A MOTHER from Yate has played a pivotal role in securing the future of a much-loved school for children with severe disabilities.

Shirley Carmichael, 49, was devastated before Christmas when she was told St Christopher’s School in Bristol, where her son Andrew has received live-in care for three years, was to close because of mounting debts.

The decision meant 13-year-old Andrew, who developed epilepsy and hydrocephalus after contracting meningitis as a baby, would have to move out of the region as there are no other schools which cater for his high level of care in the area.

Parents of pupils mounted a desperate campaign to save the residential school, which provides 24-hour nursing, education and a variety of therapies, with Shirley, a supermarket assistant at Waitrose in Chipping Sodbury, taking part in television interviews, social media pleas and asking all her colleagues at work to sign a petition launched on people power website change.org

Mrs Carmichael, who has three other sons Jacob, 17, and seven-year-old twins Luke and Freddie, told the Gazette: “I was hysterical when I found out about the plans to close St Christopher’s.

“Meningitis is a dreadful disease and Andrew is lucky to be alive but he is happy at school. Before he started there he lived at home but the nature of his disabilities means he is very confused and violent.

“St Christopher’s is the only place that has the educational and medical resources to cater for him and the staff love him as if they were his family.

“Of course nobody wants to send their child to live away, it’s a last resort, but he is happy there and that is all a parent wants for their child.”

Andrew was eight months old when he contracted pneumococcal meningitis. As well as epilepsy and hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain), the disease left him with a physical impairment down his right side and he struggles to sleep.

“I don’t think Andrew will ever be able to come home,” said Mrs Carmichael. “He would revert back to how he was before, very violent and he could do a lot of damage to other people as well as himself.

“St Christopher’s is the best place for him and I am so relieved I am not facing having to move him much further away.”

After hearing about the parent-led campaign, private company Aurora stepped in and agreed to continue running the school.

“It is fabulous,” said Mrs Carmichael. “When you have a child who becomes disabled you don’t have any control but all the parents at St Christopher’s feel really proud that we have done something.”