SENIOR city councillors have emphatically dismissed fears a much-loved primary is facing closure in a series of strongly worded statements, as The Gruffalo illustrator swung into Soho to support the school.

Council leader Adam Hug told Extra that any hint Soho Parish CofE Primary School closure was a done deal was “complete nonsense”.

Schools chief councillor Aicha Less said: “…we have a clear commitment to keeping this hugely valued school open”.

West End ward councillor, the Tories’ schools’ supremo Tim Barnes also said the primary was “not in immediate threat of closure”.

The Extra understands the council cabinet, behind closed doors, has agreed to finance a “capital improvement scheme” to modernise classrooms and corridors at the historic school in Great Windmill Street.

Fears for the future of the school arose after a fundraiser was launched in the summer, with a sum of £120,000 said to be required annually for the next five years.

Head Alix Ascough said at the time: “We have already cut expenditure as much as we reasonably feel we can and, as a local authority school, we are unable to submit a deficit budget.”

The plea followed a significant drop-off in admissions, part of a trend across the capital caused by families seeking affordable and decent-sized homes, which has dealt a significant blow to finances.

Several schools in central London have shut due to a rise in numbers of wealthy parents willing and able to send their children to fee-paying independents.

While the council appeared bullish about the school’s chances of survival, insiders had privately been talking about the fundraising drive being a “last chance saloon”.

The council’s statements followed Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler wowing the pupils on Tuesday with a special assembly and a card-making workshop. He signed copies of a new book (above), about the history of the Christmas card, before posing with last week’s issue of the Extra. Former parent Alice MacDonnell, a descendent of V&A founder Henry Cole, famous for inventing the Christmas card and whose dog Jim features in the book, said: “We showed Axel all the children’s artwork which he really enjoyed and was impressed by their creativity.”

It was just the latest magical day for pupils who have in recent months enjoyed a series of enriching educational activities, a trademark of the school’s culture over the years that is nurtured by the neighbouring world-leading museums, art galleries, theatres, and an eclectic mix of progressively-minded parents, typically involved in the creative industries. Often thought of as the coolest school in the capital, its alumni include the late great Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols.

Cllr Barnes said: “I think Soho Parish has an extraordinary history. We need a school in this area. I don’t think it is in immediate threat of closure. Across Westminster we do have considerably more places than we have kids. There has been a significant drop in admissions. So there is a lot of capacity… but not in this part of Westminster. These things are somewhat cyclical; 15-20 years ago, we didn’t have enough places.”

Cllr Barnes suggested the council funded an advertising campaign to help boost numbers “across the piste”.

A statement from Cllr Less said: “We have a clear commitment to keeping this hugely valued school open. We are working with school staff and the diocese over the best way to help, for example with the costs of the building.

“I realise there is concern among parents, but I want to assure them we are examining a range of options to help with what are tight finances. We know how loved this school is. Soho Parish Primary School, like others across central London, is suffering from falling pupil numbers and the reality is government education funding is calculated per pupil. We are raising the issue of inner-city schools with the secretary of state for education and pointing to Soho Parish as a prime example of a great facility which needs to keep serving the community.”