09
Jul
What is happening to Harrogate’s new autism school?
In summer 2023, plans were revealed to transform the former Woodfield Community Primary School in Bilton into an 80-pupil school for autistic children aged 11 to 19.
North Yorkshire Council said the school would address shortfalls in specialist provision and set a target opening date of September 1, 2024.
The projected £2 million renovation didn’t begin until late 2024 and by then the opening date had already slipped by a year to 2025.
Nevertheless, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, the council’s Conservative education chief, said the project was “a huge priority” and work was “progressing well”.
The Stray Ferret asked the council in February 2025 if we could visit the site for an update on how the scheme was progressing. Our request was declined.
In December 2025, Lighthouse Education Trust was appointed to run the school, which would be known as Lighthouse School, Harrogate.
The Leeds-based trust, which was set up in 2011, also operates the Lighthouse School in Leeds, which also caters for autistic students.
The old school site.
'Beggars belief'
Emma Sullivan, the trust’s interim executive principal, said the school would “bring vital support to autistic young people and their families”.
The press release announcing the news put the cost of the renovation at £2.4 million — £400,000 more than original estimates.
Seven months on, there have been no further updates and families have been left wondering what has happened to the keenly anticipated scheme.
Last month Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, told Parliament it “beggars belief that a school that has had millions of pounds spent on building and funding it is sat empty when we have a SEND crisis in Harrogate and Knaresborough”.
Mr Gordon urged Georgia Gould, the minister for school standards, to join him in applying pressure for the school to open in September this year.
Mr Gordon’s comments, followed by the long period of silence on the project, prompted the Stray Ferret to look into what was going on.
A council spokesperson said it was “working with the academy trust and the Department for Education to open the school as soon as possible” but did not commit to a date when pressed.
The spokesperson added:
There are checks and processes that are being worked through to make sure everything is ready to provide an excellent standard of education to pupils now and in the future.
Building work began in 2024.
Asked what work had been done so far, they said:
“The main phase of building work to extend the school and refurbish the classrooms, creating specialist teaching spaces, is complete. Final adjustments are being made to add the specific facilities which the academy trust needs to deliver its curriculum.”
Opening date
We also asked for the latest estimated cost. The response said costs “are still being confirmed” because work had not yet finished but “the total is expected to remain within the original budget”.
Neither the trust nor Ms Wilkinson replied to our requests for an update. But in an update to councillors ahead of next week’s full council meeting, Ms Wilkinson said in a report the trust was “finalising the remaining site alterations, undertaking staff recruitment processes, and working with the DfE to secure a funding agreement”. She added: “An opening date will be announced as soon as we are able to do so.”
Emma Sullivan
The school has advertised for a principal and deputy head but no appointments have been announced and any hopes of a September opening appear forlorn.
'I share the frustrations'
When the new school was announced, the council said the number of children and young people with identified special education needs and disabilities and an education, health and care plan had increased by more than 110 per cent in North Yorkshire since 2016.
With no opening date announced, parents are left wondering when they will get the support that has been pledged.
Gary McVeigh-Kaye, North Yorkshire branch secretary of teachers’ union National Education Union, said:
“I share the frustrations of the local, and wider communities regarding the delay in the opening of the new education provision.”
Councillor Paul Haslam, an Independent who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on the council, said it was “imperative to the education of our children that we make these hard-earned SEND places available as soon as possible”.
Families will be hoping that by the time the autumn term begins in September, there will finally be some clarity around the opening date and all the warm words will be translated to action.
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