With my walking partner, Chris, I am trekking the 90 mile Ridgeway National Trail to raise money for the Unicorn School, Abingdon. We aim to complete the challenge within four days, 11-14 September. We will be joined by pupils, staff, parents, governors and friends along the way.

Luke, my son, who has just graduated from Bath University, started at The Unicorn in January 2010. Since then, the school has grown from 55 pupils to 120, taking the school from Year 8 upto GCSEs. Pupils come from Oxfordshire and many counties in the region. I was very pleased to join the Board in 2011, and became Chair in January 2023.

The school has just acquired the Premier Inn and Harvester Restaurant site in central Abingdon, virtually opposite our existing premises on Marcham Road (which we will retain), as part of a long term development plan that will double the number of pupils, allowing us to provide a broader curriculum choice and greater setting possibilities. In September 2025 we will open a small, specialist 6th form provision for the first time. Later on, when funds allow, we will open a sister school for children with autism.

We need to raise £2.5m over the next two to three years to convert the site into modern fit-for-purpose school buildings and associated facilities. Of this sum we need to raise £500,000 by summer 2025. So far we have £200,000 towards this interim target.

We are very proud of what we do, and are very excited about the future. We transform the lives of our pupils and, hence, those of the people closest to them.

Any and all donations are very much appreciated. Thank you.

Andrew