COUNCILLORS have heard calls for a school near Hitchin with 41 pupils to remain open – after a petition was signed by more than 400 Hertfordshire residents.

Education chiefs at Hertfordshire County Council have drawn up plans to consult on the future of Hexton Junior, Middle and Infant School.

And later this month a meeting of the council's cabinet is expected to determine whether – or not – the consultation will go ahead.

Education chiefs say low pupil numbers at the school – which could take up to 70 pupils – makes it difficult for teachers to plan the curriculum.

At the school pupils are currently split between just two classes – with multiple year groups being taught side-by-side.

And in drawing-up plans for the consultation officials have pointed to forecasts of future low demand and fears about the school's future financial viability.

But now more than 400 people have signed a petition calling for the consultation to be halted and for the school to remain open.

And on Thursday (September 2) Hexton JMI's vice chair of governors Lee Burgess made the case to a meeting of the county council's education, libraries and lifelong learning cabinet panel.

He said that Hexton had fluctuated in numbers for decades – but that they had attracted enough pupils to be viable.

He pointed to Ofsted findings that 'teaching, learning and assessment' at the school were 'good', 'personal development and welfare' were 'outstanding' and that 'outcomes for pupils' were 'good'.

And he said that until last October no concerns had been raised about the school budget or the quality of teaching.

"Parents love bringing their children to the school," he said. "It offers something different to larger village and town schools.

"The local community want the school to prosper, but most importantly the children love this school.

"History tells us that we can and we will get back to a sustainable level – we just need to be given the time and the support to do so."

Pointing to the process, Mr Burgess said the school had put together a "challenging but viable" plan for the school.

But he said they had been allocated just 30 minutes to discuss it with education officials – which he slammed as "a totally inadequate amount of time for such an important meeting".

He said the county council had pressed ahead "with speed" – but with no real consideration given to their proposals or any alternatives.

And he said 'lip service' had been paid to discussions about the future of the school.

"It feels as if everything is being engineered to produce an outcome to meet an agenda to consolidate schools across Hertfordshire," he said.

Meanwhile local Conservative councillor David Barnard – a former governor of the school whose own children went there – said he would like to see a 'stay of execution' for the school.

He pointed to a time when parents had to put their children's names down for a place at the school as soon as they were born.

And he said: "I have absolute trust in the governors and a very very active parents committee.

"And I believe they will be able to produce the goods – and the results – that we want."

At the meeting Labour Cllr Judi Billing proposed that the school was given all the time possible for the case to be 'looked at properly'.

She accepted there were economic difficulties with smaller schools, but she asked that everything be done to help the school 'to reach the best outcome for them – not just for the county council in general'.

Meanwhile Liberal Democrat Cllr Mark Watkin pointed to the school's good head, committed governing body and the support of its community.

Fellow Lib Dem Cllr Chris Lloyd suggested that as a result of Covid it would have been tough for the school to 'drum up' extra numbers.

And he suggested that the consultation be delayed by one year – allowing the school to explore options and to show that it is sustainable.

But Conservative Cllr Chris Alley drew a distinction between the decision to close and a public consultation.

He said it was right that residents parents, local councillors and others had their say.

But he said it was right that the council continued on this path – and that, if the consultation was done properly the right decision would come from it.

The decision to go to consultation – or not – is expected to be made at a meeting of the county council's cabinet later this month (September).

And executive member for education, libraries and life long learning Cllr Terry Douris assured members of the cabinet panel that their comments would be reflected at that meeting.

The county council's cabinet is next due to meet on September 20. That meeting can be viewed at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/watchmeetings