A village’s only primary school “must stay open”, its MP has said after a potential 2026 closure was revealed.
Hertfordshire County Council’s Education, Send, and Inclusion panel will discuss shutting St Nicholas C of E School, in Elstree, due to low pupil numbers and budget pressures on November 6.
No final decision will be made at that meeting, with a formal consultation required first, but Hertsmere MP Sir Oliver Dowden has called for urgent action to save the school.
“St Nicholas is not just a school, it is the beating heart of Elstree’s community,” the Conservative MP added.
“It has a proud reputation for nurturing children, especially those with special educational needs, and for offering a Christian ethos that many families actively choose.”
Sir Dowden highlighted that it is the only primary school in Elstree and has an above-average number of children with special education needs (SEN).
He said closure would “force children to travel out of the village, cut off parental choice, and weaken the church’s link with young people”.
“I will be engaging directly with Hertfordshire County Council and the Department for Education to ensure that every alternative is properly explored,” Mr Dowden added.
“Once a school is lost, it is lost forever, and we must do everything possible to secure a future for St Nicholas.”
When news of the potential closure was first confirmed, councillors from multiple parties shared that a public meeting over the school's future will be held at the site from 7pm on Wednesday, October 29, and supported efforts to keep it open.
A Hertfordshire County Council spokesperson said St Nicholas operates at “just over a quarter of its capacity”, highlighting financial constraints and “the challenge of maintaining a good quality of education for pupils”.
It described considering its future as "the responsible thing to do" and confirmed it has held talks with school leadership, parents, carers, and staff.
The spokesperson added: “We understand that this will be unwelcome news for many people, and we are sorry for the upset that we know this news will cause.
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“However, when a school is faced with such significant challenges, we need to consider the most responsible course of action including asking cabinet whether to initiate a public consultation.
“If cabinet decides to proceed with the public consultation, this will run for four weeks from mid-November with a wide range of interested parties being consulted, including the local community.”
If the school shuts, the council says it will work with staff and parents to find pupils places at alternative schools for September.
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