Construction of a new school for children with autism begins

£2m scheme transforms former Woodfield Community Primary School

North Yorkshire Council A man in a hard hat and hi-vis jacket is plastering a wall — £2m scheme transforms former Woodfield Community Primary School

Construction of a new secondary school for children with autism has started.

The £2m project is transforming the former Woodfield Community Primary School in Bilton, Harrogate, which closes in 2022.

The new school was initially expected to open in September, but earlier this year North Yorkshire Council announced that the school would not be completed until September 2025, but did not explain the reason for the delay.

The school, which will include state-of-the-art classrooms, a sensory room and outdoor learning areas, will serve 80 autistic students between the ages of 11 and 19.

The council said the school would help meet the growing demand for specialist training in North Yorkshire.

It was stated that the number of young people identified as having special educational needs and disabilities in the region and their education, health and care plan (EHCP) has increased by more than 110% since 2016.

The increase in demand means additional capacity of 350 special educational needs and disability school places will be developed over the next three to five years.

Woodfield Community Elementary School Closed in 2022 Following poor Ofsted ratings the school was forced to become a sponsored academy but failed to find a backer.

Construction work is scheduled to be completed in September 2025, a year later than originally planned

North Yorkshire Council A building site with school buildings in the background and earthen foundations in the foreground — Construction work is scheduled to be completed in September 2025, a year later than originally planned

Annabel Wilkinson, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, said “work to create this vital facility is progressing well”.

“It will help meet the growing demand for private school places in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and the surrounding areas.”

According to the plans, the construction work consists of remodeling and renovating the existing building to create modern classrooms.

Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on the council, said it was great to see “new life being breathed into the old, much-loved school”.

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