Age range. 3–11.
Number of children. 165 Day Pupils: 78 boys, 87 girls.
Fees per term (2024-2025). £3,175 (Nursery half days), £5,250 (Nursery full days)–£6,225 (Year 6).
Unicorn is a parent-founded IAPS co-ed primary school founded in 1970. Situated opposite Kew Gardens, the school occupies a large Victorian house and converted coach house with a spacious, superbly equipped playground and garden.
The school has access to Kew Gardens, and the sports facilities at the nearby Barnes Hockey Pitch fields are used for games and a private swimming pool for Nursery–Year 4 and Pools on the Park for Years 5 and 6. The school offers breakfast club from 7.30 am and wraparound care until 6.00 pm daily.
Our aim is for Unicorn to be a successful, forward-thinking school that embraces children, staff and parents in an evolving, exciting, dynamic and nurturing community, enriched with creativity and supported by excellent leadership and management. Pupils are encouraged to become independent, responsible, self-aware and confident young people, who reap the benefits of a very broad curriculum to achieve considerable success.
There are normally 22 children per class, where a variety of teaching methods are used with the children regularly assessed. Many lessons are taught in half classes by specialist teachers. Importance is placed upon the development of the individual and high academic standards are achieved. The main point of entry is to the nursery at 3+. Children are prepared for entry at 11+ to the leading London day schools, as well as a variety of boarding schools.
Teaching methods are thoughtfully planned to encourage, accelerate and support each child's abilities. The school's individual approach helps the less able, as well as the more talented, through small separate groups in reading and maths. We cover all areas of the National Curriculum and more besides, so that every child can find areas of personal strength.
Our broad curriculum includes computing, science, music, creative arts, drama, French and PE, all taught by specialist teachers and often in small groups. All classes have a specific time each day for reflection and to develop their thinking skills. In the Junior Classes, Years 3 and 4 have 'Brain Time' and Years 5 and 6 enjoy philosophy lessons and current affairs. Individual music lessons are offered in piano, violin, cello, drums, clarinet, saxophone, flute, guitar and trumpet, as well as singing. Recorder groups, choirs, an orchestra, rock band, violin group, music theory and tutti fluti also flourish.
Every child from Year 2 up is assigned their own iPad; there is a Science suite, music rooms, library and a state-of-the-art fully equipped Art and DT room and interactive whiteboard technology in all classrooms.
In addition to the major games of football, hockey, netball, cricket and rounders, there are optional clubs for French, karate, Little Voices, MTech, Virtual Reality, Swim, Touch Typing and Musical Theatre. Other club activities include computer, cookery, dance, debate, design and technology, golf, pottery, riding, sailing and padel tennis. There are regular trips, including visits to the theatre and museums as well as the galleries of Central London. All children, from the age of seven upwards, participate in residential field study trips to Surrey, Devon and Cumbria and Years 5 and 6 have an optional biennial ski trip.
An elected School Council, with representatives from each age group, meets weekly with the Headteacher and a weekly newsletter for parents is produced.
A happy, caring environment prevails and importance is placed on producing kind, responsible children who show awareness and consideration for the needs of others.
Unicorn seeks to be diverse, open-minded and foster a culture of compassionate and conscious inclusion. We stand against everything to do with discrimination, exclusion, harassment, bullying and hatred in whatever form it takes.
Charitable status. Unicorn School is a Registered Charity, number 312578. It exists to provide education for boys and girls.