A plea to save a primary school from closure fell on deaf ears after Brent Council rejected proposals to keep it open.

Its cabinet stood by its initial decision to stop admissions at Roe Green Strathcona School in Wembley in 2020 and close its doors in July 2022.

A council scrutiny committee had advised it to revisit the decision after a campaign from parents, staff and ward councillors.

They suggested the introduction of additional provision for children with special needs, with the aim of integrating them into the main body of the school where appropriate.

But Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, explained it would press ahead with the original proposals and look towards addressing the future of the site.

Executive head teacher Nicole Lobo said the decision suggested Roe Green Strathcona has “nothing to offer”.

This is despite the fact it was created at the council’s request to deal with a shortage of school places in the borough.

She has consistently criticised the council’s handling of the situation, accusing it of publishing public reports at the final moment and ignoring consultation responses.

Jenny Cooper, representing the National Education Union, said it was “unforgivable” to not give the school more opportunity to outline its plans.

She suggested council officers had been “uncreative” in their response to the suggestions and urged them to amend the decision.

And she reiterated the union’s demand to ensure there will not be any compulsory redundancies as part of the transition.

Cllr Butt noted that the issue had not been treated lightly and had been through “much debate and scrutiny”.

At a previous meeting he said it was the local authority’s responsibility to “make difficult decisions”.

“It gives me no pleasure to look at this report, to look people in the eye and make these choices – but we cannot shy away from it,” he said.

He criticised cuts from central government – suggesting that these have forced the council’s hand – and assured staff and parents that the council would support them going forward.