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.

A 14-year-old carer from Harrogate spent a special day with her family at the Duchess of Cambridge’s Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey.

Jasmine Clark was among a group of community heroes invited to the service this month to thank them for their efforts during the pandemic.

Jasmine is a carer for her 15-year-old brother Dylan, who has Williams syndrome, a developmental disorder.  She has also helped her mum Sophia, who has suffered from mental health problems during the pandemic.

Sophia said the day was “so emotional and overwhelming”, adding:

“I was in tears all day, it was a very proud moment.”

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The family has been supported by the charity Action for Children.

Rossett School

Sophia said her daughter has been the “the rock between us all” during a difficult time.

“She’s been there in so many ways. I don’t know where we’d be without her.”

Jasmine, who is in year nine at Harrogate’s Rossett School, said “it felt amazing” to attend the service, which included performances from the Westminster Abbey choir, Leona Lewis and Ellie Goulding.

She added:

“I was so happy to get the opportunity to go and see Kate and William.”

The concert will be shown on ITV at 7:30pm tonight.

Harrogate’s Rossett School has held its annual presentation evening in-person after covid forced it to take place online last year.

The event celebrates the achievements of last summer’s GCSE students in a range of academic subjects and other disciplines.

The guest speaker was Joe Joyce, a former chief executive in the manufacturing and construction sector, a director of finance in education and now the owner of his own local family brewing company,

Mr Joyce shared his personal philosophy on the importance of aiming high in life, before presenting GCSE and BTEC certificates, along with the awards and trophies.

Headteacher Helen Woodcock said it was wonderful to be able to hold the event in-person again.

“We are very proud of this year group. They were an excellent year in many different respects, not least in their management of the strangest of times — learning remotely and at school over the last two years — in order to be awarded their TAGs (teacher-assessed grades).

“Their achievements have allowed them to progress on to their chosen pathways, and we were thrilled to celebrate their many successes at the presentation evening.”

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Harrogate parents have spoken of “chaos” and “shambles” on a school bus to Rossett School following changes to the service for the new term.

Students on the S3 bus have been subject to overcrowding and reportedly told to leave the bus for an alternative service.

North Yorkshire County Council, which contracts school buses to private bus companies, announced last week that Harrogate Bus Company‘s 780H, 781H, 782H, 783H, 784H services had been cancelled.

The old routes began in the Jennyfields, Bilton and Woodlands areas of Harrogate. Children were instead advised to take the 6, 52, S3, 8A, 620H and 620H services.

However, parents have told the Stray Ferret that since the changes the number S3 service through Jennyfields has been overcrowded and chaotic.

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Ann Lambert, a grandparent of a child who attends Rossett, described the service as chaotic and raised concern that children on free bus passes were affected.

She said:

“There was chaos this morning on the bus from Jennyfields.

“The bus was full and children were told to get off by the time they reached the Co-op, so all other stops were driven past.

“Children were told they can also get a service bus, which not only adds time, but does not account for the children who get a free bus pass provided by North Yorkshire County Council, which is for a specified service only.”

‘Shambles this morning’

Harrogate parent Chris Wingate:

“It was a shambles this morning on the Jennyfields to Rossett bus with mass overcrowding and students turned away after only about half the route complete.

“On the way home the bus was also overcrowded with many students concerned and getting off early as they felt too cramped and unsafe.:

In response to the concerns over the S3 service, Michael Leah, assistant director for travel and the environment at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Service S3 is one of a number of commercial local bus services run by The Harrogate Bus Company and we do not financially support it. 

“However, we do buy passes from the company for pupils entitled to free home-to-school transport so they can use the service. The bus company also sell seats to non-entitled pupils where they are available.

“We are aware that the service had an issue with overloading yesterday and we are talking to the bus company about passenger numbers in an effort to resolve the issue quickly. 

“We are not aware that any of our children entitled to free home-to-school passes on the S3 were refused travel today, but we are investigating.”

The Stray Ferret has approached Transdev, which owns the Harrogate Bus Company, for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Council apologises over short notice

Concerns about overcrowding come after parents in Harrogate raised concerns on social media about the lack of notice about the change in service.

Some parents described the changes as confusing and said they should have been announced sooner.

An email seen by the Stray Ferret from the council’s Passenger Transport Department said the authority had experienced delays in the renewal of the contract for the service due to covid and additional work in the procurement process.

It said this left little time to publicise the changes. However, the council added that it had told schools to expect changes to services in September.

The authority said:

“Obviously we apologise for the short notice of these changes and for any inconvenience that it has caused parents and pupils but we are confident that the new service network is efficient and that pupils will soon get used to the changes.”

Has your child been affected by the changes to the school bus service? Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Five school bus routes to Harrogate’s Rossett School have been replaced by new services as pupils return to school this week.

North Yorkshire County Council, which contracts school buses to private bus companies, announced last week that Harrogate Bus Company‘s 780H, 781H, 782H, 783H, 784H services have been cancelled.

The old routes began in the Jennyfields, Bilton and Woodlands areas of Harrogate.

Children can instead take the 6, 52, S3, 8A, 620H and 620H services.

Some parents have described the changes as confusing and  on social media and said they should have been announced sooner.

The new routes

S2: Crab Lane post office (7.55am), Knox Way (8.07am), Harrogate Bus Station (08.17am), Rossett School (08.34am). Return from Rossett School at 3.20pm.

2A Dene Park Community Centre (8.00am) via Sandhill Drive (8.02am), Fountains Avenue (8.03am), Poplar Grove (8.05am) and King Edwards Drive (8.07am) to Harrogate Bus Station (8.15am).

The journey then extends to Pannal Ash on number 6. The nearest stop to Rossett School is Wellfield Court (8.36am). Return from Wellfield court stop at 3.20pm

S3: Oakdale Burley Avenue (7.58am), Jennyfields Saltergate Roundabout (8.06am) White Hart Hotel (8.23am), Rossett School (8.35am). Return from Wellfield court stop at 3.20pm.

8A: Woodlands Hotel (7.54am), Granby Corner (7.58am), Starbeck Swarcliffe Road (8.03am), Forest Lane (8.06am), Hookstone Chase Crossways (8.12), Leadhall Corner (8.27am), Rossett School (8.35am). Return from Rossett School at 5.20pm.

620H: Dacre Banks (7.40am), Providence Chapel (7.34am), Darley Moke Hill (7.50am), Birstwith Post Office (8am), Clapham Green (8.02am), Hampswhaite Memorial Hall (8.05am), Little Wonder (8.17am), White Hart Hotel (8.23am), Rossett School (8.35am). Return from Rossett School at 3.20pm.

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The cancelled routes

780H: The Hydro (8.01), Ripon Road, Skipton Road, Harewood Road, Jennyfield Drive, Ripon Road, Crescent Road, Cold Bath Road and Pannal Ash Road.

781H: Burley Bank Avenue (7.58am), Penny Pot Lane, Oaker Bank, Skipton Road, Crowberry Drive, Jennyfield Drive, Saltergate Roundabout, Jennyfield Drive, Ripon Road, Crescent Road, Cold Bath Road and Pannal Ash Road.

782H: St Joseph’s Church, Bilton at (07.58am), Skipton Road, Knox Lane, Bachelor Gardens, Hill Top Mount, Hill Top Avenue, Crab Lane, Bilton Lane, Skipton Road, Knaresborough Road, York Place, Otley Road and Pannal Ash Road

783H: Richard Taylor School (07.56am), Bilton Lane, Hall Lane, Tennyson Avenue, Bilton Lane, Sandhill Drive, Poplar Grove, King Edward’s Drive, Skipton Road, Kings Road, Crescent Road, Cold Bath Road and Pannal Ash Road.

784H: Woodlands Corner (07.54am), Wetherby Road, Empress Roundabout, Knaresborough Road, Starbeck, Forest Lane, Hookstone Chase, Hookstone Drive, Leadhall Lane and Green Lane.

Night buses linking Harrogate with Leeds and Knaresborough are to return in just over a week’s time.

Harrogate Bus Company, which is part of French company Transdev, will reintroduce late night services on Saturday nights on the 36 route linking Harrogate and Leeds on September 11. Covid has affected the service since last year.

Hourly services from Leeds to Harrogate will run on Saturday nights until 3.15am. The last bus from Harrogate to Leeds will run at 2.20am.

Night buses between Harrogate and Knaresborough will also return on Saturday nights, connecting with incoming 36 buses from Leeds at Harrogate bus station.

Rossett School bus services boosted

In another change, students using the bus to get to Harrogate’s Rossett School can get cheaper fares from Monday.

Until now, pupils have paid £14.50 a week to use designated North Yorkshire County Council school buses.

But the council services are now being integrated with the Harrogate Bus Company’s regular service network, meaning the company’s under-19 weekly ticket, which costs £9.60, will now be valid for all journeys on dedicated school buses between stops within Harrogate and Rossett School.

Pupils can also use this weekly ticket for regular buses as far afield as Wetherby, Knaresborough and Harewood.

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Steve Ottley, general manager of the Harrogate Bus Company, said:

“Our late night services will make it much easier – and cheaper – for our customers to enjoy all the nightlife of Leeds and Harrogate and then travel safely home by bus with us.

“Our changes to services to and from Rossett School are also great news for parents and students as they will save a third on the cost of travelling to and from school every week compared with the old school-only passes, with free travel seven days a week across Harrogate, Knaresborough and Wetherby thrown in.”

Also from Monday next week, an extra school day-only bus on Harrogate Electrics route 2A will run at 8am from Bilton Community Centre to Harrogate – where the same bus becomes a number 6 bus, so students going to Rossett School can stay on board and get off at Wellfield Court for their school.

New times are also being introduced on dedicated school buses S2, S3 and 620H. Further details are available here.

After 18 months of online classes and a reduced timetable, Rossett Adult Learning will return to pre-pandemic levels for next month’s new autumn term.

The adult learning centre, which is a division of Harrogate’s Rossett School, has been providing courses since the 1970s.

It has operated online with just 70 classes during the pandemic but it today announced it will be back up to 160 courses next month.

About 75% of courses will now be held in-person at the school and some 25% will remain online.

Courses include art, music, exercise, history and languages and cover a diverse offering, including ukulele for beginners, tai chi, furniture restoration and French culture.

The centre welcomed 4,500 to 5,000 students a year pre-covid.

Melissa Horberry. manager of Rossett Adult Learning, said:

“After a tough past year where the centre, tutors and students have had to adapt to a different way of learning, we are now excited to be offering a range of courses online and back in the classroom.

“We have missed seeing our students in the centre on a weekly basis but have been encouraged by the feedback that we have received from our online students on how they have enjoyed their continued learning in the past year, especially during the lockdown periods.”

Class sizes can vary from 15 for arts and craft courses to up to 25 for the evening pilates classes.

The centre also offers 56 language classes offering eight languages at all levels, beginners to intermediate.

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Classes range in price; a 10-week language course costs £95 and a five-week crafts course costs £63.

Profits from the classes go to Rossett School.

Students at Rossett School have told the Stray Ferret that they have been inspired by England’s performance at Euro 2020.

With the national team preparing to take on Italy during the final on Sunday at Wembley, these pupils have been playing on the school’s new 3G pitch.

The school raised £10,000 through a fundraiser to help with the cost of resurfacing the pitch.

There was a clear bounce in their step and not just because of the rubber. The students are keen to follow in the footsteps of their footballing heroes.

(Left to right) Charlie Wright, William Parkinson, Lydia Corner and Poppy Mortimer.

Two Rossett School leavers will head to America in September after being accepted on to football scholarships.

Vicky Naylor and Cameron Rushworth have been playing football for local clubs for over a decade but will now take the leap and play for colleges in Indiana and Illinois.

Vicky, who currently plays in goal for Harrogate Town Ladies, is heading to Goshen College, Indiana, on a four-year scholarship. Cameron who is a defender, will be spending two years at Parkland College, Illinois.

Vicky began playing football for Knaresborough Celtic at just five years old. She then progressed to play for Harrogate Town development team and Nidd under-18s.

She said:

“The facilities and level of play in America is of a much higher standard than in the UK, which means I’ll have more opportunities to improve my skills. I’m excited to gain independence by living so far away and I’m excited to try out a bunch of different classes too.”

Cameron played for Beckwithshaw Saints from five to 15 years old before moving to Harrogate Railway for two years. He was part of the Railway team that won the league twice and the cup once. Recently he’s played for Pontefract under-19s.

He said:

“I’m excited to begin a new journey in my life, being able to experience the US. Football is a way I express myself and the scholarship will enable me to play at a high level and learn new skills.”

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Vicky and Cameron are following in the footsteps of Rossett students Rachel Daly, Chole Bellerby and Dan Nimmick who have achieved successful football careers in the US. Daly is an England international.

Rossett headteacher Helen Woodcock said:

“These scholarships are well deserved for Vicky and Cam, and we all wish them the best of luck and lots of fun representing Rossett in the USA.”

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. See below for details on how to contribute.

Don’t blame dog mess on long grass

May I respectfully suggest that long grass is not the reason for dog fouling. It is due to irresponsible dog owners breaking the law.

Nigel Heptinstall, Darley

Rossett School is fantastic!

So often the press around schools and education is negative. I just thought I’d like to highlight the fantastic reception my daughter has had at Rossett School since she started there in September 2020.

Written off by her previous school as not academic, she came to the school quite depressed about life. Life at Rossett has utterly changed her into a hard-working girl with an array of options ahead of her.

This is a remarkable turnaround and the school should be applauded for taking in a pupil who had such a low opinion of herself and turned it around inside an academic year. The teaching has been fantastic during a very challenging time for educators and pupils alike. Thank you, Rossett!

Nick Bentley, Harrogate

These bins are a menace

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Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.