Key facts
- Parents Annette and Kevin Maxwell detailed their son Jonah's alleged mistreatment at St Christopher's school.
- The school, which cared for children with special educational needs and disabilities, was acquired by the Aurora Group in 2016.
- Allegations included reduced food quality, staffing cuts, and specific incidents of rough handling and neglect.
- Ofsted closed St Christopher's in 2019 following serious allegations of child cruelty.
- A police investigation into alleged child cruelty concluded without criminal charges.
- The Maxwells received a £18,600 settlement from Aurora Group in a civil action.
Parents Annette and Kevin Maxwell have detailed their harrowing experience with St Christopher's, a residential school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) that was shut down in 2019 following serious allegations of child cruelty. The Maxwells, whose son Jonah has severe autism and requires round-the-clock care, initially found the school beneficial after sending him there due to a lack of alternatives that would allow them to work.
However, their concerns grew after the school was acquired in 2016 by the Aurora Group, which runs numerous Send facilities. They reported a decline in food quality, a reduction in overnight nursing staff, and that their son appeared tired during visits. Despite reassurances from management, alarm bells were ringing for the parents.
Jonah allegedly experienced physical abuse, including being roughly grabbed and shoved into his room by a staff member. Another alleged incident involved a carer waking him every two hours to use the toilet to avoid cleaning soiled sheets, which police considered potentially classifiable as child cruelty. The local authority was reportedly paying £292,000 annually for Jonah's care.
The police investigation into alleged child cruelty and safeguarding concerns at St Christopher's concluded after two years without criminal charges. Authorities stated they could not interview Aurora Group directors under existing child cruelty legislation, which applies to individuals committing offenses rather than corporate entities. The Maxwells pursued civil action, alleging a breach of Jonah's human rights, and received a £18,600 settlement from Aurora Group without admission of guilt.
Union representatives and campaign groups highlighted systemic issues within the Send sector, including public money being diverted as profits by private companies and a lack of state-funded places, forcing parents to rely on private providers. They called for greater accountability and transparency from private operators.
A spokesperson for the Aurora Group stated that St Christopher's faced difficulties under previous ownership and that the group invested substantially in improvements. They expressed regret over the closure and affirmed their commitment to supporting families, noting that police found no further action was warranted. The spokesperson also highlighted the company's B Corp accreditation and that 96% of its services were rated good or outstanding by Ofsted.