A father's fight to keep his 22-year-old daughter, who has Down's syndrome, in school could set a precedent which would see thousands of adults with similar needs being education alongside children.
Anthony Williams is locked in a battle with Essex County Council over his daughter Maria's right to continue to receive teaching at Columbus College, Chelmsford, where she has attended since she was 16. Essex Council have been trying to force Maria to leave the school for three years, arguing her statement of special needs education needs only covered Maria until she was 19.
David Wolfe, acting on behalf of Williams, told the Court of Appeal it needed to prevent people "falling off a cliff when they hit 19".
Maria entered mainstream education when she was five, but transferred to the specialist college in 2006 as she was behind her peers. The court heard she has only missed school once - when she was off after having a heart operation when she was 16.
The head of the college is happy for Williams, who has a reading age of nine, to stay on until she is 25, the court heard.
But Fiona Scolding, for the council, warned judges allowing Maria - and other pupils with similar special needs - would have a "massive impact" on the finances of local authorities.
Judgement was reserved for a future date.