This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Sport
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Podcasts

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sport
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Education

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

27

Nov 2024

Last Updated: 27/11/2024
Education
Education

Work underway on £2 million Harrogate school for autistic pupils

by Flora Grafton

| 27 Nov, 2024
Comment

0

former-woodfield-school-8363
Work has started on the major expansion.

This story is free to read. For access to all our content, plus exclusive offers and discounts, please subscribe. We rely on subscriptions to keep providing the news that matters. Click here to get started. 

A major renovation project at a Harrogate school has started.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive members approved plans to expand Woodfield Community Primary School, which closed in December 2022, in August 2023.

The school will cater for up to 80 pupils, aged between 11 and 19, with autism and communicative and interactive needs.

Builders are now on the site, off Woodfield Road, to deliver the £2 million scheme, which is expected to be completed by September next year.

The existing building will be remodelled and refurbished to create new classrooms. The council said these will include facilities such as a sensory room, break-out rooms and outdoor learning spaces.

Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, the authority’s executive member for education, learning and skills, said today:

Work to revamp the former school building and create this vital facility is progressing well and it will help to meet a rising demand for special school places in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and the surrounding area.

former-woodfield-school-8334

Builders have started work on the project.

The number of children and young people with identified special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as those with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), has increased by more than 110% in North Yorkshire.

The council today added an estimated 350 additional SEND school places will be created over the next three to five years.

Cllr Paul Haslam, an independent who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, also said:

This specialist school is essential for Harrogate and will ensure children and young people receive first-class education reflecting their complex needs without having to travel long distances.

It is great to see new life being breathed into the former much-loved closed school, which will once again be full of aspirations, activity, playground laughter and lots of learning.

The council hopes the expanded Woodfield Community Primary School will cater to the increasing demand for specialist education in the county.

Amanda Newbould, the council’s assistant director for inclusion, said:

Currently there are 432 children with the primary need of autism accessing existing North Yorkshire special schools and we are committed to providing further support.

The new specialist school would provide children and families with a more local offer of provision that is currently unavailable without significant travel.

former-woodfield-school-8397

Builders have started work on the project.

The council originally expected the project to cost £3.5 million, but awarded a £2 million contract to Wetherby construction firm The Together Group last month. 

When the Stray Ferret asked why the cost of the project had fallen so dramatically, Cllr Newbould said:

The initial figure quoted was an estimate for the cost of works that may be required. After a detailed specification for the works required, the cost has reduced significantly.

StarTree felling approved for £12.1 million Harrogate Station GatewayStarHarrogate car wash submits change of use plansStarHarrogate woman jailed for five-year £150,000 benefits scam