MP visits Aurora’s new specialist school site in Market Harborough

The site of the former community centre on Roman Way was purchased in August 2025 by The Aurora Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of education, care and support services for children, young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities SEND.

Planning permission for Aurora Brampton Valley School was granted by Harborough District Council in December and since then, work has been carried out to make external alterations to the building, create classrooms and establish a multi-use games area (MUGA).

The primary and secondary school, which will be registered for 72 pupils, will support children and young people aged 5-19 with SEND from Market Harborough and from across the county. The headteacher and deputy headteacher are due to begin work after Easter in preparation for the school to open in the autumn term.

Aurora’s Strategy Director Dan Slater said he was pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with Mr O’Brien and share plans for the new school.

He said: “Aurora Brampton Valley School will soon be delivering much-needed specialist school capacity meet a specific need in the area, supporting local children and families to achieve and thrive.”

Aurora is proud to be building this new school, which will support children and young people in Leicestershire whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream setting.

He added that there has already been significant interest in the new school among parents and carers and conversations were taking place with Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and North Northamptonshire Council.

Mr O’Brien said: “It was a pleasure to visit the site and meet the team behind this important project. The school is already taking shape as a bright, welcoming space that will give young people the right environment to learn and thrive. Expanding specialist SEND provision locally will make a real difference to families, helping ensure more children can access the support they need closer to home.”

Mr O'Brien has been an MP continually since 8 June 2017. He currently undertakes the role of Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development).