A new headteacher has been selected to lead St Aidan’s High School from September.

The Harrogate school has appointed Siân Dover to the role, from her current post of principal of Oasis Academy Lister Park in Bradford.

She was previously part of the leadership team that saw Nidderdale High School ranked within the top 100 schools in the country for securing outstanding GCSE outcomes.

Mrs Dover said:

“With the exception of my most recent school, I have always worked in schools in North Yorkshire. It is not only my home county, but also an area that I feel a strong affinity with.”

“My reason for applying to St Aidan’s, however, was much deeper than that. This is a school with a strong identity, a fantastic heritage and a community of students, staff and families that I felt it would be a real privilege to be part of.

“It is also abundantly clear that there is a huge amount for this school to be proud of, but I wouldn’t be a headteacher if I didn’t have a strong belief that I can help build on all of these strengths to help the school develop further in the future. The world that awaits our students is constantly evolving, and it is important that the education that we offer meets those needs.

“That is why leading the school is such a genuinely exciting prospect, and just like in my previous two jobs, I plan to be here for the long term.”

It will be the first time the school has been led on a permanent basis by a woman since its founding headteacher, Miss Hindmarsh, who was appointed in 1966.

Chair of governors Joanne Wicks said:

“Not only does Siân have the expertise and experience to build on all of St Aidan’s strengths, but her Christian values and commitment to providing a nurturing and caring environment for every young person made her the perfect fit for our community.”

In a letter to parents, Mrs Wicks and Jane Goodwin, interim CEO of Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, said the new head would bring “significant senior leadership experience and knowledge of the current education landscape”.

They added:

“The committee is confident that Mrs Dover has the skills and experience needed to successfully lead St Aidan’s as the school begins a new chapter in its history.”

Read more:

• Ten students at St Aidan’s and St John Fisher associated sixth form get Oxbridge offers
• St Aidan’s in Harrogate appoints interim head

The school said candidates from across the country applied for the role of headteacher when it was advertised in January.

Geography and PE graduate Mrs Dover was selected through a two-day assessment by its governing body and board of trustees, as well as the Diocese of Leeds. Pupils, members of the school leadership team, and other headteachers in the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust (YCST) were also involved.

Mrs Wicks and Jane Goodwin, interim CEO of YCST, said she would bring “significant senior leadership experience and knowledge of the current education landscape”.

St Aidan’s has been without a permanent head since December 2021, when Chris Burt left through ill health. He was replaced by Chris Ives as acting headteacher, before David Thornton was appointed last summer on an interim basis.

In recruiting for the role, St Aidan’s acknowledged it had faced a “challenging” time over the last 18 months.

The school was rated inadequate in an Ofsted report published last January, following a visit by inspectors more than three months earlier. The report found four out of five areas to be ‘good’ but because the leadership and management were ‘inadequate’, the overall rating was also brought down.

However, a monitoring visit in May led Ofsted to return for a full inspection just two days later. The report, published in June, concluded the school was ‘good’, with pupil behaviour and its sixth form both rated ‘outstanding’.

Mrs Goodwin said the school was in “excellent hands” under Mr Thornton until September, and thanked him for his leadership while St Aidan’s waited for the “right moment” to recruit its new head.

The inquest of Harrogate woman Judith Holliday, who died after going missing for two weeks last summer, was opened today.

Ms Holliday was 73 when she left her care home in Harrogate on a Saturday morning last September.

When she did not return, her family alerted the police and a search began. Over the following days, the search involved mountain rescue services and the use of drones to try to locate her.

Her family made repeated appeals to try to trace her movements, and sightings were confirmed at Harrogate bus station and on the way to North Rigton.

However, after two weeks of searching, Ms Holliday’s body was found adjacent to the level crossing on Dunkeswick Lane, Weeton.

North Yorkshire assistant coroner Alison Norton opened the hearing in Northallerton this morning.

She confirmed Ms Holliday was born in Zimbabwe in July 1949, and died in Weeton on September 10, 2022.

The coroner said a post mortem found the cause of death was unexplained. The inquest was adjourned to a date to be confirmed.

Read more:

• Police searching for missing Harrogate 73-year-old woman find a body
• ‘Help us get Judith home’ – plea from family of missing Harrogate woman

A coach company based in Boroughbridge will have to pay more than £30,000 after a tribunal found it had harassed an employee who had Asperger’s syndrome.

A hearing at Leeds Employment Tribunal heard Thomas Holland was also subjected to direct discrimination, victimisation and unauthorised deductions from his pay while he worked for A&A Coach Travel, which provides private hire and school transport services.

The tribunal heard Mr Holland had been called “special needs”, an “illiterate cretin”, and an “imbecile”, as well as other offensive terms for people with disabilities, by A&A employee James Fairchild in group chats between all staff.

There were further messages from other employees, shown to the tribunal by Mr Holland, and he said he was also subjected to face-to-face abuse while at work.

A report from the tribunal said:

“The claimant said that he would cry to himself when alone and dreaded going into work each day. He carried on without complaint hoping the behaviour would cease, but it never did.

“He did not tell his father because he felt embarrassed to do so and did not want to cause him any upset. He just kept telling his father that everything was fine.”

However, the problems came to a head in November 2020, when his car was damaged while in the company’s car park. He was told another employee had reversed into it but, when he reported it to transport manager Antoni La Pilusa, Mr Holland found he was “not interested”.

Mr Holland said he was then put under pressure not to pursue an insurance claim for the damage, and that Mr La Pilusa threatened to dismiss him if he did.

The tribunal report said:

“Mr La Pilusa, however, said that the claimant could stop all that by cancelling his insurance claim. In fear, the claimant rang his insurers and attempted to do so. However, his insurers would not let him.

“When he reported this back to Mr La Pilusa, the claimant was given a pen and paper and transcribed, as dictated to him by Mr La Pilusa, an account (accepting blame) which would invalidate any insurance complaint.”

When Mr Holland’s father, Robert, heard what had happened, he helped his son to write a resignation email. He asked for outstanding wages of £576 to be paid.

The company claimed it was deducting the money from his pay to cover damage done to its vehicles while he was driving them. However, the tribunal found there was no evidence that Mr Holland caused any of the damage to the vehicles.

Read more:

• Knaresborough woman who refused to wear face mask unfairly dismissed, tribunal rules
• 45 former CNG staff in £210,000 tribunal win against Harrogate firm

After leaving A&A Travel, Mr Holland began working for another bus operator in December 2020. After just a few hours, he was called into the office and told the company had been informed he had caused several accidents in his previous workplace.

Mr Holland said the claim was untrue, but was dismissed from his new job.

He then received a letter from the DVLA saying he had to take a full medical test, putting his right to drive at risk, because it had received information calling into question his mental state and standard of driving.

In March 2021, when Mr Holland was working for another bus company, he was told his employer had received an email from someone at A&A Coach Travel alleging that he was “a danger to women”.

Damage to health

Although Mr Holland did not lose his job, he left because of the impact the situation had on his health. His father told the tribunal Mr Holland was “very depressed and completely withdrawn” at the time, and had not fully recovered since.

The tribunal report, published last week, said:

“The claimant told the tribunal that the whole situation had damaged his health considerably. He was crying all the time, his stammer had returned and he was unable to sleep.

“Whilst he was feeling slightly better now, he still worried about letters coming through the post and didn’t answer his phone unless he knew who the caller was. He described himself as still depressed and not trusting anyone. He said that the last two years had been ‘horrible’.”

Defending A&A Coach Travel at the tribunal, James Fairchild asked Mr Holland why he had not reported the abusive messages to his managers.

Mr Holland said all the company directors and managers had seen the group chat, and he did not want to risk his job by creating problems.

Mr Fairchild told the tribunal Mr Holland had himself been “involved in banter disparaging of others (particularly women)” but he did not provide any evidence of this.

The tribunal heard further claims that Mr Holland had damaged other vehicles, but was again not given any evidence.

Blackmail

The tribunal also heard that Mr Fairchild had emailed Mr Holland’s solicitors in March 2022 saying that some of the evidence presented to show his disabilities seemed “incompatible” with him having a driving licence. He said he would be obliged to report this to the DVLA and Mr Holland’s new employer, unless the tribunal claim was discontinued within a week.

The tribunal said this amounted to blackmail.

The tribunal concluded that the comments made at work to Mr Holland “created a hostile, humiliating and offensive environment”. It also found, on the issue of the damage to his car, Mr La Pilusa “sought to intimidate and threaten” Mr Holland because of his disability.

A&A Coach Travel was ordered to pay compensation of £25,000 to Mr Holland for how he was treated during his employment, and its conduct during the tribunal.

The tribunal also instructed the company of pay £4,069.23 in interest for the 111 weeks since Mr Holland left the company, and £2,000 towards his legal costs.

A further £1,500 was imposed for the company’s unreasonable behaviour during the tribunal process, including sending an abusive email to Mr Holland’s solicitor and failing to meet deadlines set by the panel.

Police found £100,000 in cash as part of a week of action targeting county lines drug dealing around Harrogate.

The discovery was made at a property in Leeds, which was raided along with three others in the city and in Kirk Deighton, to disrupt links to Harrogate.

County lines crime sees organised gangs target vulnerable people, such as drug users, people with mental or physical disabilities, sex workers, or single mothers. They are often victims of ‘cuckooing’, where the gangs take over their homes and use them as a base for dealing drugs across county borders.

North Yorkshire Police tackles the issue under its Operation Expedite unit and, as part of a National Crime Agency initiative, carried out a “week of intensification” at the beginning of March.

As well as the cash recovered, it saw three people arrested for offences relating to drug dealing and handling criminal property. All three – two men aged 19 and 41, and a woman aged 26 – have since been released under investigation.

A 32-year-old who attended a police interview voluntarily was released with a warning for possession of cannabis.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Simpson, who coordinated the week of activity in North Yorkshire, said:

 “County lines drug dealing is a major priority for North Yorkshire Police, so much so that we have teams who are focused full-time on disrupting drug dealing activity.

“Although last week’s activity is part of a national week of intensification, it is indicative of the activity going on across North Yorkshire all of the time.

“The fact that we have safeguarded 70 people in one week shows our commitment to protect vulnerable people who have been or are at risk of being exploited by dealers.

“I would urge anyone with information about drug dealing in their community to call us on 101; we treat every piece of information as important.”

To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Any young person worried about being targeted by county lines gangs can call Childline in confidence on 0800 1111.

Read more:

• ‘If you swim with sharks, you get bitten,’ judge tells Harrogate cocaine dealer
• Photos show how Albanian drugs gang transformed Harrogate home into cannabis farm

The Harrogate district is bracing itself for heavy snow later today, with an amber weather warning in place.

The Met Office has warned that the most severe weather is expected from around 3pm, lasting until noon tomorrow.

The warning, which covers large parts of North Yorkshire, said:

“Heavy snow is likely to cause significant disruption on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.

“[Expect] travel delays on roads, stranding some vehicles and passengers. Some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely.

“There is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off. Power cuts are likely and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.”

There is still a high degree of uncertainty, however, with the Harrogate district being on the edge of the amber warning area and the BBC forecast showing only light snow and sleet for the rest of the day.

This morning, snow has been falling steadily in Harrogate and Knaresborough, leaving a covering on fields and gardens. However, roads are largely unaffected and remain clear.

To the north and west of Harrogate, conditions are clearer, with only light, sleety snowfall so far.

However, the forecast is for the weather to deteriorate later in the day, leading some traders to stay away from today’s market in Ripon, even though there was no snow early this morning.

Ripon market early today

Brian Murphy

Fruit and vegetable trader Brian Murphy was on site as usual this morning. He told the Stray Ferret:

“We will be keeping a close eye on the weather.

“Other traders who come from further away have decided not to come today because of fears that heavy snow could see them stuck here and unable to get home.”

Meanwhile, RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate is closed today, as is Bettys’ on-site cafe – though its shop remains open.

Harewood House has also said it will close tomorrow.

Harrogate College has issued a notice that it plans to close its doors at 1pm to ensure students and staff can get home safely.

⚠️ Important weather announcement ⚠️

Due to the heavy snow predicted this afternoon, Harrogate College will be closing at 1pm today allowing time for staff and students to safely travel home.

Online learning will take place, please contact your tutor if you have any questions.

— Harrogate College (@HarrogateColl) March 9, 2023

There are no school closures so far today. Some nurseries in the area have asked parents to collect children as early as possible this afternoon before conditions worsen.

The Stray Ferret will continue to cover the weather conditions as they change today, tonight and into tomorrow. Keep checking our site and our Facebook and Twitter feeds for the latest news, including school closures, transport updates and more.

Got something to report? Email the news team with the details.

Firefighters were called to Ripley this morning to deal with a chimney fire at the Boar’s Head.

A fire was lit at the inn, which has 23 bedrooms, at 7.30am and began billowing smoke shortly afterwards.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was summoned at about 8am and the incident was quickly under control. There was no damage to the wider building.

March 9 2023

Three fire engines, including the aerial ladder platform, attended. 

The inn, which has a bar, snug and dining room, is part of the Ripley Castle estate.

Harrogate Fire Station used the incident to issue a reminder about the importance of regular chimney sweeping.

A good reminder to have your chimneys swept regularly. You can find your local chimney sweep on the following website https://t.co/gia2RKRdyR

— Harrogate Fire station (@Harrogate_NYFRS) March 9, 2023

Read more:

• Dance event in Ripley hopes to revive old Dales traditions
• New monthly market coming to Ripley

Ofsted inspectors have praised the ethos and “high ambitions” at Nidderdale High School in their latest report.

The report, published yesterday, was not a full grading inspection but found the school “continues to be good”, in line with its last full inspection ranking in 2017.

After visiting the school in January, inspectors found pupils felt safe, behaviour was generally good, and pupils with special educational needs and disabilities were well supported.

The report said:

“There is a full personal development programme in place for pupils. This has a clear focus on important issues such as careers education, personal safety and relationships, sex and health education.

“Assemblies focus on developing pupils’ character, supporting their wellbeing and improving their resilience. Leaders have established a programme called ‘Wednesday Flourish’ where pupils access opportunities to support their wider development such as baking, bush craft and sign language.

“Trips and visits have also been re-established. Pupils can go on theatre trips, to Christmas markets and abroad to places such as Berlin and France. Pupils in Years 10 and 11 can also be part of the student council, and leaders have plans to re-establish the key stage 3 student council.

“Morale among staff is high. They feel valued by members of the leadership team, who are mindful of their workload. All staff who responded to the staff survey said that they were proud to work at the school.”

Inspectors particularly praised the Pateley Bridge school’s ‘Niddventure’ programme, with outdoor learning opportunities such as hill climbing.

They said the way it was set up enabled pupils to choose their own activities and was inclusive of all pupils.

Read more:

• Knaresborough’s King James’s School rated ‘good’ by Ofsted
• Harrogate’s St John Fisher school rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

The report cited two key areas for development. Firstly, it said the school did not work closely enough with alternative providers where some of its students were enrolled, and should be visiting them regularly.

Secondly, it found there was still work to do in developing the curriculum across all subjects. The inspectors said:

“Pupils generally behave well in lessons and around school. In some lessons, there is some low-level disruption. Teachers follow the behaviour policy to refocus pupils on their learning.

“Where behaviour is not as strong in some lessons, learning activities are not as challenging as they could be. Leaders know this and have plans to review curriculum planning in subjects where the curriculum requires further development, including in mathematics.”

‘High ambitions recognised’

Nidderdale High School, which has just under 400 pupils aged between 11 and 16 on its roll, has welcomed the latest report.

Headteacher Kath Jordan said:

“We were delighted to see the importance of strong relationships highlighted through our emphasis on Ready, Respectful and Safe.

“The many strengths of our school in providing support, care and guidance for individuals are highlighted as well as some of the more unique and innovative aspects of our school curriculum, including NiddVenture and Flourish.

“The new inspection framework places great emphasis on curriculum development and we were very pleased that the school’s ‘high ambitions’ were recognised and that our ability to provide a ‘wide curriculum offer’ is also noted.

“Our teaching staff are passionate about their subjects and about providing the very best opportunities for all of our young people. This is recognised in the ‘shared vision for ensuring that the quality of education continues to improve’.

“From an already good position we will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do at Nidderdale High School.”

Ofsted carries out interim visits to schools rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ to ensure they are still of the same standard, without giving a new rating.

If inspectors find the school would now achieve a higher or lower ranking, they will carry out a full grading inspection, usually within two years.

The inquest of a young Harrogate man who died after an incident on Claro Road was opened this morning.

Sebastian Henry Mitchell, known as Seb, was found with injuries at a property in the early hours of Sunday, February 19.

The inquest, held in Northallerton, heard he had been taken to Harrogate District Hospital for emergency treatment, before being transferred to Leeds General Infirmary for cardiac surgery.

Mr Mitchell, who would have turned 18 on February 28, died aged 17 on Tuesday, February 21 at LGI.

Opening the inquest, North Yorkshire coroner Jon Heath said the provisional cause of death was a stab wound to the chest, causing a loss of blood and oxygen to the brain.

Mr Heath adjourned the inquest to a date yet to be fixed, while further investigations are carried out and reports are prepared.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to appear in court next week in relation to the incident. The teenager was initially remanded into youth custody at York Magistrates Court, is expected to appear at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.

Read more:

• ‘We will carry him in our hearts forever’ — family’s tribute to Harrogate teen Seb Mitchell
• Harrogate Grammar School pays tribute to Seb Mitchell

Problems of loneliness and isolation are often associated with older people.

But one social enterprise in Harrogate says the issue is just as likely to affect young mothers – and it is trying to put an end to the problem.

MyLifePool set up the Working Mums Network several years ago, but it stopped meeting during the covid pandemic.

Now, the group is being re-established to offer dinners, nights out, and events with speakers and social time, to enable like-minded mums to form stronger bonds.

Founder Vic Smith-Dunn said:

“Many working mums struggle with feeling disconnected from their peers and their community and motherhood is a significant trigger for loneliness. At myLifePool we understand that being a working mum can be an isolating experience, especially during these challenging times.

“That’s why we created a community where mums can connect, share experiences, and have fun together.”

Read more:

• Bus route changes ‘could leave vulnerable more isolated’ in Harrogate
• Men in Oatlands live 13 years longer than in Bilton Woodfield, says report

One local mum recently posted on Facebook saying how lonely she was, prompting a flurry of responses offering support – including Vic.

She said she has been putting together new events over the last few weeks to combat loneliness and support people through rising fuel costs. They include the Warm Wednesdays social sessions, as well as a Lego club for primary school children and their parents.

While opportunities for families to get together during the day are popular, Vic said working parents often miss out and can be lonely even when they are busy.

She said:

“We often think that it’s retired people living alone who are in danger of becoming socially isolated, but new parents and working parents are just as vulnerable.

“It’s like the old saying goes, it’s possible to be lonely in a crowded room.

“This kind of thing is everything I’m so passionate about: people just need the opportunity and a gentle introduction to widen their social circle, which makes the world of difference to people’s mental health and, in turn, their physical health.”

The Working Mums Network will meet at Oatlands Community Centre next Wednesday, March 8, from 7pm to 9pm.

It will run in partnership with Parent Smart Learning, offering life hacks to help working parents to save time and make home life easier. A short presentation will be followed by time for socialising.

Tickets are free to myLifePool members, or £4 for non-members, who can get a month’s free trial to attend the event. To book a place, click here.

The departure of New Look from the town centre this week has led to concerns over what the Harrogate district offers to people on low incomes.

Its closure, which reportedly came despite the company’s wish to stay in Harrogate, follows the departure of M&Co in Ripon when that company went into administration.

While many large brands remain, alongside new and long-standing independent businesses, the budget end of the market is less well-served.

Other than Primark, affordable fashion – especially for men – is hard to find anywhere in the Harrogate district, especially following the departure of the likes of H&M in recent years.

The issue is recognised by local organisations working with people on low incomes, including Harrogate and District Community Action.

Its information and communications officer Angela Jones said:

“Local charities in Harrogate district recognise the challenges of finding affordable food and clothing in the current economic climate and are very active in supporting people facing food and clothing poverty.

“HADCA signposts people to organisations who can help, including through our Where To Turn directory. Local charity shops also play a vital role, recycling unwanted clothing at a lower cost, whilst fundraising for their causes.”

Mike Procter, co-ordinator of Harrogate Clothes Bank

Among the organisations supporting people who can’t afford to buy new clothes is Harrogate Clothes Bank.

Based on Hornbeam Park, the charity takes donations from individuals and passes them on to people who need them.

Its operations director, Mike Procter, said:

“We try to provide dignity to people who struggle to afford clothes. We try to create shopping experience.

“Everything we provide is free of charge. Customers can self-refer or be referred by a support organisation – no proof of referral or proof of low-income is required. We operate on a basis of trust.

“We have noticed a significant increase in customer numbers in last 12 months.”

The clothes bank was founded in 2016 by St Mark’s Church and is run by volunteers, including people of all faiths and none.

Last year, it saw 550 customers taking 8,000 items. It shared some of its clothes with other organisations, including Harrogate Homeless Project and the women’s refuge charity IDAS.

It also gave 700kg of clothing to a Ukrainian church via Harrogate’s Calvary Chapel, and 1,000kg to other clothes banks in West Yorkshire. A further 900kg of clothes were sold at a nominal price for reuse, recycling and repurposing.

The clothes bank is holding a fundraising end-of-season sale tomorrow, Saturday, March 4, from 10.30am to noon, with high-quality winter clothes for men, women, and children of all ages.

Read more:

• New Look in Harrogate to close
• M&Co store in Ripon set to close

Meanwhile, Harrogate Business Improvement District said it is working to ensure the town centre continues to deliver shops and services that meet the needs of all residents, as well as visitors.

BID manager Matthew Chapman said:

“The future of high streets is evolving into ‘mixed use’, so that whilst we absolutely champion national chains and independents, the direction is moving towards town centre living on second and third floors. Mixing with retail and hospitality and leisure and professional services will become the norm

“Latest data shows that 47 per cent more people are buying ‘own brands’ in supermarkets due to inflation, and the increase in the cost of living will affect where people buy their clothes.

“We continue to lobby the government to look to reform the way in which business rates are collected and collated, as well as encouraging landlords to make Harrogate a more appealing – and affordable – place to do business.”

Mr Chapman said the BID’s primary aim was to keep the town safe, clean and welcoming, as well as organising events designed to increase footfall.

While New Look may have left this week, the BID is working on a fashion show, to take place in May, promoting local fashion shops, hairdressers and jewellers. He added:

“It is always a shame when we see a well-known name leave the town, but Harrogate still has plenty to offer in terms of retail fashion outlets.”