The Education, SEND & Inclusion Cabinet Panel of Hertfordshire Council met on Friday 30 January 2026. The panel discussed the proposed closure of Albury Church of England Primary School and St Nicholas Elstree Church of England Primary School, reviewed the council's budget for Education, SEND and Inclusion for the upcoming years, and considered proposed changes to admission arrangements. An update on SEND improvement efforts was received, along with the annual report from the Virtual School Head. Finally, the panel considered a motion regarding a resilience strategy for rural and small schools.

Proposal to Close Albury Church of England Primary School

The panel considered the outcome of the public consultation on the proposal to close Albury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School. Despite 96.1% of respondents disagreeing with the closure, officers presented a case for closure based on declining pupil numbers, financial unsustainability, and the challenges of providing a quality education in a small school with mixed-age classes. The school has been unable to balance its budget for over five years, and current pupil numbers are critically low. A recovery plan proposed by parents was deemed unrealistic by officers. The panel discussed the proposal and its recommendation to Cabinet.

Proposal to Close St Nicholas Elstree Church of England Primary School

The panel discussed the outcome of the public consultation on the proposal to close St Nicholas Elstree Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School. A significant majority of respondents (95.1%) opposed the closure. Officers highlighted low pupil numbers, a projected budget deficit exceeding £650,000 by 2027-28, and the challenges of delivering a quality education in mixed-age classes as reasons for the proposal. Concerns were raised about the accuracy of pupil forecasts and the impact of new housing developments, but officers maintained that current and emerging housing growth was unlikely to generate sufficient pupil yield to secure the school's viability. After a divided vote, the panel discussed the proposal to recommend closure to Cabinet.

Budget 2026/27 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (Education, SEND & Inclusion)

An overview of the proposed budget for the Education, SEND and Inclusion portfolio was presented, highlighting significant financial pressures and a proposed investment in Children's Services, including for SEND. A capital investment is planned to expand specialist SEND facilities. The panel noted the pressures on the High Needs Block and the impact on schools. The panel noted and commented on the report.

Hertfordshire County Council's Admission Arrangements for 2027-28

The panel considered proposed amendments to the county council's admission arrangements for 2027-28, including reductions in Published Admission Numbers (PANs) at Kimpton Primary School and Little Green Junior School, and proposed increases at Widford and Hunsdon Primary Schools for 2026/27, and Reed First School for 2027-28. The panel noted the proposed amendments.

SEND Improvement Update

An update on the SEND improvement journey was provided, reporting that a monitoring inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) concluded that Hertfordshire had taken 'effective action' in addressing its two Areas for Priority Action. Further development is needed and is being incorporated into the new SEND Strategy and continuous improvement plan. The panel noted the positive outcomes of the inspection and the ongoing commitment to improving SEND services.

The Annual Report of the Virtual School Head

The annual report for 2024-2025 was presented, highlighting achievements in educational outcomes for Children Looked After (CLA) across all key stages, improvements in post-16 destinations, and the impact of new initiatives. The panel congratulated the Virtual School team on their work.

Response to Motion: Rural and Small Schools Resilience Strategy for Hertfordshire

The panel considered a motion calling for the development of a 'Rural and Small Schools Resilience Strategy'. Officers outlined existing strategies and agreed to draw together existing work into a cohesive document to be presented to the panel. Regarding confidential briefings to county councillors on schools at risk, an amendment was accepted to direct officers to provide such briefings where appropriate or requested by the member. The panel considered the motion, with officers taking the sense of the motion forward.

Other Business

The panel also noted and commented on the SEND & Inclusion Performance Quarter 2 2025/26 report, which detailed progress in areas such as EHCP timeliness and quality, communications, and inclusion.