Школа в Абингдоне получила новую пешеходную зону и расширит младшее отделение

An independent girls' school in Abingdon has welcomed a new pedestrian crossing which has been installed close to a main entrance. St Helen and St Katharine school is situated in Faringdon Road, which is often busy with traffic, particularly during the rush hour. The Manor Preparatory School is also in Faringdon Road, and so too is Larkmead School, and the new crossing will help boost safety for all pupils crossing the road and for other pedestrians. READ MORE: UK private school announces "significant moment" Headteacher Sarah Rollings said: "We welcome the new zebra crossing on Faringdon Road as a positive improvement for the local community. "It will make it safer and easier for students attending both St Helen and St Katharine and Larkmead School, as well as families and other pedestrians, to cross the road while helping to reduce traffic speeds and improve road safety. "The crossing also complements the wider transport strategy at St Helen and St Katharine. "We provide an extensive and convenient bus network that helps many of our students travel to and from school safely and sustainably, reducing the number of cars on the road each day, easing congestion for local residents and lowering our environmental impact. "Together, these measures support safer, more sustainable journeys for everyone." Resurfacing work has also been completed in Faringdon Road, with white cycle symbols added to indicate the presence of cyclists. A county council spokesman said the new crossing cost £48,000. Last month, St Helen and St Katharine announced it is investing in a newly expanded junior department, which is to be known as St Helen and St Katharine Prep. From September 2027, the school will extend its junior provision to include Years 3 and 4, enabling girls to begin their time in classes from the age of seven. To reflect this expanded provision, the junior department will become St Helen and St Katharine Prep, encompassing Years 3 to 6. This "significant moment" for the school has been carefully considered by governors and senior leaders. From September 2027, students in SHSK Prep will be educated in a dedicated new home, created through the redevelopment of the former Sixth Form Centre, next to the playground. Designed specifically for Key Stage 2 students, it will provide an environment tailored to their needs while keeping them closely connected to the wider life of the school. The school said in a statement it is "excited about what lies ahead", and looks forward to enabling even more girls and young women to benefit from the education, opportunities and values that have defined St Helen and St Katharine for more than a century. At the end of last year, the school was ranked just outside the top 50 nationally as well as the 'top school in Abingdon' in The Times Parent Power 2026 guide, which assesses schools nationwide based on academic performance. Last year, School Sport Magazine highlighted St Helen's sports teams and sporting achievements, placing it 20th overall in the country.