COMMUNITY campaigners are optimistic that a primary school will be saved from closure after a scrutiny committee urged Brent Council to think again.

Those fighting to save Roe Green Strathcona school (RGS) in Wembley welcomed the decision of the council’s community and wellbeing scrutiny committee to ask the cabinet to reconsider closing the school.

The decision follows a protest on Wednesday, which was addressed by local Labour councillor Jumbo Chan, Jenny Cooper from the NEU, teachers and members of the community.

RGS opened in 2014 as a temporary site to cater for the rising demand in primary school places in the local area, and was given permanent school status in 2016.

However, the council now claims that demand is now falling and the  council cabinet signed off on plans to shut down the school entirely on September 9, sparking a strike of NEU members at the school on Wednesday.

An informal council consultation over the future of the school saw 541 responses urging the council to reconsider their plans — with only one person expressing support for the cabinet.

The decision does not guarantee a future for the school, but it is considered a significant drawback for the cabinet’s plans.

Mr Chan, who has been active in the campaign, said: “Roe Green Strathcona’s dedicated teachers were able to successfully call for the reconsideration of plans which would have surrendered their school.

“Though a positive step, a final victory is still far-off. Until then, I will fully continue to support their struggle.”