Unicorn aims to achieve high academic standards without a hothouse approach. While Unicorn children have always done extremely well in external examinations, regular testing is not undertaken overtly in the classroom so that they can work at their own pace in a non-competitive environment.
SATS
Our Year 6 children no longer sit the national SATs examinations. We took this decision in 2008 because we felt that, after the 11+ examinations, the children would benefit from a broad curriculum and preparation for senior school life, including citizenship awareness and study skills. In 2007, when we last sat these examinations, our Key Stage 2 results (10 -11 year olds) were outstanding: 96% of children reached an overall Level 5, which is indicative of an eleven year-old performing significantly in advance of their chronological age.
Historically, our SATs figures have placed Unicorn School in the Sunday Times list of top 30 prep schools in the country, which is exceptional considering we are a small, non-selective school.
Independent Schools Inspectorate Report
Our inspection report, in January 2010, was outstanding. To view it in full, please click on
Independent Schools Inspection Report
What the inspectors said ...
- An excellent programme of extra-curricular activities provides an educational experience of high quality
- The children demonstrate an outstanding sense of responsibility and awareness of the needs of others
- Personal development is outstanding
- Pupils' moral awareness is excellent
- The social development of pupils is outstanding
- Pupils show an outstanding awareness of their own and other cultures
- Pastoral care of pupils is excellent
- Staff provide excellent support and guidance for pupils
- The quality of all levels of leadership and management throughout the school including EYFS is excellent and enables the school to fulfil its aims
- The quality of links with parents in the EYFS and throughout the school is outstanding and is a strength of the school
Ofsted Foundation Stage
This report covers our nursery and reception classes (Red and Orange) and we are delighted to be judged as ‘good/strong‘. The positive comments include:
- They are very confident children who are responsive to the staff and polite to visitors.
- Children’s behaviour is exemplary.
- They show a love of story books.
- Standards of teaching are particularly effective in helping children to make progress in early mathematics.
- Children’s creative work is a key strength.
- Staff successfully promote the school’s stated aims.
- The school is particularly successful in developing children’s self-confidence and in fostering good manners and positive relationships with others.