In 1948 when the school became an Educational Charity and Special School within the 1944 Education Act, a Board of Managers comprising ten Members of the Society of Friends or others closely connected was appointed. The Board was to have fifteen to eighteen members including two each appointed by Lancashire County Council, and West Riding of Yorkshire County Council, and one from the Education Committee, and a House Committee and a Finance Committee were to be appointed to meet regularly.

The move to Ledston Hall was necessary because Dunnow Hall had become too small and the lease was running out, although it was sad to have to leave the glorious landscape. A twenty-one year lease was taken up on part of Ledston Hall, Castleford, which had large and beautiful grounds.

In 1952 it was decided to appoint a Headmaster on the retirement of Arthur Fitch, and the then Cahirman of the Board, Frank Forrest, a well qualified teacher, was invited to apply. When Frank Forrest was interviewed and duly appointed, his wife Mary was appointed as Mistress of the Household, and they commenced their duties on September 1st 1952. At this time also a woman was appointed as Deputy Head and there were eight other teachers. Other staff included a Matron and her assistant, a housekeeper, three cooks, a laundress, eight domestic assistants, and a secretary/bursar with an assistant secretary. Mary Forrest recalls that her salary was £150 per annum, and the food costs for this large household were £200 per month; examples of costs included - one dozen 5½ lb bread loaves cost 21 shillings and a new blanket cost 17 shillings and 6 pence.

H.M. Inspectors soon made the first of many visits to the school and were always welcomed as a vital part of school life, so that the standards of education were maintained. All aspects of the life of the pupils were investigated and they recommended on this first visit that the school be run on Grammer School lines and that a move be made to have one sex only in the school. As there were only a few girls at the school it was decided by the Board to withdraw them, so by the end of 1952 the remaining six girls had left.

By 1954 there were sixty-five maladjusted boys being catered for with an age range of seven to sixteen. G.C.E. was the educational aim, and the accomodation and maintainance grants came from the Ministry of Education, who reimbursed the Local Authorities to between 65% and 75% of the fees. In this year a new prospectus was prepared and the fees were £375 per annum. Liaison with the Department of Psychology of Leeds was established and a Psychiatrist was appointed at two guineas a session. H.M. Inspectors paid another visit to the school this year. Food costs were estimated at twelve shillings and sixpence per head per week.

Due to the new regulations, Ledston Hall premises were now not considered up to standard, and Mary Forrest remembers that areas had to be fenced off as bits of masonry were liable to fall off. Some floor boards were in danger of collapsing also, so strenuous efforts were made to find a more suitable home for the school.

Plans were well underway by 1957 to vacate Ledston Hall for more suitable premises near Thirsk in North Yorkshire. From an advertisement seen in the Yorkshire Post, Breckenbrough Hall was procured. In 1958, with a 75% grant from the Ministry of Education, the Board were able to authorise Messrs. Wlater Thompson Ltd., Building Contractors of Northallerton, to undertake the necessary building work. This firm has through the years continued to be reliable, helpful and responsible to the school. Mortimers Partners, Architects, planned and directed the work which included removing and re-erecting the classroom huts. Removal charges from Ledston to Breckenbrough were £260 and on August 13th 1958 thirteen very large pantechnicons loaded and removed the school's effects. Mary Forrest personally supervised the packing and unpacking.

Breckenbrough Hall, an imposing mansion built between 1887 and 1894, is set within six acres of grounds including a small lake. Some houses within the grounds and others in the near vicinity were considered suitable as staff residences, and the Headmaster and his wife were to be accommodated in a flat on the first floor of the main house.

With a garden party on September 20th 1958, to mark the opening of the school at Breckenbrough, the school seemed set for a new beginning and a period of growth and stability. A sound basis was established and more applications recieved than it was possible to accommodate. By February 1959 an age range of nine to eighteen was established and in March 1959 Frank Forrest reported "in spite of the stress and strain of the removal, all were settling down and beginning to appreciate the better premises where, although the boys found the grounds more restricting, it was much easier for the staff to keep an eye on them".

Parents made a special effort to come and see their sons, and contacts were made in the neighbourhood with North Riding Police, Women's Institutes and Rotary Clubs, County Youth Employment Officer, Youth Clubs and Headmasters of local schools, where competitive sports opportunities might open up. Local Friends rallied round to make visits, especially to help with Sunday morning services; local doctors, dentists and opticians had all been arranged and one of the staff had added hairdressing to his many skills.

Acceptable punishment has continually been a topic for discussion amongst teachers, managers and others in direct contact with the children. The aim has been to make this both suitable and positive rather than punitive and negative. Points systems have been introduced from time to time and have been successful to a limited degree, particularly when linked to priviledges or the loss of them. Corporal punishment has only rarely been administered. In 1959 the problem of truancy, theft, smoking and fire-raising were very real.

At first the problems of securing relaible domestic staff were great, with Mary Forrest doing most of the work herself and giving the boys a cleaning rota to assist her. Although this undoubtedly gave them a greater understanding of the work involved on their behalf and would benefit them in the end, it was hardly to be recommended as a long term plan.

The policy of allowing staff to attend courses and encouraging them with financial assistance has always been in evidence. This has helped staff to remain fresh in their approach to subject matter and also to extend personal interests and expertise in out of school puruits so vital to a residential school.

Minority interests in the form of clubs and non-academic pursuits have always been a feature and over the years chess, drama, art, handwork and geography were all in evidence. Country Dancing was at one time used as a therapeutic medium, and a stamp club proved interesting to some. The geography, art and drama clubs were all able to use outings and visits to exhibitions and performances, so giving both outside interests and opportunity for behaviour study to the accompanying staff.

The Headmasters have always been willing and able to lecture about the school and their work to many and varies gatherings of people, sometimes involving long journeys to and from the venue, and in the midst of heavy teaching programmes and administrative duties. They have regarded this as part of their work of outreach to spread knowledge of maladjustment in children in order to increase understanding of the problems. The stated policy of the school was always to accept only children of a high I.Q., at least 110, and although because of their maladjustment they did not achieve high academic standards, they were at least given the opportunity to stretch their minds to the full potential in the environment of a caring institution.

Annual Sports Days seem to have been held very regularly and sporting opportunities have always been available. Matches with teams and schools in the neighbourhood proved good for team spirit, school pride and a healthy outlet for competitive instincts. In 1960 it was noted that many fixtures were organised during the year, cricket and football being the most popular. An ever increasing number of parents visited the school and some stayed at a local inn nearby. This proved very good for family relationships.

After nine years as Headmaster and close association with the school over eighteen years, Frank Forrest, with his wife Mary, retired in 1961. During those nine years the existence of Child Guidance Clinics had increased all over the country and the necessity for Special Education for the maladjusted child was reorganised as a vital part of the education system. Frank and Mary Forrest had built up personal relationships that were to continue for many years, not only with old boys, but especially with staff, who had appreciated the fruitful staff meetings regularly held. With Frank's membership of the Board and as Chairman before he was appointed Headmaster, he had established a firm place in the reputation of the school and its history. He continued to give service by keeping regular contact with formaer pupils and steff after his retirement and since his untimely death in 1970 Mary has continued to keep up links by corresponding with both boys and colleagues.