Education chiefs are to consult on plans to close a village school near Hitchin that has just 21 pupils.

This will be the second time the county council has consulted on whether or not to close Hexton JMI School in three years.

In 2021 the school was given a ‘lifeline’ to see if it could turn its own fortunes around and boost pupil numbers.

But since then pupil numbers at the school – which can take up to 70 children – have dropped further.

According to education officials, the school now has so few pupils that they have to be taught in just two mixed-age classes.

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Due to such low numbers, they say the school is unable to balance its budget.

They have drawn-up plans that could see the school close its doors for the final time next year (2024).

On Monday, July 10, a meeting of the county council’s cabinet agreed that consultation on the school’s future should go ahead.

At the meeting the proposal was presented by executive member for education, libraries and lifelong learning Cllr Caroline Clapper.

She said governors, parents and the council had already worked closely to see if pupil numbers could be increased.

But she said they had come to the ‘sad conclusion’ that numbers were too low – and that they would have to move forward to consultation on the closure of this school. 

“It’s a shame that we couldn’t make this work,” she said.

“But a lot of effort has gone into this by officers, governors and parents –  and my predecessor Cllr Terry Douris. 

“So I think everybody is of the understanding this is where we are and this is unfortunately how we have to move forward with this school.”

At the meeting deputy leader of the county council and executive member for children, young people and families Cllr Fiona Thomson also pointed to the continuing decline in pupil numbers.

And although she acknowledged parents concerns, she suggested that this was ‘a sensible approach’.

A four-week public consultation on the proposed closure of Hexton JMI is now scheduled to begin on September 4.

Views and comments received as part of that consultation will be reported to a meeting of the education, libraries and lifelong learning cabinet panel in December.