Advertisement
Select search type
No locations matching your search. Try schools.
Showing results for

No articles matching your search.
Photo of Unicorn School (Richmond)
Reviewed

Unicorn School (Richmond)

Independent school · Richmond, TW9 3JX
  • Primary/prep
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 3-11
  • From £18,684 pa
  • 170 pupils
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

Undilutedly loyal to its roots, the school has seamlessly advanced into its second half century. ‘The ethos hasn’t changed for 50 years, and it’s great,’ reported one satisfied old boy and current parent. Not for the rigidly conformist, it offers a fresh breath and breadth of air. Varied and visionary timetable, together with wise, impassioned staff sets children up to evolve into free thinking, decent and kind members of society. A triumph.

Why read our school review?

Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

Unlock to access

Overview & data

Pupil numbers
170 ·
Religion
None
Fees
£18,684 - £20,124 pa
Local authority
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Headteacher

Headteacher

Polly Fraley

Since 2021, Polly Fraley, an Oxford history graduate with a PGCE in primary education. Arrived at Unicorn in 2008 as head of learning support and juniors, before moving to a state primary school in Sheen - ‘a brilliant experience,’ but one that made


Entrance

Non-selective, in keeping with founding philosophy. Almost all children start in the 3+ nursery with guaranteed place in reception. Registration encouraged ‘as soon as possible,’ although no waiting lists for nursery when we visited. Siblings and

Open days
Contact the Registrar

Exit

In keeping with school’s declared mission to resist ‘narrowing (our) broad and creative curriculum,’ the range of destination schools consistently broad: 17 children to 15 different schools recently. Most stay reasonably local, both towards central


Latest results

There are no results to show for this school. Find out more.


Learning support & SEN

0 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
18.6 %
Students with SEN support

Mobile phone policy

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Children should not bring smart phones, watches, etc to school without the consent of the Headteacher. Consent will generally only be given for medical or SEND need. Children in Year 5 and below must not bring mobile phones. Year 6 children travelling to/from school on their own may bring a mobile phone with no SMART capability. This will be kept in the School Office during the day.
Staff must not consult their phones when responsible for children unless in an emergency, nor take photographs. Parents may take photographs for personal use but strictly not to put into the public domain.

Updated May 2024

Pupils

170
Number of pupils

Money matters

Fees fractionally cheaper than similar local schools. Bursaries up to 100 per cent available (unusually) from nursery (exceptionally clear guidance on website) - eight taken up when we visited. Parent events help raise money for bursary fund (and

Fee information
£18,684 - £20,124 pa

Our view

Set up by group of prescient parents in 1970, school sits in former residential Victorian villa. Commensurately generously proportioned, it is compact but not cramped. Nursery and reception accommodated in former coach house in large playground and


The last word

Undilutedly loyal to its roots, the school has seamlessly advanced into its second half century. ‘The ethos hasn’t changed for 50 years, and it’s great,’ reported one satisfied old boy and current parent. Not for the rigidly conformist, it offers a

What the school says

Founded in 1970, Unicorn is a successful and vibrant co-ed prep school for children aged 3–11, housed in a large Victorian villa opposite Kew Gardens. We pride ourselves in preparing children for the ever-changing world ahead, cultivating not just academic prowess, but also confidence, resilience, adaptability and the lasting virtues of kindness and compassion. At Unicorn, we’re not just shaping minds; we’re nurturing hearts. Children are encouraged to discover their strengths and passions, whether academically, in the arts or on the sports field. Achieving excellent results, Unicorn feeds on to a wide range of leading day and boarding schools.

Contact the school

Address

238 Kew Road
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3JX
Get directions

Have you considered?

School data & information Unicorn School (Richmond) 238 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3JX
170 Pupil numbers
82/88 Pupil numbers boy/girls split

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Children should not bring smart phones, watches, etc to school without the consent of the Headteacher. Consent will generally only be given for medical or SEND need. Children in Year 5 and below must not bring mobile phones. Year 6 children travelling to/from school on their own may bring a mobile phone with no SMART capability. This will be kept in the School Office during the day.
Staff must not consult their phones when responsible for children unless in an emergency, nor take photographs. Parents may take photographs for personal use but strictly not to put into the public domain.

Updated May 2024

We do not receive results data for this school. Find out more.

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Recent leavers' destinations

SEN overview

Unicorn School (Richmond) is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

The Unicorn School aims to provide an education in which the different educational needs of each child are understood and met by every member of staff. The school also aims to ensure that all children have full access to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum. Children who need extra support may be offered one-to-one, or small group, tuition for literacy or numeracy.

Updated May 2025
0 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 3%
18.6 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 14.1%

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills
HI - Hearing Impairment
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs Yes
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting Yes
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired
Advertisement