A consultation is set to be launched for plans to reduce the number of places available for primary schools in Baldock, St Albans and Harpenden.

As part of proposals drawn-up by Hertfordshire County Council, the number of places available to new pupils at St Mary’s CE Infant School, Baldock would be cut from 60 to 30.

The number of Reception places available at Bernard’s Heath Infant School in St Albans would be reduced from 90 to 60.

At Roundwood Primary School in Harpenden, the number of places available for the youngest pupils would be reduced from 45 to 30.

Meanwhile the number of Reception places for new arrivals at Windermere Primary School in St Albans would fall from 30 to just 15.

Plans to consult on the proposed changes – that would come into force from September 2026 – were backed by a meeting of the council’s cabinet on Wednesday (September 18).

Now a six-week period of consultation is expected to go ahead from October 26.

At the cabinet meeting councillors heard that the proposals to consult reflected changes in local populations.

Presenting the plans executive member for education, libraries and lifelong learning Cllr Caroline Clapper said they were drawn-up as part of an annual review of admission numbers.

She said the proposals were “in response to changing demand and a reduced primary population”, and it was a “proactive step” and that the schools were supportive of the plans, that have been drawn up by officers.

“We are taking a proactive step here to ensure that we can manage falling applications effectively, while continuing to offer high quality education tailored to local needs,” she said.

“We, as always, work very closely with the schools and the governing bodies to make sure that they want to work with us on our published admission numbers.

“So, we are working currently with all of these schools who are supportive of these.”

According to a report drawn-up by council officers, the county experienced a “significant rise” in demand for new primary school places between 2008 and 2018.

It suggests that since 2010 the number of additional primary school places in the county increased by 17,000

But it says that since a peak in primary pupil numbers in 2018 numbers have fallen, with “smaller cohorts entering Reception”.

“While there is less certainty beyond those children already born, longer-term projections suggest this trend will continue in coming years,” says the report.

“As was the case with planning for increasing demand, the scale and impact of the decline in intake numbers varies in different areas, while some parts of the county are still seeing pressure on school places from families moving into Hertfordshire mid-year.

“This means that, while we continue to plan for growth relating to new
homes in the medium term, it is important to manage capacity at existing
schools in the shorter-term to help support financial sustainability and
maintain good educational standards.”

The report – that had earlier been considered by a meeting of the council’s education, libraries and lifelong learning cabinet panel – had also included plans to consult on proposals to reduce the intake at Wheatcroft Primary School, in Hertford.

But this proposal – according to the county council – will not be part of this consultation process.

Following the meeting a spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said: “Wheatcroft is mentioned within the report. But the school, since publication, have confirmed to the council that they do not wish to proceed with a consultation.

“The school have been removed from the process going forward.”

As councillors backed the plans, leader of the county council Cllr Richard Roberts said it was reassuring for parents that the council planned school admissions so far in advance.

”I think what has probably taken me ever so slightly by surprise is that we are actually planning for changes that will take place in 26/27,” he said.

“I have been a councillor for some time and never realised that we planned the school changes and arrangements with schools so far in advance.

“And of course that is reassuring for parents, as they plan their futures for their children.”