Aurora Severnside School, Gloucestershire
Aurora Severnside School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Gloucestershire. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Aurora Severnside School in detail
Aurora Severnside School in its own words
In its own words: "Aurora Severnside is a specialist independent day school based in Gloucestershire Science and Technology Park, near Berkeley, Gloucestershire. We combine the best elements of a mainstream education with the unique specialist and therapeutic input for students aged 11-16 with social, emotional and mental health needs, including those who face communication and behavioural challenges associated with Autism Spectrum Conditions."
Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 8 June 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Gloucestershire
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Aurora Severnside School (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (75%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 0 pupils (0%) received SEN support and 37 (84.1%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Lydney Rail Station, about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Aurora Severnside excels at rebuilding pupils' confidence and love of learning through caring relationships and therapeutic support. The school is ambitious for all pupils, helping many who have been out of education for long periods to gain vocational qualifications and GCSEs. Pupils develop strong life skills through an exceptional personal development programme that includes work placements and community involvement.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional personal development programme tailored to each pupil's interests and talents
- Strong focus on reading with effective support to help pupils catch up and read ambitious texts
- High expectations for behaviour with bespoke behaviour plans that help pupils self-regulate
- Relentless approach to improving attendance through holistic support
- Secure subject knowledge with effective teaching that helps pupils build knowledge sequentially
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not consistently set high expectations for the quality of written work
- Grammar, sentence construction and transcription skills are not always addressed across the curriculum
- Pupils' written work does not always reflect the school's high expectations
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Water park trips, litter picking in local community, doggy day care, football coaching, boxing coaching, work placements
Aurora Severnside School is an independent special school for pupils aged 11-16 with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school provides a therapeutic, caring environment where pupils with EHC plans re-engage with education and succeed.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Latest from Aurora Severnside School
Local MP visits Aurora Severnside School and highlights ‘brilliant’ provision
8 Jun 2026
Fair gives students glimpse of future options
29 Jan 2026
Stroud MP praises ‘Amazing’ work at Aurora Severnside School
14 Oct 2025
Ofsted report finds pupil development at Aurora Severnside School ‘Exceptional’
24 Sep 2025
Pupils Lap Up Fundraising Opportunity
22 May 2025
Highlights from Aurora Severnside School
2 Apr 2025
From Aurora Severnside School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Aurora Severnside School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Gloucestershire is 5 (the median across 338 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
73%
Available places
44 pupils
60 places
16 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Gloucestershire
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gloucestershire
Across Gloucestershire council
Places available
7,977
Applications
6,517
Got 1st preference
86.8%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Gloucestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
37
EHC Plans
84.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Aurora Severnside School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
44
Total Pupils
33
Boys
11
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Aurora Severnside School
Questions parents ask about Aurora Severnside School
What are GCSE results like at Aurora Severnside School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Aurora Severnside School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Aurora Severnside School's Ofsted rating?
Aurora Severnside School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2025.
Does Aurora Severnside School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in July 2025, Aurora Severnside School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Aurora Severnside School?
Aurora Severnside School has around 44 pupils on roll.
Does Aurora Severnside School have specialist SEN provision?
Aurora Severnside School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Aurora Severnside School?
Aurora Severnside School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Aurora Severnside School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Gloucestershire is 5 (the median across 338 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Aurora Severnside School?
Aurora Severnside School is at Unit A21, Berkeley Green Science and Technology Park, Gloucestershire, GL13 9FB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)