A new specialist school for autistic children and young people is set to open in Harrogate this November.
Lighthouse School Harrogate will be based on the former Woodfield Primary School site and will initially provide 24 places during the 2026/27 academic year.
The school will eventually grow to accommodate up to 80 students aged between 11 and 19.
Lighthouse Education Trust has now signed a funding agreement with the Department for Education and made a number of senior leadership appointments ahead of the opening.
Jo Tunnicliffe has been appointed Principal and will lead preparations alongside the school's new senior leadership team.
Emma Sullivan, Executive Principal of Lighthouse Education Trust, said:
"We are delighted to have signed the funding agreement and lease for Lighthouse School Harrogate. This is a significant milestone in our journey to provide more specialist school places for autistic children and young people across the region.
"We have already secured some excellent appointments and are building a talented and dedicated team who share our vision and values. We are working closely with all our partners to ensure everything is in place for a successful opening.
"We are very much looking forward to welcoming our first students and their families through the school gates in November and beginning this exciting new chapter for Lighthouse School Harrogate."
The Trust already operates Lighthouse School in Leeds and said the Harrogate school will help meet growing demand for specialist education across North Yorkshire.
Students will be offered a broad academic curriculum alongside personalised support, with places allocated following an assessment of each child's Education, Health and Care needs and whether the school can meet them.
North Yorkshire Council's Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills, Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, welcomed the progress.
She said:
"It is fantastic to hear that senior staff appointments are now in place, as well as the funding agreement, that enables the Trust to move towards opening the school.
"This new school has been part of our plan to have sufficient specialist provision for North Yorkshire's children and I am delighted to see that planning coming to fruition.
"We welcome Lighthouse Education Trust to North Yorkshire and look forward to seeing our children and young people benefit from this school for many years to come."
Final preparations are now underway ahead of Lighthouse School Harrogate welcoming its first students in November 2026.
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