found the joviality and machismo a little wearing, with an excess of fist-pumping and some exaggerated drunken behaviour. An early fight scene is less rousing than it is jarring, oddly choreographed into something that came across as a Game-of-Thrones-style dance battle, setting a strange tone.

Elkanah Wilder, Karina Jones and Charlotte Arrowsmith (witches) with Ash Hunter (Macbeth). Pic Kirsten McTernan

Another effect of this over-egged manhood is to detract some attention from the fundamental female element of this play. Here, Lady Macbeth comes second to her husband, and the witches, so often the most enthralling, outlandish characters, do not garner the attention they deserve.

Characterisation, as a whole, is not mined as deeply as I would like or expect. For a play that, once stripped back, is so very human at its core, we lose a sense of humanity amid all the action. This production takes a great deal on, but it might be a case of ‘less is more’.

There is, though, much to be valued in the addition of a new, accessible edition of a play seen by centuries’-worth of theatregoers, but never seen like this; one that seeks to appeal to audiences in novel ways, and to draw new crowds.

Macbeth is at Leeds Playhouse until Saturday 23 March.

Read more:

Developers revive plans to build in Harrogate’s Crimple Valley

Developers have revived plans to build 17 homes in Harrogate’s Crimple Valley.

North Yorkshire Council refused an application by Harrogate firm Square Feet Ltd and Leeds-based Antela Developments Ltd to build 17 homes at Almsford Bank Stables in September.

It was the third attempt to build on land off Leeds Road, south of properties on Fulwith Road and Fulwith Grove.

The plans were opposed by the campaign group Save Crimple Valley and received 360 objections and no letters of support.

Now the developers have appealed against the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which will adjudicate.

The council’s reasons for refusal included that the scheme would “urbanise and erode the distinctive rural character of the Crimple Valley landscape”, cause harm to the setting of the grade two listed Crimple Valley Viaduct and result in the loss of a “relatively large number of mature trees, including trees protected by a tree preservation order”.

The 4.4 hectare-site, which has historically been used for equestrian purposes, would see seven affordable build and 10 self and custom build homes.

Loss of 48 trees

A statement of case by the developers said the appeal “is made in the context of the government’s requirement to meet the need for self and custom build housing and seeks to assist in addressing the significant and sustained unmet need in Harrogate for self and custom housing plots”. It then details why it believes the council’s reasons were flawed.

It says the Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place, supports windfall sites for self and custom build housing on the edge of settlements.

It argues views of the viaduct “have been carefully considered and protected” and “extended areas of native planting will reinforce the green nature of the corridor”. The document adds:

“The proposal does not therefore urbanise or erode the rural character of this part of Harrogate but has been sympathetically designed to respect the edge of settlement location and the setting of the Crimple Valley Viaduct.

“The proposed replacement and mitigation planting results in a net increase in tree cover.

“On the basis of the evidence set out, the development as proposed is both suitable and sustainable and there is a justification to grant planning permission.”

A tree report submitted in documents to the council says 48 trees “together with a short stretch of hedge requires removal for the access road”.

It adds:

“The trees to be removed are generally poor quality, mostly small in stature and easily replaceable, the retained trees and woodland can be robustly protected.”

In 2021, plans for 65 homes at the site were withdrawn. In 2022, a smaller application for 35 homes was refused by Harrogate Borough Council.

Read more:

Geoff Brown steps down as chief executive of Ripon Farm Services

Ripon Farm Services has appointed Richard Simpson to succeed Geoff Brown as chief executive.

Mr Brown, who will transition to chairman, has enjoyed one of the longest-serving and most successful leadership careers in the district.

He was one of five men who founded the business in 1982 and has been at the helm ever since, overseeing huge growth.

In a statement today, the company said Mr Simpson will have “full responsibility for the strategic development of Ripon Farm Services and the day-to-day running of the business”.

It added Mr Simpson, who is from a farming background, became commercial director three years ago and has “extensive experience in transforming companies large and small” and would bring “a fresh perspective to Ripon Farm Services”.

Mr Simpson said:

“Ripon Farm Services is a truly great business and following Geoff to lead the company is the most challenging thing I have ever done. What an incredible legacy he has built.

“We must all work together to ensure that the values on which the company is built are preserved and enhanced in the years to come.”

The statement said Mr Brown, who was awarded an MBE last year, “will continue to be ever-present in the company and advise on strategic direction to ensure the seamless transfer of knowledge and expertise”.

It added:

“He will also be able to dedicate more time and energy to his upcoming charitable endeavours in his role as president of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.”

Read more:

Mr Brown said:

“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all employees, customers and the folks at John Deere who have been instrumental in our journey over the past 40 years. The unwavering commitment, hard work, and passion have been invaluable in shaping the company into what it is today.

“That said we must keep moving forwards. There is a lot to do, and we must continue to improve, embrace innovation, and always strive to surpass customer expectations.”

Mr Brown at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Mr Brown said his successor “has been instrumental in driving the changes we needed to make in the last three years” and had “a proven track record of driving growth, fostering innovation and nurturing talent”.

Joedy Ibbotson, division business manager at John Deere UK, paid tribute to Mr Brown:

“Under his leadership the business has grown to become one of the largest and leading John Deere dealers in the UK.

“Geoff should be immensely proud of what he has built, for over 40 years his unrelenting commitment to serving farming and rural communities has been foundational to Ripon Farm Services success.”

Ripon Farm Services, which was established in 1982, employs more than 300 people.

It is one of the largest John Deere dealers in the UK with 14 sites in Yorkshire, Teesside, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

It is responsible for the sale and aftersales support of agricultural machinery, ground care equipment and professional turf equipment by John Deere and other major manufacturers.

Cedar Court Harrogate to open £500,000 restaurant

A new restaurant called Amber’s is to open at the Cedar Court hotel in Harrogate.

The hotel, which has been undergoing an extensive refurbishment over the last 12 months, is investing £500,000 into the venture.

It is hoped the restaurant, which will seat 75 people, will open next month.

The hotel said in a press release today it would be a “high-quality dining experience through its menu, service and décor” serving traditional British dishes.

A private dining and entertaining venue, the Imaginarium, is also being launched alongside the restaurant with capacity for up to 28 people.

The Cedar Court also announced a refreshed banqueting space for dinners, events, and weddings with a capacity of 250 covers, known as the Queen’s Suite, will also open.

The venue has undergone ground floor renovations, including updating the lounge, bar and other public areas over the last year.

Cedar Court Hotel

Hotel group managing director Wayne Topley said:

“Since I joined Cedar Court five years ago, I wanted to put a special dining concept into Cedar Court Harrogate.

“The significant investment underlies our belief in Harrogate as a real Yorkshire gem, a first-choice dining destination for visitors and local residents alike.

“Amber’s will be a very elegant dining experience, with stylish and traditional design features giving this part of the hotel a new lease of life and energy and new offering this part of Harrogate.”

They name Amber’s was inspired by the pioneering scientist Lady Amber Fitzwilliam, who was a long-time resident at Cedar Court, formerly known as The Queens Hotel in the 1900s.

Cedar Court has been working on the design and planning for the restaurant since last summer with Yorkshire-based, Studio Two Interiors, which has worked on hospitality projects including Lucia’s Wine Bar & Grill, Cut & Craft and Six by Nico.

Read more:

Rossett School making ‘significant improvements’ after poor Ofsted

Ofsted has said Rossett School in Harrogate still requires improvement but progress is being made.

A previous visit by the government schools’ inspector in November 2022 concluded Rossett ‘requires improvement’ amid concerns about high staff turnover, disruptive pupils and extremely high absence rates among disadvantaged students.

This poor grading led to a government inspector returning on January 23 this year for a monitoring inspection.

Monitoring inspections do not grade the school’s overall effectiveness, but identify and report on progress.

The new report, which has just been uploaded on Ofsted’s website, said in its judgement:

“Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the school to become good.”

Its main findings said “significant improvements” had taken place since former Harrogate Grammar School deputy headteacher Tim Milburn was appointed headteacher in September last year.

The Red Kite Learning Trust, which the school joined at about the time of Mr Milburn’s arrival, created an interim executive board to strengthen governance and support school leaders.

The Ofsted report said:

“The school has secured improvements in pupils’ behaviour. Leaders have raised everyone’s expectations of pupils’ conduct. A new lesson structure has had a positive impact.

“Disruption to learning has reduced, and pupils engage well in lessons. Incidents of internal truancy have reduced significantly since the previous inspection.”

But it added the number of suspensions has increased this year and “a minority of pupils continue to demonstrate challenging behaviour”.

‘Sharper focus’ on attention

The report said leaders “have a sharper focus on attendance than was previously the case” but “some pupils do not attend school often enough”.

It added:

“The number of disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities who are persistently absent from school, although improved, is still too high.”

The inspector concluded:

“The lessons I visited on this visit were purposeful and pupils were focused. Pupils are now benefiting from a curriculum that is helping them to know and remember more of what they have been taught. The school has clear improvement plans to address the next steps identified at the previous inspection.

“School and trust leaders have ensured that the school is improving quickly. You are aware that there is more work to do to improve published outcomes, particularly of disadvantaged pupils, and to increase pupils’ attendance.

‘High expectations’

Rossett said in a statement the 2022 report had been a “catalyst for significant change” and there had been a “sharpened focus on ‘attitudes and behaviour’.

Mr Milburn (pictured above) said:

“We will continue to have high expectations for all students, whether it be about attendance, punctuality, uniform, or behaviour.

“These high expectations, which are rooted in our shared values, allow the individual and the whole community to work and learn in a safe, productive, and happy environment. Where students challenge those expectations, we will continue to take appropriate action that minimises the effect on those who are routinely choosing to do the right thing.

“This is an area where parental support is so powerful, and we will continue to work together to improve in this area.”

Read more: