St Helen and St Katharine
School summary
A girls' independent school in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, St Helen and St Katharine has educated pupils since 1903 and now teaches around 711 girls from age 9 through to the sixth form. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school 'excellent' for both education quality and personal development, with all compliance standards met. Roughly 18.5% of pupils receive SEN support, and the school stands out for an unusually generous bursary programme, offering means-tested awards of up to 100% from Year 7. Led by Head Mrs Sarah Rollings, it suits families seeking a strong academic environment with a meaningful commitment to access.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
92%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
64%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
87%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 11 March 2025
Teaching & academics
Results sit well above national benchmarks: 92% of GCSE entries reached grades 9-7 against a national average of 23%, and at A-level 64% achieved A*-A (national average 28%) with 87% at A*-B. Mathematics and the sciences are popular at both GCSE and A-level, alongside humanities such as History, Geography and Psychology, and pupils can take an EPQ to extend their study. Modern languages are notably broad, spanning French, Spanish, German and Chinese. Academic and Maths scholarships are available for high achievers.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Head · Mrs Sarah Rollings
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 190
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport is a clear strength, with netball, tennis, lacrosse and cricket forming the core of the games programme. The breadth of A-level and language options points to a school that encourages girls to follow specialist interests.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1903
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 18.57%
- EHC plans
- 0.28%
Mobile phone policy
Students in years 5–10 hand in their mobile phones during morning registration and retrieve them at the end of the school day
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £26,700
- Bursaries up to
- 100% of fees
Means-tested bursaries up to 100% available from year 7; transformational bursaries available in sixth form
Schools nearby
The Manor Preparatory School
Abingdon, South East
Abingdon School
Abingdon, South East
The Unicorn School
Abingdon, South East
MacIntyre Abingdon Partnership College
Abingdon, South East
Cothill
Abingdon, South East
Radley College
Abingdon, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
An academically high-performing girls' school whose bursaries, reaching up to 100%, make that performance genuinely open to a wider range of families.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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St Helen and St Katharine 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.