North Yorkshire Council Approves Site Swap Plan for New Scalby School

North Yorkshire Council has agreed to a site swap arrangement to facilitate the construction of a new school in Scarborough, replacing the current Scalby School.

Scalby School has been in a difficult predicament for the last two years after a survey identified Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the existing Scalby School building in August 2023, leading to the decommissioning of most of the building. The school is currently operating in a mix of the current building alongside temporary classroom units.

Scalby School accommodates around 1,000 pupils aged between 11 and 16 and is run by a multi-academy trust. It is the only school in North Yorkshire to be affected by the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) issues.

The DfE has committed to rebuilding Scalby School as part of the National School Rebuilding Programme.

North Yorkshire Council's Executive Member for Education, Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, says that the rebuilding project is of such a scale that re-development within the existing Scalby School boundary is not a viable option.

The Scalby school site is owned by the council and currently leased to the Coast and Vale Learning Trust. The plan involves the transfer of part of the former Lower Graham School site located approximately 1.1km (0.7 miles) away to the Coast and Vale Learning Trust, via a standard academy lease, in exchange for the current Scalby School site once the new school is operational.

The council will grant a 125-year lease at a peppercorn rent to the Coast and Vale Learning Trust. The lease is conditional upon certainty that the new school will be delivered.

The council also owns the former Lower Graham School site, which extends to approximately 7.01 hectares (17.32 acres). The site has been largely non-operational since September 2017, when the services run by the school were consolidated onto the adjoining Graham School site. Part of the site is currently occupied by Springhead Sixth Form, which will not be affected by the proposals.. 

According to the council, the proposed site swap will provide a site for a new, purpose-built modern school to replace Scalby School and bring significant investment from the DfE in North Yorkshire education. Once the new school is built, the current Scalby School site will revert to the council.

Local councillor John Ritchie has welcomed the plan:

Councillor Annabel Wilkinson says what would happen to the old Scalby School site will be determined at a later date.

The corporate director for children's services, Stuart Carlton, said the decision to approve the land swap deal in principle is just a first step and that a full planning application will be required before any new school can be built.

The council says it believes that the proposals align with its priority to ensure sufficient school places in the right locations of the right quality.

The site will be made available to the Coast and Vale Learning Trust by way of a standard academy lease for 125 years at a peppercorn rent. The proposed lease is conditional on the Secretary of State granting consent for the disposal of the current Scalby School site. The council says it will seek the consent to dispose of and change the use of the Scalby School site.

Deputy leader and executive member for finance and resources, Cllr Gareth Dadd, said: 

“Given the site’s previous educational use, the location selected is ideal and this is an exciting investment for the school, pupils and the local community.

“The DfE is at the feasibility stage of the project and while completion of that will take time, regular updates will be shared to keep everyone informed of the stages of the development.

“We would like to stress Springhead Sixth-Form School will not be affected by the proposals and will continue to operate from its part of the site.

“In the meantime, it’s too early to comment on timescales or confirm what will happen to the existing Scalby School site, as well as the current school’s playing fields.”

Coast and Vale Learning Trust, responsible for Scalby School, has been working with Knottingley-based Delta for the past 10 months and has now received Department for Education approval to merge formally.

Headteacher, Chris Robertson, said: 

“The negotiation and securing of land for our new secondary school building is not just about bricks and mortar—it represents a renewed commitment to the future of our young people. In a coastal town where opportunities can be limited, this project offers a beacon of hope and a promise of better educational outcomes.

“This new facility will provide our students with the resources, space, and environment they truly deserve, empowering them to reach their full potential and shaping the future of our community for generations to come.

“We will endeavour to work with all stakeholders to ensure this project is delivered in a timely manner and remains focused on the interests of our local coastal community.”