The Unicorn School: Breathing New Life into a Forgotten Site A Project By: WWA Studios For years, the Unicorn School faced a growing challenge. The school had built a strong reputation for transforming children’s educational journeys through specialist SEND provision. But demand had long outstripped capacity. The school received over 350 applications for just 20 places each year. Expansion became urgent. The existing campus, adapted from a residential property, was stretched to its limits. The school repurposed every spare corner into teaching space, yet it was never designed to accommodate the school’s ethos or ambition. The Trust wanted to expand without losing the qualities that made the school special. That change came in the form of an unexpected opportunity: a disused Premier Inn and Beefeater restaurant on Marcham Road in Abingdon. To most of the community, the site had become a vacant eyesore. To Unicorn, it was the chance to turn an unloved space into a thriving centre for learning. The wider site also included the Grade II listed Ock Mill building, creating an opportunity not only for educational expansion but also for the long-term regeneration of a historically significant riverside setting. Unlocking Potential Through Retrofit Unicorn School appointed WWA … Continue reading From Vacant Hotel To SEND Campus