Tom Gordon Welcomes Bilton Woodfield Milestone After Two-year Campaign, Says "We Must Never Put SEND Families Through This Again"
Responding to the announcement that Lighthouse School Harrogate will open this November following the signing of its funding agreement with the Department for Education, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough Tom Gordon has welcomed the news while calling for lessons to be learned from the two years of delays that left local SEND families in limbo.
The Bilton Woodfield school was originally due to open in September 2024 before being delayed first to 2025 and then again. During that time, Tom repeatedly raised the issue with ministers in Parliament, met with the Department for Education, and pushed both the Government and North Yorkshire Council to remove barriers to the school's opening, including pressing for the appointment of a governing board.
Despite being scheduled to open in September, the school is now expected to welcome its first pupils in November.
Tom Gordon MP said:
“While it's disappointing that families who were expecting the school to open in September will now have to wait until November, the important thing is after two years of waiting, SEND families finally have a concrete step forward.”
"But it didn't happen by accident. We've had to push this project along at every stage, challenging the Government and local agencies to get the decisions made that would allow the school to open.
"Parents have shown incredible patience while a brand-new, multi-million-pound school sat empty during a SEND crisis. We should never allow families to be put through that uncertainty again.
"With several special school projects elsewhere being cancelled following the Government's recent decisions, it's a good job we got Bilton Woodfield across the line when we did.
"Now let's celebrate getting the school's opening secured, while keeping the momentum going to ensure every child with SEND gets the education and support they deserve."
Ahead of Parliament's summer recess, Tom challenged the Education Minister in the House of Commons, describing it as "beggars' belief" that a fully funded school had remained unopened for so long while families struggled to access specialist provision.
As preparations continue ahead of the November opening, Tom is encouraging parents with questions about the new school or SEND provision more broadly to attend his constituency supermarket surgeries on Saturday 15 August.
Saturday 15 August
10:30am – Asda, Bower Road
1:30pm – Waitrose, Station Parade
Tom added:
"As the school ramps up towards opening, I'll continue working with parents, the Lighthouse Trust and the Department for Education to make sure this transition is as smooth as possible. If you have questions about what the opening means for your child's education, please come and speak to me."
