Education officials have drawn-up plans to consult on the closure of one of the county's smallest schools – for the second time in three years.

Councillors agreed NOT to close Hexton JMI School, near Hitchin, two years ago, when it had 31 pupils – to give governors the chance to increase pupil numbers.

But since then the number of pupils at the school has fallen further, to just 21 – making it the smallest school in the county.

And education chiefs have now drawn-up new proposals to close the school, from September 2024.

The plans were outlined to a meeting of the council's education, libraries and lifelong learning cabinet panel on Thursday (June 22).

And if a future meeting of the council's cabinet agrees, consultation on the proposals will begin in September.

On Thursday, councillors were heard that the school now has so few pupils that they have to be taught in just two mixed-age classes.

And they were told that as well as sustaining the quality of education, there were concerns about the school' financial viability.

Two years ago Conservative Cllr David Barnard – a former governor – had asked for a 'stay of execution'.

But at the meeting, he told councillors 'with a heavy heart' that the school was no longer viable.

He acknowledged the decision by the council in 2021 to allow parents and governors to pursue options to increase numbers ad make the school viable.

But he sad that 'unfortunately' the numbers had fallen.

And he said that there was little alternative than to go out to consultation, where the school would have the opportunity to make representations and proposals.

"I suspect that there is little more than can be done," said Cllr Barnard. "And it is with a very heavy heart that I think that it is going to happen and the school is not viable anymore."

According to the report presented to the panel, just six of the school's 21 pupils actually live in the village of Hexton.

Fifteen existing pupils, says the report, have an alternative school that is closer to their homes – and nine pupils travel from out of Hertfordshire.

Just two pupils have been allocated Reception places for 2023. And, says the report, neither live in Hexton.

Outlining the challenges, the report states: "As a result of low pupil numbers, Hexton JMI is forced to organise across two classes.

"Although schools can run vertical classes with mixed age groups; mixing more than two-year groups in any one class is likely to be detrimental to the quality of education provided.

"Teaching such a range of ages in one class makes curriculum planning and delivery challenging.

"The breadth of need in each class creates difficulties for leaders and teachers to plan the school's curriculum so that it is coherent and appropriately sequenced to meet pupils' needs."

The report says that 'despite the best efforts' of staff and governors pupil numbers have decreased. And the school will be unable to balance its budget going forward.

A final decision on whether to consult – or not – on proposals to close the school will be taken by a meeting of the council's cabinet.