Aurora celebrates 10 years of transforming lives

Now, as it celebrates its 10^th anniversary, Aurora can reflect on the positive impact it has had – and continues to have – on the lives of thousands of people.

Guided by its core values: caring, ambitious, collaborative, trusted and innovative, Aurora has grown to become one of the UK’s largest providers of specialist education, care and support services.

“It began with “a small team with big ambitions and a big heart”, said Aurora Strategy Director Dan Slater.

“Today, our services are having a life-changing, positive impact on nearly 1,500 children, young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities across the UK, and we are setting up new schools every year so that even more can thrive and fulfil their aspirations.

“And we have grown not just in scale, but as an organisation too, becoming a certified B Corp and achieving consistently high quality ratings. And we’ve managed to do all this while retaining that ambition and that heart that were there since the beginning.”

Aurora operates 27 registered services from Aurora Eccles and White House schools in the east to Aurora Foxes College in the west, and from Aurora Keyes Barn School in the north to Aurora Vincent House in the south, together employing more than 1,850 people.

Aurora CEO Kelvin Donald, who took up the role in June, said: “It’s been a great privilege to join Aurora just as we reach this incredible milestone. We can all be very proud of what Aurora has achieved in the past 10 years through our unwavering commitment to quality, and ensuring our young people are given the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

"During the past 10 years, we’ve improved thousands of lives and in the next 10 years, we should touch 10 times as many." 

“Everyone at Aurora is eager to begin the next chapter as we continue to raise the bar, delivering the highest quality services to meet the needs of those we serve.”

That Aurora is able to grow so fast and so successfully is largely due to its funder Octopus, whose vision aligns closely with Aurora’s mission. Octopus said: “It’s been our privilege to be part of their journey – helping to unlock sites, provide strategic input, and support their continued growth and innovation.”

And this growth and innovation is set to continue with two new Aurora schools scheduled to open in Leicestershire and Worcestershire in 2026.

Aurora Board Director Shay Ramalingam, who worked for Octopus at the time, said the name Aurora came from the idea that when you get lots of elements together something beautiful happens. “That’s certainly proved to be true,” he said. “Aurora has delivered beyond my wildest expectations and its future couldn't be any more exciting.”