Annette and Kevin Maxwell sent their son Jonah, who has severe autism, epilepsy, and behavioural problems, to St Christopher's in Bristol. The residential home was acquired by the Aurora Group in 2016 after the charity running it collapsed.
The Maxwells, from Bath, reported a decline in food quality and the cutting of an overnight nursing position after the acquisition. They also noted Jonah seemed very tired after visits home. Annette Maxwell stated, "Alarm bells were going off. But every time we spoke to management and staff, they would always reassure us that everything was OK." At this time, the local authority paid the Aurora Group £292,000 annually for Jonah's care.
In 2019, Ofsted announced the closure of St Christopher's due to serious allegations of child cruelty. Children were moved at short notice to new placements across the country. A police investigation into alleged child cruelty and safeguarding concerns concluded after two years with no criminal charges. The Maxwells were informed by police of allegations involving Jonah, including being roughly grabbed and shoved, and a carer allegedly waking him every two hours to avoid cleaning soiled sheets, which police said could be classified as child cruelty.
Police confirmed they were unable to interview Aurora Group directors, as child cruelty legislation applies only to those who directly commit an alleged offence. St Christopher's was classified as a school, not a care provider, which meant it could not be investigated under legislation that might implicate both a corporation and individuals. Kevin Maxwell commented, "Our kids have become a moneymaking tool for these companies, and they squeeze it, because they know that, ultimately, they can walk away. There has to be better accountability."
The Maxwells took civil action against Aurora, alleging a breach of Jonah's human rights, and the company agreed to pay £18,600 without admitting guilt. They are now advocating for stricter laws to ensure private SEND providers face the same levels of accountability and transparency as other schools.
The government announced sweeping SEND reforms earlier this year, including promises to "crack down" on private companies running schools by imposing fee caps and minimum standards. Darren Northcott of the NASUWT teaching union highlighted a "big problem where public money which should be being spent on children, young people and the staff working with them is leaking out of the system in the form of profits and surpluses." Hayley Harding of the Let Us Learn Too campaign noted the lack of state school SEND places often leaves private providers as the only option for parents.
A spokesperson for the Aurora Group stated that St Christopher's was in serious difficulties under previous ownership and that they invested substantially in improvements. They expressed regret at being unable to overcome the school's challenges and sadness regarding its 2019 closure. The spokesperson added that police thoroughly investigated allegations and took no further action, and that all Aurora Group profits are reinvested in establishing new schools.