CONTINGENCY plans for the new city academy in Wembley are in tatters after a nearby school's governing body voted against housing children if temporary classrooms are not built in time.

Last week, Brent Council's planning committee gave its permission for a temporary school in the Wembley Park Recreation Ground, ahead of a planned 1,600-pupil permanent school due to be completed in 2010.

However, the construction of temporary classrooms, planned to be ready for the new school year in September, could overrun and Wembley Primary School received a request from Brent Council to keep classrooms free in case of delays.

Mike Turner, chairman of governors at the newly-enlarged school, said in a letter to parents: "The principal reasons [for the unanimous rejection of the contingency plan] are the governors' belief that standards at Wembley Primary School may be compromised and that your children would see no benefit of any sort from the presence of the Ark academy."

An angered parent, who works for Brent Council but asked not to be named, said: "Once again, the education of Brent's youngest children is being compromised by the arrogance of Brent's education department.

"I feel as if Brent Council is treating Brent children of the future like farm animals who do not deserve the opportunity to receive a decent education."

Rachel Gardner, Brent Council spokeswoman, insisted the buildings would be ready by September, negating the need for contingency plans.

She said: "The issue of placing children short-term at Wembley Primary was merely a proposal, suggested as a

contingency plan in case the temporary buildings were not ready in time.

"This contingency plan was highlighted in the recent Committee Report that went to Planning and was subject to approval by Wembley Primary School's Board of Governors.

"The governors of Wembley Primary have not approved the contingency plan."

Ark, the educational charity which is sponsoring the academy, said it also believed the buildings would be ready.

Spokeswoman, Lesley Smith, said: "Wembley Primary School should be reassured that it is not going to happen.

"It would be an extreme case of exceptional circumstance and if there was a problem, the council would have to find temporary accommodation for the pupils elsewhere, just like they would have to for any school in Brent.

"I understand that no school wants to run the risk of being disrupted."