Harrogate head set to move to new role at infant school

The headteacher of Grove Road Primary School is set to move on to a new role in September.

Christopher Harrison is taking up the post of headteacher at Oatlands Infant School, just two miles south of his current school.

The role was advertised after current head Zoe Anderson announced she was planning to move to the Isle of Skye after the end of the academic year.

Mr Harrison said:

“I am delighted to have been appointed as Headteacher at Oatlands Infant School.

“Whilst I have loved being a part of the Grove Road community for the last five years, both as a teacher and leader, I have always wanted to work in an infant school. I started my teaching career in Early Years and Key Stage 1, and the prospect of returning to work with these ages in a brilliant school – with the backing of a superb Multi Academy Trust and a fabulous community – was a tremendously exciting opportunity for me.

“I look forward to hearing about Grove Road’s continued successes, and I can’t wait to be part of Oatlands Infant School’s exciting journey going forward.”

Oatlands deputy headteacher Kathryn Haddon said:

“We are excited to welcome Mr Harrison in September and look forward to working together with him to build on all the existing successes in our nurturing and inspiring school.”

Confirmation that Mr Harrison will move means Grove Road is now seeking its own new headteacher.

In a statement, the governors of Grove Road Primary School said:

“We are sad that Mr Harrison will be leaving us at the end of the summer term, he has been an important figure in the school for the last five years. Although we will miss him, we wish him every success at Oatlands Infant School.

“As a governing body we are now focussed on recruiting our new headteacher for Grove Road Community Primary School.”

Oatlands Infant School has a three-form intake of 90 pupils each year, with up to 270 pupils across reception, year one and year two.

At Grove Road, the annual intake is 40 pupils, with a total of just under 300 on the role in its seven year groups.

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Last year, Grove Road was set to be amalgamated with Woodfield Primary School as the latter faced closure following a damning Ofsted report.

However, governors withdrew support for the plans in April 2022 because of the potential risks. They said the consultation period had highlighted potential problems with support for the proposal and the likely number of applications, concluding:

“Ultimately, the governing board have concluded that we must prioritise the future of Grove Road School and so, sadly, we can no longer support the proposed amalgamation.”

Oatlands Infant School is part of the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, alongside St Aidan’s C of E High School and seven primary schools, six of which are in the Harrogate district.

Most of its pupils go on to the nearby Oatlands Junior School, which is part of the Red Kite Learning Trust of 13 primary and secondary schools across North and West Yorkshire.

As part of the recruitment pack for the new headteacher, Oatlands Infant School said an Ofsted inspection was “likely before the end of this academic year”. The last, in 2013, rated the school ‘outstanding’.

It said the new head would lead the response to the outcome of the next inspection.

Harrogate food hall to close after just six months

Harrogate’s first food hall is to close just six months after it opened in the former Jamie Oliver restaurant on Parliament Street.

Solita Food Hall Harrogate, which is set over two floors and a rooftop terrace, started serving customers in May.

It has six different stalls, all under the Shoot The Bull brand, and also welcomes other independent businesses on board. It created 30 jobs.

Founder Chris Harrison, chief executive of Shoot The Bull, told the Stray Ferret earlier in the year he hoped Harrogate would welcome the concept with open arms. However, Mr Harrison confirmed today that the Harrogate venue will close at the end of the year.

He added that staff would be offered employment at the next restaurant set to take on the building.

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Tomahawk Steakhouse, which had been planning to move into the empty Bistrot Pierre restaurant on Cheltenham Parade, is now planning to move into Solita Food Hall’s space.

The steakhouse had planned to open in January but with the change of location it is unclear at this stage when it will open for business.

A post on its Facebook page said:

“We’ve decided to go BIG and move into the former Jamie Oliver site on Parliament St! Expect an amazing roof garden that will be usable 52 weeks of the year!”

Co-founder Howard Eggleston has been planning to bring his steakhouse brand to Harrogate for four years.