Currently, Harrogate students wake up every weekday morning and make their way to one of five state schools.

Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett School, Harrogate High School, St John Fisher Catholic High School and St Aidan’s Church of England High School take in the lion’s share of local pupils for their secondary education.

But is the number of schools enough or does the town need another? Some politicians believe there is an "imbalance" in provision in Harrogate.

In this article, the Stray Ferret takes a closer look at the debate on the matter and what the numbers say.

Increased demand

Amid the Labour government's mandatory housing targets and concerns over the sustainability of travel for parents and children, councillors have questioned whether Harrogate needs another secondary school.

Councillors on Harrogate and Knaresborough’s area committee raised the issue this week and pointed out that there has been a long-standing issue over there being no secondary school in the north of the area.

The concern comes as the west of the town is currently in the process of seeing 3,000 homes built. 

Harrogate is also likely to shoulder some of the 4,077 new homes a year imposed on North Yorkshire as part of the government’s new housing targets.

The addition of new families will ultimately put more pressure on the local school system — and Harrogate is not immune to increased demand.

According to North Yorkshire Council figures, the Harrogate area currently has 7,749 secondary school places available.

The authority forecasts that 7,569 pupils will require places in 2028/29. However, a further 335 will be added from current housing scheme permissions.

This means that there is forecast to be a 115-place deficit in secondary school places by 2028/29.

No school in the north

Cllr Peter Lacey, the Liberal Democrat vice-chair of the area committee, raised the issue at a meeting this week and said there was there was an “imbalance” in schools in the Harrogate area.

Much of the concern among councillors centred around the location of the secondary schools, particularly the fact that most of them are in the south of Harrogate.

Cllr Lacey said:

Meanwhile, Cllr Chris Aldred, who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley, said the issue of secondary schools being concentrated in one area of town was causing issues with travel.

He said:

Cllr Aldred pointed out that most of his emails from constituents were from parents struggling to be able to get their children to school. 

He said the matter needs to be factored into the Local Plan process, which will set out where new houses and commercial developments can be built in the region over the next 15 to 20 years

He added:

The demand for a new secondary school will ultimately fall at the feet of the council.

The upcoming Local Plan, which the authority is in the early stages of drawing up, already shows multiple sites suggested for new housing.

Much of this may crank up the pressure on the council to look at secondary provision. However, at this stage, it looks unlikely that there will be any new school soon.

Jon Holden, strategic planning officer at the council, poured cold water on the idea of any school being put forward in the foreseeable future.

He said:

Do you think Harrogate needs another secondary school? Let us know in the comments below.