A WEMBLEY school would be worst affected by a “catastrophe” that could hit education in Brent, the leader of the council says.

The coalition Government is reviewing a programme of investment in school rebuilds introduced by Labour during the party's 13 years in office.

The national programme, known as Building Schools for the Future (BSF), was expected to yield £80m of investment for four schools in the borough, but this money is now under threat.

Councillor Ann John, leader of the Labour Group on Brent Council, said there are a number of schools that desperately need rebuilding, but named Copland Community School, in Cecile Avenue, as the most urgent case.

The rebuilds were also intended to increase capacity, easing what the authority says is growing pressure on school places.

Cllr John said: “This is going to be a major catastrophe for this borough visited on us by the current Government – it just doesn't bare thinking about.

“We are going to have to do some very serious thinking because there's a crisis of school places.”

The money has been frozen, not cut, and could still be paid out but Cllr John said the mood among senior officer at the council was gloomy.

She said she cannot see where money for the work will come from if the Government does not provide it, but without the building projects the authority will be caught in a bind.

With increasing pressure for places they would either have to allow class sizes to increase, sparking outrage from teaching unions, or risk leaving parents with no option but to look outside the borough.

Copland had its own plans to rebuild the school when it was run by Sir Alan Davies but the scheme collapsed leaving the council with a possible £1m debt to the developers.

Sir Alan resigned after it emerged he was paid more than £600,000 in bonuses over five years, more than £200,000 of which came in the form of project management fees for the building scheme.

The other three schools affected are Alperton Community School, Queens Park Community School and Cardinal Hinsley Mathematics and Technology College.