The Unicorn School, Abingdon
The Unicorn School is a special school for pupils aged 6 to 19 in Abingdon.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Unicorn School in detail
The Unicorn School in its own words
In its own words: "At The Unicorn School, we are committed to transforming the lives of children with learning differences and their families. Our approach integrates a personalised curriculum, expert staff, innovative technology, and a nurturing environment to help children thrive and families flourish. We support children aged 6 to 17 years for whom mainstream education is not able to meet their needs."
From the headteacher's welcome: "At the Unicorn School, we transform the lives of children with learning differences and those of their families. With a personalised curriculum, highly qualified staff, cutting-edge technology and a foundation of kindness, we create the conditions for children to thrive and families to flourish. In our care, we see each child as unique."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include swimming and drama.
The school runs after-school care until 5:00pm.
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 18 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 26 January 2027 and an open day on Thursday 29 April 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Oxfordshire
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Unicorn School are Kingfisher School (1.3 miles, Good); Orion Academy (5 miles, Requires improvement); The Iffley Academy (5.1 miles, Outstanding); and Oxfordshire Hospital School (5.6 miles, Outstanding).
Kingfisher SchoolOrion AcademyThe Iffley AcademyOxfordshire Hospital School
Who goes there
In 2026, 27 pupils (18.2%) received SEN support and 121 (81.8%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Radley Rail Station, about 2.7 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Victoria Road (opposite), 210 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 166 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted. Ofsted last inspected this school in 27 June 2017, before the latest ISI inspection.
Non-Routine Inspection
27 June 2025
Routine Inspection
18 March 2025
Short Visit
30 June 2023
Regulatory Compliance
12 January 2022
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£35,212 to £37,292
depending on year group
| Year 2 - Year 8 per term | £35,212 a year |
| Year 9 - Year 11 per term | £37,292 a year |
| Year 12 per term | £37,292 a year |
Including VAT. From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from The Unicorn School
Oxford Half Marathon Fundraiser 2026
28 Sep 2026
LAMDA Results 2026
24 Sep 2026
Sixth Form Harvest at Earth Trust
18 Sep 2026
Parents and Carers Coffee Morning
17 Sep 2026
Back to School 2026
7 Sep 2026
Exam Results 2026
20 Aug 2026
From The Unicorn School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with The Unicorn School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 30
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 30 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 23 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Oxfordshire is 5 (the median across 369 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
62%
Available places
148 pupils
240 places
92 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Abingdon
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Abingdon
Across Oxfordshire council
Places available
7,654
Applications
6,814
Got 1st preference
85.4%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Oxfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
27
SEN Support
121
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Unicorn 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
148
Total Pupils
89
Boys
59
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Unicorn School
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Unicorn School
What are GCSE results like at The Unicorn 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 The Unicorn School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was The Unicorn School last inspected?
The Unicorn School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a non-routine inspection in June 2025.
How many pupils go to The Unicorn School?
The Unicorn School has around 148 pupils on roll.
Does The Unicorn School have specialist SEN provision?
The Unicorn School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to The Unicorn School?
The Unicorn 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 The Unicorn School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 30 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 23 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Oxfordshire is 5 (the median across 369 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Unicorn School?
The Unicorn School is at 20 Marcham Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1AA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)