An academy trust has been appointed to run a new specialist school in Harrogate following a multi-million pound investment.
The construction of the new secondary school was proposed by us to enhance the offer for autistic children. Following the council’s recommendation, the Department for Education has confirmed that the Lighthouse school will now operate the facility in Harrogate once opened.
The council has invested £2.4 million in the school to ensure it provides specialist classrooms, teaching spaces and facilities to cater for the special educational needs and academic aspirations of children in the area.
The number of children with Educational Health Care Plans (EHCPs) in North Yorkshire has risen from 1,700 in 2015 to more than 6,000 in 2025.
Executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “We want to provide the very best education for all children in North Yorkshire.
“We have a coordinated strategy across the whole county to meet the special educational needs of children. This includes strengthening practice in mainstream schools, developing SEN resource bases and investing in fabulous new facilities such as this one where they are needed.
“The Lighthouse school's existing work gives us real confidence in its ability to deliver high quality specialist education and will be a welcome addition to our community of schools in North Yorkshire.”
The school will provide education for up to 80 pupils, including both boys and girls, aged between 11 and 19 who have been diagnosed with autism or have identified communication and interaction needs.
The new facility will deliver a broad curriculum for children who need a specialist environment with a more formal academic curriculum.
The Lighthouse school’s principal, Emma Sullivan, said: “We are delighted to be confirmed as the academy trust for the new Harrogate special school, bringing more specialist support to autistic young people and their families across the region.”
The trust will be working with the Department for Education to convert to a multi-academy trust whilst simultaneously working with us to agree a plan for satisfying all the technical elements the Department for Education require before the school can be opened. An opening date for the school will be confirmed in the coming months.
The trust’s founder and chair of governors, Katie Parlett, said: “We are looking forward to working in partnership with the local authority, families, and stakeholders to create a school that meets needs of autistic young people and inspire the brightest of futures.”