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22
Jul
MP asks government minister when Bilton special school will open
The MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Tom Gordon, is to meet a government education minister to discuss the opening of a long-awaited new special school in Bilton.
The school, on the site of the former Woodfield Community Primary School, is intended to cater for up to 80 pupils aged between 11 and 19 with autism and additional needs.
It was supposed to open on a phased basis from April 2025, but this was pushed back to the autumn, and although work has begun on refurbishing the building, a September opening now also looks unlikely.
In the meantime, a severe shortage of special school places in the district has prompted many local parents to contact Mr Gordon to express how desperate they are for the school to open.
The situation is so bad that last year, chief executive of North Yorkshire, Richard Flixton, told the Stray Ferret that he felt the special needs education system in the county was “broken”.
Yesterday, we published an interview with Harrogate mother Sarah Williams, who told us the system in North Yorkshire has left her “at her wits end”.
As a result, the planned new school has widespread support, not only from parents of children with special educational needs, but also from the wider local community – a public consultation in summer 2023 found that 86% of people responding backed the proposals.
According to Mr Gordon, Cllr Anabelle Wilkinson, executive member for education, learning and skills at North Yorkshire Council, has confirmed in an email that the Department for Education has been notified of the council’s preferred Academy Trust to run the school and she is now awaiting a decision.
Speaking yesterday (Tuesday, July 21) in Parliament, Mr Gordon asked Stephen Morgan, Minister for Early Education, for a meeting and if he would confirm whether the school would open on time this September.
Mr Morgan said nothing about the schools’ opening, but did agree to a meeting.
Mr Gordon said:
So many of my constituents have contacted me to ask the same question: when can they expect to get the dedicated, local provision they need for their children. We’re hearing next to nothing from North Yorkshire council, but people need answers.
That’s why I’ve brought this issue to Parliament today. Parents shouldn’t have to sit by and wait – we need a clear answer from North Yorkshire Council, and steer on when this support will finally become available.
I am delighted to have secured a meeting with the Minister, and I will fight to ensure we can speed up the decision-making process and get these specialised educational services that are so badly needed in our area open as soon as possible.
Woodfield Community Primary School was forced to close in December 2022 after suffering falling pupil numbers and an “inadequate” rating from Ofsted.
After the school's closure, North Yorkshire Council promised to keep the site for educational use and decided that there was sufficient demand for an autism specialist secondary school.
At the time, the council forecast savings of up to £4 million over the first five years of the new school.
The Stray Ferret has contacted North Yorkshire Council for more information about the timing of the school’s opening.
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