Proposals to close a primary school near Hitchin – where the number of pupils has dropped to just two – could be brought forward, if approved by councillors.

Education officials first drew-up plans to close Hexton JMI school – which can take up to 70 pupils - in 2021.

Those plans were shelved in order to give the governing body the opportunity to increase its pupil numbers.

But since then numbers have continued to fall. And earlier this year – with just 21 pupils on roll – the county council drew up plans to close the school, which is near Hitchin, from September 2024.

At the start of this academic year – when the council consulted on its latest closure plan – there were just 11 pupils registered.

A meeting of the council's cabinet will be told that the number of pupils still at the school has fallen to just TWO.

Councillors will be presented with the results of the public consultation and asked to determine whether or not the council should press ahead with the closure plan.

But should the closure be approved , they will be asked that it closes on April 14 – rather than in September.

According to the officers' report the two pupils on roll are already seeking alternative schools. And, they say, they are unlikely to still be on roll by the time of the school closure.

The closure plans are said to have been drawn-up amid concerns about low pupil numbers and concerns about the school's future viability.

With school funding based on the number of pupils, education officials say low pupil numbers can make it challenging for the school to operate within its budget.

And they say managing a school and maintaining high quality provision with quality teaching and learning can be difficult on a low budget.

During the four week public consultation, the officers' report says there were 15 responses – 11 of which disagreed with the closure plan.

The response from the governing body, according to the report, expressed disappointment that the process for the school's closure had started again.

Governors stressed that they did not want the closure – but accept it. And they said: "We are extremely concerned about the state of small rural schools who will also be facing budgetary deficits in the coming years.

"Rural schools provide a heart to village communities, they can offer extremely nurturing environments and importantly a choice for pupils and families who may not flourish in the bigger, town schools that are clearly more cost effective."