St Helen’s thrilled with top academic and sports rankings

St Helen’s ranked top girls school in Oxfordshire 

We are incredibly proud to have been ranked top independent girls school in Oxfordshire and fifth in the southeast for the second year in a row in The Times Parent Power 2024 schools guide. We are also ranked 14th independent school overall in the southeast and 47th in the UK. 

The rankings were calculated by schools’ performances at A level and GCSE in summer 2023. 

Headmistress Rebecca Dougall said: “We’re very proud of the work we do at St Helen’s and to have external validation of that is always pleasing. It’s a real team effort in all areas of school life be that academic, pastoral, sport or the performing and visual arts. It’s about great teachers working with wonderful students and coordinating those endeavours with a supportive parent body. That’s a great recipe for success and it’s excellent to have this recognised by The Times Parent Power.” 

Read the full Parent Power 2024 best UK schools guide and league table on The Times’ website. 

St Helen’s ranked top 4 girls school for sport nationally

We’re thrilled to have been ranked 4th girls school for sport in the country, and 23rd overall, in the School Sport Magazine’s top 200 sporting schools of 2023. We are also the top school overall for sport in Oxfordshire and the only girls school in Oxfordshire in the top 200. 

Director of PE and Sport Charlotte Barras commented: “It has been brilliant to be included in the top 200 sports schools consistently over the last few years and display the incredible talent, hard work and dedication of our students in a multitude of sports. The breadth and depth of activity is paramount to the success, from netball and lacrosse to football and cricket. We focus on movement through athletic development from Year 5 through to Sixth Form, underpinned by a plethora of clubs, activities and competitive events that enhance students’ experience of activity.” 

Sports Captain Georgie (Upper Sixth) said: “It has honestly been fantastic to be a part of sport at St Helen and St Katharine and its growth over the years I’ve been here. There is such a range on offer both at highly competitive and recreational levels across all age groups. I’ve loved getting involved in so many sports I never thought I would give a go, such as rugby and netball – a real testament to how inclusive and welcoming PE is at St Helen’s!” 

St Helen’s major sports include netball, cricket, lacrosse, athletics, tennis and football, and are complemented by basketball, cross country, hockey, trampolining, badminton, rugby, gymnastics, swimming, fencing and dance. 

In the last year, top sporting achievements have included a double national win at the U13 and U15 indoor cricket finals at Lord’s; competing in three national finals for netball (U13, U15 and Seniors); and national runners-up at the U15s lacrosse finals.