Moving to Harrogate - secondary school advice

[MimiHK]

We are moving back from Hong Kong to Harrogate in a couple of months and I am prepping for school selection which I know is based on catchment area and places available. I understand that all the secondary schools are pretty good in the area. We are not religious so the Catholic and CofE schools are out. Both King James in Knaresborough and Harrogate Grammar look pretty good. I wanted to gain some advice about Rossett and Harrogate High. Rossett has recently had an ofsted assessment of 'needs improvement' but seemed to do better in terms of GCSE results in 2019 that Harrogate High which has a 'good' ofsted assessment. Can anyone advice if they have experience at either school. One of my son's has dyspraxia and dyscalculia and currently receives SEN support (he is now Year 8) so I am also very interested around provision in this area. All schools have a policy and structure in terms of support but the reality can often be different. Any advice is very welcome.

Hi, we are in Harrogate and honestly there are no bad schools. Both Rossett and Harrogate High have improved massively recently. Harrogate High I believe is excellent in terms of SEN support. I have a friend who is a one to one TA there. Harrogate Grammar also very good. Will you get a chance to look round any? Off to work but will try and post again later

Harrogate Grammar is excellent in terms of support. I used to work there and would send my children there in a flash. The learning support faculty has specialists in Dyspraxia too and all students use iPads which I found useful in supporting students with dyspraxia, dyslexia etc.

I don’t have experience in the other schools so can’t comment. Good luck with the move.

Back briefly! I know lots at Rossett of varying abilities and all speak v highly of it. Faith schools do sometimes get placed in year groups other than 7 so may still be worth looking at. Probably others will have other viewpoints but the King James parents I know are not very happy with teaching or pastoral care at the moment. But again that's only a small sample. Do you know where you will be living?

Thanks for the info. I am in the process of a property hunt so location not yet confirmed but I am mindful of the catchment areas. My husband will view schools later in October!