UK private school announces expansion in “significant moment”

St Helen and St Katharine school, the girls’ day school in Faringdon Road, has 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. 

READ MORE: Abingdon girls’ school ranked highly for sports

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.

Sarah Rollings, headteacher at St Helen and St Katharine school (Image: St Helen and St Katharine school)

Headteacher Sarah Rollings said: “For more than 30 years, our junior department has provided an exceptional start to a St Helen and St Katharine education for girls in Years 5 and 6.

“From the outset, they will benefit from the rich and distinctive St Helen’s experience, combining academic ambition, outstanding pastoral care, exceptional opportunities beyond the classroom, and a strong sense of belonging that inspires girls to thrive.”

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.

An artist’s impression of SHSK Prep (Image: St Helen and St Katharine school)

Students from Years 3 to 6 will benefit from the expertise of primary-trained staff, while also accessing additional specialist teaching in areas such as sport, music and art.

Chair of governors Sara Benbow said: “Throughout its history, St Helen and St Katharine has evolved to meet the needs of successive generations of young women while remaining true to its founding purpose.

“At a time when girls’ education remains as important as ever, the creation of St Helen and St Katharine Prep represents the next step in that journey, reinforcing and extending the reach of our mission.”

An artist’s impression of SHSK Prep (Image: St Helen and St Katharine 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.