SEND school buys former Premier Inn to expand

Whitbread permanently closed the Premier Inn hotel and Ock Mill Beefeater restaurant in September

A school that supports pupils with dyslexia and related learning difficulties has purchased a former hotel and restaurant to expand its services.

The Unicorn School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, announced it had bought the old Premier Inn and Ock Mill in Marcham Road.

It would allow it to double its pupil numbers from 120 to 240 over the next few years.

Acting head teacher Alexandra Foster said it was "a huge day" for the school.

The school has specialised in helping children with neurodiversity challenges, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism and speech and language issues, for more than 30 years.

It currently accepts children aged between seven and 16. It is hoped the new building would be able to offer a 6th form facility.

The Unicorn will continue to operate from its existing building

Ms Foster said the location "could not be better" being opposite their existing building.

"The demand for places has risen dramatically over the past few years and school absence due to anxiety, often related to neurodiversity issues, has risen from 4.7% nationally to 7.5% last year," she said.

"The small classes, exceptional pastoral care, and one-to-one teaching that our pupils get as part of our curriculum significantly contributes to our children achieving their true potential and often gaining excellent GCSE results."

Ms Foster added they would be asking for help from individuals, companies or foundations who were interested in supporting the expansion.

Whitbread permanently closed the Premier Inn hotel and Ock Mill Beefeater restaurant on 8 September.

Richard Pearson, from the company, said: “Selling the Ock Mill site to the Unicorn School closes a positive story for us in Abingdon."

"I wish Alexandra and the team all the very best with their planning application for the site,” he added.