Schools and learning

Schools used as polling stations

Who decides whether to close a school or not?

Schools are often used as polling stations usually during May. The district council chooses the school that they want to use for polling, but the Head of the school chooses whether to close the school or not for polling purposes.

Do schools have to be used?

There is a statutory requirement for school premises to be used as polling stations, if required by the returning officer for Local, Parliamentary and European elections. Before a school can be used, the returning officer must check the premises to ensure that there is suitable access especially for disabled people.

Problems that occur

There are often concerns raised by the school itself and also by parents as to whether a school should be used for polling. Hertfordshire County Council encourages returning officers not to use schools, but if a school must be used it advises the following:

• If at all possible, schools should stay open and there should be joint-use for the day.
• If after a risk assessment, the Headteacher decides that it would be unwise to keep the school open due to health and safety issues, the entire school or part of the school should be closed.
• If schools have to close completely, then this day should be taken as an inset day, but if there are no more inset days to be taken, then the school will close and the children will lose a day’s education.

For more information follow the link on the right hand side of the page.