MPs call for pause on plan to close 12-pupil school

Two MPs have urged a local education authority to halt plans to close a village school which currently has 12 pupils.

Labour's Chris Hinchliff and Josh Dean have written to Hertfordshire County Council calling for the process of closing Albury Primary School to be paused.

They urged the authority to "allow at least one full academic year for stabilisation and recovery planning" and to "work constructively with the school community to explore alternatives".

The council said it was "reviewing submissions to the statutory consultation" and added a "final decision would be made on 22 April".

Albury Primary, near Little Hadham, recently celebrated its 175th birthday, and has capacity for 84 pupils.

Some of the current roll are children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and campaigners say they would face particular disruption if the school shut.

A first consultation earlier this year saw 96.1% of respondents oppose closure and a 500-strong petition was presented to the council asking for plans to be put on hold.

Parents held a rally alongside Hinchliff outside council offices, but the authority's cabinet chairman used his casting vote to support a recommendation for the school to shut its doors in August after six councillors voted in favour and six against.

However, Hinchliff and Dean have said recent government SEND reforms are specifically designed to help schools like Albury, which they claim would benefit from a share of £1.6bn via a new Inclusive Mainstream Fund over three years to support schools to deliver stronger universal SEND provision.

Hinchliff, MP for North East Herts, said: "Before any decision is taken, Hertfordshire County Council must demonstrate clearly and unequivocally that every alternative has been fully, rigorously, and transparently examined."

Dean, who represents the Hertford and Stortford constituency, added: "I have been contacted by a number of constituents, who send their children to the school, who have highlighted a real strength of feeling of what closing the school means for pupils, families and the wider community."

A council spokesperson said: "Due to the low local demand, the financial constraints this puts on the school, and the challenge of maintaining a good quality of education for pupils, the responsible thing to do is to consider the future of the school.

"Should the final decision be taken to close in April, the council will work closely with local schools, staff and parents to ensure all children have a place at an alternative school from September."

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