St Hilda’s Preparatory School for Girls in Bushey, Hertfordshire, may have to close permanently in the summer, the Watford Observer has reported.

The school and nursery has capacity for 190 children, but has a current roll of 144 following declining admissions.

Aldenham Foundation, which runs the school, sent a letter to parents stating that it was looking at “the on-going viability of the school (including the nursery)”.

In the letter the foundation’s head and chair of governors said it was making this information available now “in the interests of fairness and transparency” but said no final decision has yet been made.

The letter added: “This outcome is subject to consultation with staff, and we expect to make a decision and confirm this with staff and parents by the end of this term.

“The decision to consult on a possible closure has been an extremely difficult one for the foundation.

“We have explored, and will continue to explore, alternatives to closure.”

The letter added that “the ever-declining pupil roll combined with significant external economic pressures now make this a necessity”.