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02
Apr 2023
The Harrogate school providing children with additional support
In September, the Harrogate district will have a new secondary school — but it won’t be anything like the current ones.
Strive for Education's roll will have just 33 students who struggle in mainstream schools and require additional support. Many will have been referred for two or three days a week by other schools in the district.
Strive was set up three years ago by former Harrogate Grammar School assistant headteacher Andy Brown and his wife Sonja, who felt students requiring additional support were under-served locally.
Education inspector Ofsted paved the way for it to transition from an alternative education provider to an independent school, and potentially expand its provision, when inspectors published a report this year concluding it “is likely to meet all the independent school standards”.
Ofsted recognition means Strive will be able to provide a full-time curriculum from September and be eligible to take on students who receive education, health and care plans from local authorities full-time.
Based on North Park Road in Harrogate and with a workshop in Starbeck, Strive classes have no more than six pupils to ensure students get enough support.
The hairdressing area
There is a hairdressing studio and a calm room with bean bags where students can relax, as well as a kitchen and a pool table.
Mr Brown says:
Students, who stay for between 12 weeks and two years, have special educational needs, including social, emotional and mental health issues. Autism and ADHD are common.
Read more:
- Ofsted paves way for new Harrogate school offering additional support
- Headteacher of King James's School in Knaresborough leaves after 15 years
Mr Brown admits it can be difficult to pitch the teaching given the wide range of needs and abilities. But he adds:
If the school expands, its main Harrogate site on a residential street might not be able to cope and the Browns are keeping an eye out for a new school – although they have ruled out Woodfield Community Primary School in Bilton, which closed last year. But change isn't imminent. Mr Brown says:
Andy Brown
For now though, the timetable and staffing are in place for September.
Mr Brown says his education background and his wife's business and HR experience makes them a "perfect combination".
But such specialist education isn't cheap. Annual fees for full-time places start at £27,000 and vary depending on the needs of the young person, the extra support they require, and any additional professional services needed such as speech and language therapists and educational psychologists.
Strive's educational offer also depends on whether young people are placed as part of alternative provision or full-time on-roll places.
The school will be holding a drop-in open day on April 28 at which people can meet staff and look round.
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