The school is situated in the centre of the town on the main A59, next to the leisure pool.

[1] The school was later refurbished further with the building of a modern bespoke sixth form block and cafe.[when?]

[3] King James's School has four school houses which have a colour each, Airedale – Blue Nidderdale – Red Swaledale – Yellow Wharfedale - Green In August 2013 the LGBT online Pink News stated that King James's School's Sex and Relationships Education Policy included the words: "Ensure that homosexuality is not promoted as a pretended family relationship whilst not encouraging homophobia.

"[4] Pink News links King James' to its reported comments by the Department for Education on the Department's own 'sex and relationship education guidance', and the British Humanist Association "concerns regarding 45 schools across the country."

Pink News believes such policies, overt or vague, are a reflection of the repealed Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act.

[4] The school's current (last reviewed March 2023) Relationships & Sex Education Policy does not take this stance, instead stating "that there are different types of committed, stable relationships" and "how stereotypes, in particular stereotypes based on sex, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or disability, can cause damage (e.g. how they might normalise non-consensual behaviour or encourage prejudice).