Gillian Akaraonye

Gillian Akaraonye is the co-founder and owner of Auckland College, which she established with her husband, Anthony Akaraonye, in 1996. With a career spanning primary education, educational consultancy, tuition provision and early-years education, she is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and ensuring that every child is supported to fulfil their potential.

She studied Psychology at the University of Liverpool, graduating with a 2:1, before completing a PGCE with a specialism in primary education and mathematics. She began her teaching career at Moss Pitts Primary School in Wavertree, where she gained eight years of valuable classroom experience and developed a strong foundation in teaching and learning.

Alongside her teaching career, she established and managed tuition centres providing academic support across a range of subjects. She also developed an educational consultancy specialising in examination preparation, authored a Key Stage 2 mathematics book aligned with examination requirements and created early-years courses for children aged three to five. These resources were widely used and supported positive educational outcomes for children and families.

Since founding Auckland College, she has played a central role in developing an inclusive, accessible and nurturing educational environment. The college’s ethos is centred on enabling pupils to grow academically, socially and personally, while ensuring that respect, tolerance, inclusion and equality remain at the heart of school life.

Her commitment to early-years education continued with the opening of Auckland House Nursery in Liverpool in 2009, the setting reflect her dedication to providing high-quality education and care in safe, supportive environments where every child is valued as an individual and encouraged to flourish.