School could take less pupils next year

Holywell Primary School, in Watford, can currently take a new intake of up to 90 pupils a year, split between three forms.

But these plans would cut the number of pupils to 60 and forms to two.

Officers at Hertfordshire County Council say it reflects a predicted surplus of places in the area – which follows the expansion of a number of other schools to meet rising demand.

After being backed by a meeting of the council’s Cabinet on Monday (October 22), the plans for Holywell will now go out to public consultation.

According to the officer’s report, Holywell has requested the change to give it greater certainty over staffing and organisation.

“Although nominally having a three form intake it has not been necessary for the school to run these three classes in recent intakes,” says the officer’s report.

“It is anticipated that all families who apply for places will still be able to be accommodated following the proposed reduction.”

According to the officer’s report, they are now forecasting a surplus of places in the area, equivalent to two or three forms.

They point, in their report, to expansion at other schools nearby and the aproved opening of St Johns CofE School in tthe south of the town.

The report adds how Holywell is aware that if demand were to rise they would be expected to increase their intake, on a temporary or permanent basis.

Meanwhile Shepherd Primary School, in Mill End, near Rickmansworth, has also requested that its intake is officially reduced from 60 to 30.

The office’;s report identifies a surplus of places in the Rickmansworth area.

According to the report, the school – which this year has two Reception classes with just 16 children – says that if current intakes are repeated it will face financial difficulties.

In tandem the school has submitted an ‘in-year variation’, which if approved would automatically reduce the maximum admission number for 2019/20 onwards – taking away the need for public consultation.