Friday 31 January 2020 The Rose Court site in Headingley (formerly Ford House) is to be sold to Leeds City Council for use as a school for children with special educational needs. The announcement of the acquisition comes as GSAL prepares to hold a farewell weekend for alumni of both Rose Court and Ford House on 15 and 16 May. The sale of the site was agreed between the city council and GSAL just before Christmas and will enable the council to provide much-needed additional SEND places in Leeds from 2021 for children aged between four and 16. Pupils at Rose Court are due to move to their new home at Alwoodley Gates in September this year. To mark the end of school’s last link with Headingley, GSAL is opening the doors of Rose Court to alumni, their families and friends on Friday and Saturday, 15 and 16 May, for two days’ celebration and nostalgia. The event kicks off with an open afternoon on Friday from 2-4pm, when alumni of Rose Court and Ford House will have the chance to step back in time as they peek inside familiar classrooms and watch lessons taking place. Tours will be led by children from Year 2 and will include displays of school memories and an art exhibition by current Rose Court pupils, followed by tea and cakes. The event is free of charge, however please register online if you wish to attend. Get together with your school friends On Saturday, the school will host a farewell lunch for alumni from 11am-2pm. This is a wonderful setting and occasion for a ‘mini reunion’ for groups of school friends. There will be plenty of opportunities for guests to reminisce as they wander along the corridors and into classrooms, take in the displays from the archives and, perhaps, stop to pose for a photograph or two before pre-lunch drinks. The three-course lunch with wine is £25 per person, please book online. Alumni
