Mum vows: we won’t give up school fight

Reporter: Lucy Kenderdine
Date published: 10 September 2014


THE mother of accident victim Adam McQuillan is to take on education experts for a second time in a bid to keep her son in mainstream education.

Anita Claxton is prepared to keep 11-year-old Adam away from school until a tribunal can hear his case in January.

The family’s world was turned upside down in September 2011, when the eight-year-old Adam, of Queensway, Greenfield, suffered a serious brain injury and multiple fractures after being struck by a car in Abbeyhills Road. He spent 10 weeks in a coma and eight months in hospital before he astounded doctors with a miraculous recovery.

Adam, who was left with limited movement and speech afterwards, later went to Kingfisher Special School. But against advice Anita moved her son back into a mainstream school, St Anne’s RC in Greenacres this year with one-to-one tuition, alongside year five pupils.

Adam should now move up to secondary school. The local authority wants him to go to New Bridge special school in Hollinwood, where he will receive expert tuition. His family thinks differently

“We tried sending Adam to a special school before but he didn’t like it at all,” said Anita.

“He has made so many friends and progressed so much at a mainstream school that I don’t think it is in his best interests to take all that away from him.

“He is doing much better in his subjects and his communication has improved. He is now walking and trying to talk and I think it’s all down to being in a mainstream school.

“It’s not just about the education; it’s about everything else that goes with it too.”

Mrs Claxton will appeal the council’s decision at a tribunal at the end of January, and has launched a petition to gather local support.

“I’m worried that Adam staying off school will affect the progress he has made over the past few months but I want to do what is best for him and what he wants.”