Headteacher Robert Bromberg has spent the last year fighting to save his school, while watching doctors battle to save his son's life.

Mr Bromberg, 51, is head at Northview Primary, Highworth, which has just come out of special measures under his guidance.

While trying to turn the failing school around, his wife Laura, 40, gave birth to their son Henry six months ago.

However, the young lad was born with Hyperplastic Left Heart Syndrome, leaving him with just one ventricle.

Since he was delivered on September 15 last year, Henry has undergone four operations, two of which came this month.

He was operated on at Birmingham Children's Hospital and has now been transferred back to the children's ward at Gloucester Hospital.

Mr Bromberg, who lives in Deerhurst, Gloucester, said: "The school is no longer in special measures, but unfortunately Henry still is.

"It's as serious a heart defect as you can possibly have and 15 years ago there would have been nothing anyone could do."

Mr Bromberg said about 15 per cent of babies born with the defect, that are operated on by staff at Birmingham, die before they reach the age of two.

He said the national average was about 40 per cent. "He's a lovely lad, cheerful, smiley and happy," said Mr Bromberg.

"Effectively, the doctors try to give them a real quality childhood into their teens, but at some point it is a case of needing a heart transplant or dying."

Mr Bromberg said he and his wife were grateful doctors had been able to do so much for their son already and hoped he would eventually be able to lead a full life.

Mr Bromberg had been the head at the school previously, but went on secondment in 2004.

In his absence, it was placed into special measures by Ofsted in December 2005.

Mr Bromberg then returned and has now been told the school has again reached an acceptable standard.

There are now no schools in the Swindon area in special measures, making it one of 36 "clean" local authorities nationwide.

"We were all delighted and relieved that all the hard work has resulted in us being judged suitable to come out of special measures," he said.

"They make it very hard for you to claw your way out, but we have managed it. We have improved teaching right across the board and have ensured it is exciting, challenging and positive.

"We have involved the pupils in feeding back to us about what they think and how we can improve further.

"The inspectors said we had responded enthusiastically to the challenge. All of us were extremely nervous and anxious, so we are very relieved now."