'Unviable' Bristol special needs school set to close

The school is due to close at the end of March 2016 after running for 70 years

A residential special needs school in Bristol is set to close as it has become "economically unviable".

St Christopher's School in Westbury Park said falling referrals, a "stagnation" in fees and changes to care standards contributed to the planned closure next March.

Alternative arrangements will be made for its 38 pupils. The provision for 19 to 25 year-olds will be unaffected.

Parent Charlotte Disley was "devastated" by the announcement.

"These places are by definition expensive.

"My son requires two-to-one staffing when he's out in the community or one-to-one staffing when he's in school."

The school's pupils have complex needs and require round the clock care.

'Conscious of impact'

In a statement the school said changes to care and legislation and inspection standards had "required an increasingly time and resource intensive level of provision for each pupil".

Coupled with a "stagnation" in fees, it meant providing this level of care and support had become "economically unviable".

The school first opened in 1945 and serves pupils from around the country.

Gerhard Meyer, a member of the school's board of trustees, said it had "thoroughly" explored the alternatives.

"We are very conscious of the impact this proposal will have on the lives of the children placed with us, their families and all staff employed by St Christopher's."

He said the school would work with parents and local authorities to help find alternative provision for its pupils.