Founded in 1903, St Helen and St Katharine is an independent day school for girls and young women aged 9–18 in Abingdon, just south of Oxford. Our 720+ students study in a campus-style environment with beautiful Edwardian and modern buildings – including a brand-new Sixth Form Centre, the Benedict Building – set in 22 acres of grounds. We offer students the best possible experience at each stage of their educational journey, from our Junior Department through to Sixth Form.
St Helen’s is a school where bright girls with enquiring minds thrive, as they grow into intellectually curious and erudite young women. Academic life is full, vibrant and spirited, both within and beyond the classroom, combining to stimulate intellectual endeavour and inquisitive independence which embody the ethos of our school. Our goal is to ensure that every student achieves success as she defines it so that she can believe in herself, her talents and abilities, and feel prepared and equipped for life beyond school.
Academic. Ranked top independent girls school in Oxfordshire (The Times Parent Power 2023), our academic results are excellent and consistently place us among the best schools in the country. In 2023, 92% of A level grades were A*–B, and 73% were A*–A. 82% of (I)GCSE grades were 9–7, while 61% were 9–8.
Our curriculum offers a full, broad and stimulating range of subjects at all ages as well an extensive range of opportunities for academic enrichment beyond lessons, such as attending specialist lectures and conferences, discussion dinners and Oxbridge preparation.
Our vision for St Helen’s Sixth Form is to create an environment for our students that will spark their intellectual spirit and imagination. We offer students the chance to create a programme of four individual elements of study where they choose three or four A levels as the core of their academic work, some taught jointly with Abingdon School. They can then add a St Katharine’s Study option – for example, an EPQ, Ethics for Scientists or Mandarin – to complement or contrast their A level subjects.
Pastoral. Behind everything we do at St Helen’s is a deeply held belief in the value of kindness. Working with families, it is our intention that every student leaves the School valuing the power of being kind to themselves and to others. We want them to be confident in creating and maintaining secure, appropriate and positive relationships with other people as they travel through life. We support them in developing an increased self-understanding and to be able to savour the best of times and weather the more challenging moments.
We do a lot of talking and listening. Students have a range of people with whom they can share their world in addition to their friends. At the heart of the pastoral system, Form Tutors are the first port of call alongside an extensive network of support including the Head of Section, Pastoral Deputy Head, Health Centre, Counselling team and Chaplain.
We are truly ambitious for every student, pastorally surrounding them with kind, consistent and dedicated people who want to help them have a happy school experience and the foundations in place to thrive in the world beyond school.
Extracurricular activities, trips and visits. Our broad and exciting extracurricular programme, Beyond, plays a central role within school life. Students are offered myriad opportunities to explore and extend their interests as we actively encourage them to give new things a go. We host 70+ sports clubs for elite competition as well as for leisure, 300+ music lessons per week and at least six drama productions every year. There are clubs and societies from cricket and debating to philosophy and Minecraft, as well as activities such as DofE and the Tycoon Enterprise competition.
First-hand experiences and opportunities to travel give students a chance to broaden their understanding of themselves and the world, and play their part in developing self-reliance. Whether joining a netball, cricket and tennis tour to Sri Lanka, a volunteering expedition to Eswatini or studying volcanic and glacial landscapes in Iceland, going on trips provides lifelong memories through the fun and activities they involve.
Facilities. Over the last decade, an extensive building programme has been undertaken with many new additions to the School, including our Sports Centre, Performing Arts Centre, state-of-the-art Library, Science Centre and a 3D Design Centre. Our new Sixth Form Centre, the Benedict Building, opened in January 2023 and features nine spacious classrooms, a range of individual and group study spaces, a flexible hall and a café.
Admissions. Students are admitted to the Junior Department at either Years 5 or 6, and to the senior school at Years 7, 9 or Lower Sixth. It may be possible to admit students into other years should a place be available.
Scholarships. Our scholarship programme seeks to recognise excellence and potential across academic ability, music, art, drama and sport. Our scholarship programme is not subject to means testing and varies in duration and value.
Bursaries. Opening access for families who would not otherwise be able to afford school fees has always been central to our ethos. If a student has the ability, imagination and drive to grasp the opportunities on offer at St Helen’s, we would like to give her that opportunity We offer means-tested bursaries from 20–100% of fees from Year 7, as well as transformational bursaries at A level.
Fees per term (2023-2024). £6,895.
Charitable status. The School of St Helen and St Katharine Trust is a registered charity, number 286892.
Governors & Staff:
Chair of Governors: Mr Kevan Leggett
Headmistress: Mrs Rebecca Dougall, MA London, BA Bristol
Director of Finance and Operations: Mrs Nicola McAvoy, BSc London
Senior Deputy Head: Mr John Hunt, MA St Andrews
Pastoral Deputy Head: Mrs Elizabeth Bedford, MA Oxford Brookes, BA Durham
Assistant Head, Academic Enrichment and Extracurricular Activities: Dr Abbie Pringle, DPhil, MSc Oxon, BSc Oxford Brookes
Assistant Head, Futures and Partnerships: Mrs Heather Darcy, MA Warwick, BSc London
Director of Communications and Marketing: Ms Lea Askgaard, MA Southern Denmark