North West London Jewish Day School has defended inviting parents who have applied for places for their children this year to a fundraising dinner.

One father said it was "inappropriate" for the state-aided Willesden primary to ask parents to the event while decisions on the offer of places for this autumn were pending.

But fundraising chair Elisa Rubinstein maintained that there was "no relationship between fundraising activities at NWLJDS and the admissions process".

More than 300 guests joined Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis at a dinner for the school last month at Brent Civic Centre, marking the culmination of its 70th anniversary celebrations.

But the father - who paid £300 for two tickets - said that, given the competition for places in Jewish schools, he and his wife felt "under pressure" to attend.

"A few weeks before the decision on admissions is being made, you are being asked to go to a fundraising dinner and give money."

Mrs Rubinstein said that more than 500 invitations went out and that "no one was pressurised to come. We invited everyone to the dinner who was on our email database. This was not collated by any members of the fundraising committee, or shared with governors responsible for admissions."

The cost of the dinner had been "separately sponsored" and "the £150 suggestion per person was entirely voluntary. No one had to pay for their tickets to attend. This was clear in the invitation."

Ben Tenenblat, a parent of a former pupil, catered the event, which included a raffle and an auction of NWLJDS children's artwork.