Nearly 700 secondary school places needed in Harrogate and Knaresborough

Nearly 700 secondary school places will be needed in Harrogate and Knaresborough by 2025/26 to keep up with demand caused by new housing.

North Yorkshire County Council revealed the shortfall in a report for its Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee on Thursday.

The report says Harrogate and rural secondary schools had a shortfall of 156 places in 2020/21 while Knaresborough secondary schools had a surplus of 139 places.

However, by 2025/26 there is a projected shortfall of 623 places in Harrogate and rural secondary schools and a projected shortfall of 49 places in Knaresborough secondary schools.

Harrogate and rural secondary schools include Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett School, Harrogate High School, St John Fisher Catholic High School, St Aidan’s CE High School and Nidderdale High School.

Knaresborough secondary schools consists solely of King James’s School.

The county council said in the document that it was “carefully monitoring pupil numbers” across Harrogate and Knaresborough and highlighted plans for more housing in the west of Harrogate as the cause of the issue.

Primary schools fare better

Harrogate’s primary schools look set to fare better, with a surplus of 580 places forecast by 2025/26.

There is a projected shortfall of 156 primary school places in Knaresborough, where a new school with the capacity for 420 pupils is being built to accommodate people moving into Manse Farm and Highfield Farm.

Rossett School and Harrogate Grammar School built five additional classrooms as a result of discussions about pupil numbers in 2019, the report adds.

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The county council, which has a duty to provide enough spaces, says in the document that both Rossett School and Harrogate Grammar School “will assist to meet the expected rise in demand for places as a result of housing growth” but does not give further details.

‘Sufficient places’ at King James’s School

In Knaresborough, the county council said that there are currently “sufficient places for local children at King James’s School and a significant number of pupils from outside the catchment are able to secure places”.

The report says:

“The general picture across the whole of the county shows projected growth in the urban areas contrasting with declining numbers in rural locations.

“A falling birth rate combined with changing demographics means that a number of small schools are facing financial challenges associated with low numbers on roll.”

Harrogate Borough Council is due to publish a West Harrogate Parameters Plan this year, outlining the infrastructure requirements associated with the projected 4,000 new homes planned for the western side of Harrogate.

Residents and councillors have grown frustrated with delays about when the plan will be published.

The council initially said it would be published in October 2020, but this was delayed until March 2021, then September 2021. It now says a draft version will be published next month.

Nine out of 10 get first choice secondary schools in North Yorkshire

Nine out of 10 parents have secured their first choice secondary school for their children, North Yorkshire County Council said today.

Parents were due to learn from the local authority today which secondary school their children will be attending in September.

Of all children who requested a school place, 94 per cent received an offer from one of their top three school preferences – and 90 per cent secured their first choice.

A total of 6,205 school pupils will be moving up to secondary school in the county in autumn.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, executive county councillor for education and skills, said:

“Once again so many of our families have gained the first preference from their choice of schools, which is great news.

“We work with schools across the county to ensure they deliver the highest standards of education so families will increasingly be able to send their children to good schools.”

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Parents can select up to five schools on their application forms in North Yorkshire.

Cllr Mulligan added:

“This year, the authority has seen a rise in the number of parents who have not made full use of this opportunity or did not complete a common application form before the published deadline as required. 

“As the authority must ensure that each child is allocated a school place on the national offer day, there has unfortunately been a need to place children in schools which in some cases could be some distance from their home.

“Every effort will be made to accommodate parental wishes following allocation day where there is capacity in their chosen schools.”