A decision on the future of St Nicholas Primary School in Elstree has been pushed to a further meeting later this week.
An initial decision to close the school, which currently has 46 pupils, was taken last month after concerns were raised over the financial and educational impact of operating a school with such low numbers.
However, the closure process was paused after several councillors formally questioned the basis of the cabinet’s decision-making.
The council’s overview and scrutiny committee later reviewed the process, including the demographic data used and the potential impact of future housing growth.
The committee decided the matter should be reconsidered by a meeting of the full council so that the latest planning and demographic data could be taken into account.
But at a full council meeting on Tuesday (May 21), councillors were told that closing a school is an “executive” decision, meaning the full council does not have the authority to overturn it.
Instead, councillors voted to send the matter back to the cabinet for reconsideration.
The decision will now return to cabinet on Thursday (May 20), during its next scheduled meeting.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the executive member for education, SEND and inclusion, Cllr Mark Watkin (Liberal Democrat, Nascot Park), said the issue should never have been referred to full council.
He also apologised publicly to staff and the wider St Nicholas community, saying the school had been treated as “a political football”.
“They have found themselves at the centre of a very public and at times very difficult debate,” he said.
“This is not a reflection on their professionalism, their commitment or the care they provide every single day.
“They deserve better than to be treated as a political football.”
Councillors also agreed that the impact of “increasing pressures” on the wider school community, including demographic changes, should be looked at more broadly across the county.
They said the findings should help shape a long-term strategy “to ensure that children across our county are able to access a high-quality education which enables them to thrive”.
The leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Richard Roberts (Conservative, Kings Langley), proposed an amendment to the original motion.
He said the council needed a clear strategy to deal with falling pupil numbers affecting primary schools.
He added that while the council had previously focused on creating more school places during periods of rising demand, it now needed a process that met the needs of communities, schools and children as numbers decline.
Seconding the amendment, Cllr Ralph Muncer (Conservative, Knebworth and Codicote) warned that more small and rural schools in Hertfordshire could face closure without action.
He said lessons needed to be learned to ensure communities and families connected to schools are properly listened to.
Cllr Watkin also said the council needed a “clear, consistent and forward-looking strategy” to manage falling pupil numbers while ensuring every child could still access a high-quality education.
But he added: “Had such consistency been shown in the past, by those now calling for it, we might not be in the position we are today – facing uncertainty that has caused real anxiety to families and staff.
“We must learn from that, and we must do better.”
According to a report prepared by council officers, St Nicholas has capacity for 210 pupils but currently has only 46 on roll.
The report also states that just three pupils have been allocated Reception places for September 2026, with overall pupil numbers expected to fall further.
Children at the school are currently split across three classes, which the report says is “creating significant challenges in planning and delivering a coherent curriculum across a broad age range”.
Council officers also said the school’s current budget deficit of £372,000 is projected to rise to £700,000 by 2027/28 if the school remains open.
Following the meeting, Cllr Watkin confirmed the final decision would return to cabinet on Thursday.
He said: “What has been decided is that it will return to the cabinet meeting on Thursday.
“I will specifically address the concerns raised by members to look at future demand for school places in Elstree.
“But I will also have to be mindful of the reality of keeping that particular school open, with the significant call on our resources.”
Deborah is a Local Democracy Reporter covering news across Hertfordshire, with a strong focus on councils, local government and public policy. Her reporting includes county council decisions, council tax, spending pressures, legal and regulatory issues, healthcare stories including junior doctors, and community projects affecting local residents.
