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18
Feb
Plans submitted for new special educational needs school near Harrogate
Plans to convert offices at a now-defunct school into a special educational needs site have been submitted.
Strive for Education submitted a change of use plan to North Yorkshire Council last week.
It is seeking approval to convert offices at the former St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Bishop Thornton, which closed in 2016, into a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school.
Strive for Education is an independent specialist school, which offers places to children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) and caters to pupils whose needs cannot be met in mainstream education.
The proposed site would be in addition to Strive for Education's existing facility in Harrogate town centre, as well as its outdoor learning centre and vocational construction centre.
The application says all pupils are referred to the specialist school by North Yorkshire Council, adding:
We have a waiting list of local young people who require education and whose needs cannot be met in the local area. By opening an additional site at the former St Joseph’s Roman Catholic School, we hope to add capacity to cater for more North Yorkshire pupils who are referred to us in the future.
The application said there would be minimal disruption to existing traffic should plans be approved, as the school site has a large car park.
The proposed school would also operate a shorter day than most schools; pupils would arrive at 9.30am and leave at 2.30pm.
Plans add:
The proposed new school will be very small, with the ultimate goal to have two classes of no more than seven pupils in each. There will also be office space within the context of the school operation.
Co-proprietor and operations director Sonja Brown told the Stray Ferret she and her husband launched Strive for Education in 2020 as an alternative provision. It became an independent school in 2023.
Ms Brown said her husband, Andy, was formerly an assistant headteacher at a local secondary school but he saw the need for additional SEND provision in the area.
She added:
We are a small specialist school with small class sizes, high staff-to-pupil ratios and pastoral support.
All of our on-roll students have an EHCP and we also offer a small number of Alternative Provision places which are commissioned by local secondary schools. We have an amazing team of staff who work tirelessly to support our young people.
Ms Brown said the proposed school would allow Strive for Education to provide additional facilities and opportunities for students the town centre premises cannot offer.
Ofsted would be required to inspect Strive for Education again and grant approval to open the new facility.
Ms Brown told the Stray Ferret:
We have a proven track record, excellent results and there is a huge local demand so we are optimistic that Ofsted and the parish and local community will support the application.
Strive for Education hopes to open the new site this September.
North Yorkshire Council will issue a verdict on the application at a later date.
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