Noam Primary School is awaiting a crucial decision tonight from Barnet Council over whether to grant it state aid, days after work began to build its £3.9 million new premises in Burnt Oak.

The independent Orthodox school, which opened in Wembley 19 years ago, plans to move to its first purpose-built home in Barnet within two years.

Reuben Thompstone, the Mayor of Barnet, joined 300 pupils, parents, governors and supporters at a ground-breaking ceremony on the site on Sunday. Noam’s move will give it room to expand from 170 to 240 pupils.

On Thursday evening, the council’s children, education, library and safeguarding committee was due to meet on Thursday night to decide on the school’s application for voluntary-aided status.

Headteacher Chaya Posen said on Sunday: “the achievements of Noam are a culmination of a vision by parents who have never given up a dream. Like the Maccabees of Chanukah, who fought for their beliefs with an ancient secret, these parents join Jewish history, which is full of people undeterred by what looks like an impossible journey, and that’s the reason we’re here today.”

Donations have come from as far as the USA to enable the building to proceed.

Michael Levene, chairman of governors, looked forward to “a new phase of our journey in our new home in Barnet” and called on “the continued generosity of our community to believe in education as our primary future-proofing strategy.”