Dacorum Education Support Centre
Pupil referral unit school in Hemel Hempstead (Hertfordshire).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
We are delighted to welcome you to Dacorum Education Support Centre (DESC). As Co-Headteachers, we are proud to lead a community built on the values of Respect, Aspiration, and Resilience . These values guide everything we do as we help young people succeed and live by our mantra: Be the best you can be.
At DESC, we believe education is the passport to a safe, stable, and successful future. Our goal is to provide every learner with the tools, confidence, and support they need to create positive futures. We take a solution-focused approach , working together to overcome challenges and celebrate achievements. Relationships are at the heart of our work.
We pride ourselves on building positive, respectful and trusting connections with our learners and families. Every young person is unique, and we celebrate individuality and strengths, helping each learner to grow in their own way. Our provision is holistic , supporting not just academic progress , but personal development and wellbeing.
We want every learner to feel valued, understood, and inspired to aim high.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
1 activityiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Trauma Informed Schools
Key facts
- URN
- 131100
- Type
- Pupil referral unit
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Ages
- 5 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Constituency
- Hemel Hempstead
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1995
Governing body (9 current, 1 former)
Maintained school governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorna Elkes | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2028 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Haswell | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2028 |
| Mr Ross Whitaker | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2028 |
| Ruth Mason | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2028 |
| Katharine Ellwood | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Karen Logan | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2025 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mrs Patricia Walker | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mrs Amanda Bright | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Headteacher David Fisher | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Ms Sara Lalis Former | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2024 · term ended 2025 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 1 November 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record