School changes – moving to a primary and secondary model
Since our last update in summer 2025, we’ve been working closely with schools to consider what changes may be needed to create a more sustainable education system in Central Bedfordshire.
This work has taken account of several different factors, including feedback from workshops, school place planning forecasts, quality of education, school sites, financial systems and sustainability of schools.
We remain focused on improving educational outcomes for children, and this is why we’re pursuing a change to the two-tier system, because it supports fewer disruptive changes between school, longer phases of learning, allowing schools to build deeper knowledge, stronger relationships, and more consistent approaches to teaching and support.
At this point there is no definitive timetable for when proposals will come forward, but every proposal will be subject to consultation, public scrutiny and decision-making. Moving to a primary and secondary model is approximately a three-year process and we will work with schools to ensure that parents and communities are aware and able to take part.
There are some other factors that are changing. The biggest is that the school age population is going down in some areas. Forecasts show a reduction in the overall school population over the next five years. This is also, broadly, a national trend as people are having fewer babies. Locally, we will see thousands of unfilled school places both now and forecast into the future.
Low pupil numbers, in turn, are making more schools go into financial deficit as school funding is linked to the number of pupils enrolled at each school. As of 2026, it is costing us £4 million to prop up this deficit, but this will rise to £16 million in the next 3 years, if no action is taken. This is public money, from your Council Tax, that could be used on other services such as adult social care.
What this means is that, as there aren’t enough children to warrant the number of schools we have in Central Bedfordshire, the reality is that some schools will have to merge together and some will have to close.
We recognise this may not be the message some people were hoping to hear, and we understand that any changes will be difficult for those affected. However, we have a responsibility to make careful, sometimes difficult decisions, so that taxpayers’ money is used in the most effective and sustainable way, rather than funding schools who are impacted by increasingly lower pupil numbers. We believe that taking action now is the best way to protect educational outcomes for children and support the long-term financial stability of schools.
Where schools might need to close, we will explore other options such as using the school for special school places or nurseries. For example, this year, Pulloxhill Primary School, which has been left empty is being refurbished so it can provide much-needed school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
While we are responsible for making sure there are enough school places and for setting the overall direction for the system, we do not control all schools. Academy trusts and governing bodies make decisions about their own schools, and any changes must follow formal statutory processes, including two public consultations on any proposed changes. This means that a two-tier system will only work if schools, trusts and the council are united behind the same approach and committed to making it happen. Without that shared commitment, it will not be possible to achieve a consistent and sustainable model across the whole area.
We will continue to work with schools on proposals to move to the two-tier system and we will share these proposals with communities to make sure that everyone is able to have their say on proposed changes.
Further information will be made available on this web page when it is available.
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Three-tier schools in other areas
We remain committed to transitioning to a primary and secondary school model across Central Bedfordshire. The above sections provide information on the georgraphical areas of Central Bedfordshire where work has either taken place or has been completed. As we look at The Three-to-Two-Tier Programme with renewed focuse, we will also be engaging with schools in the areas that have yet to begin the process in: Harlington; Ampthill and Flitwick and Leighton-Linslade.
Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
We are also committed to improving our provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and a priority is our work to increase specialist school places, which remains unaffected. Some of this work may be related to some of the changes proposed in the Three-to-Two-Tier Programme.
Visit our SEND Local Offer for updates on general SEND improvements.