Built when the area was in the North Riding Local Education Authority, the school opened on 12 January 1942 to serve the Flaxton Rural District, comprising nineteen villages.

In 1973 the long planned raising of the school leaving age to 16 came into effect, in the same year North Riding Education Committee adopted the comprehensive system.

It was built by Carillion, with an energy efficient building with a biomass boiler and 120-seat lecture theatre.

The school has a main hall, playing fields, a sport centre, and an ASD unit.

Joseph Rowntree School offers the Society, Health and Development diploma for young people aged 14–19.