St Helen's was founded in 1903 to provide a Christian education for girls in the Abingdon area. It was joined in 1938 by St Katharine's School in Wantage. The joint school (commonly known as St Helen's) has its own Chaplain and Anglican worship is a feature of the school. All girls are expected to attend assembly or chapel daily. It is located on a single, semi-rural site of 14.5 acres, on the northern side of Abingdon. On-site facilities are excellent and include a performing arts facility and a new sports centre; a new library is planned. While there is a commitment to women's education and an avowed gender-bias, girls are taught for some subjects in the upper school along with boys from Abingdon School and there are some joint activities (music, debates, sixth-form conferences) with both Abingdon and Radley. Teaching is focused on the needs of able girls - in the lower and middle schools on the need to learn study skills and, in the upper school, on the development of the independence required in higher education. Examination results are excellent. Both music and drama are strong and play an important part in everyday life. There is a wide range of sport, particularly at sixth-form level - rowing and sailing are available; lacrosse and tennis are strengths and there is success at county and national level. Pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and in Young Enterprise.

Pupils: Total age range 9-18; 625 day girls. Senior department 11-18, 593 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 9, 10, 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth-form entry, school report, interview and 5 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B in sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. State school entry, 31% of new intake at 11(plus 8% to sixth form). Many pupils from own junior department and Manor Preparatory School in Abingdon (tel 01235 523789).

10 pa academic scholarships (4 at 11, 2 at 13, and 4 at 16) plus 4 music scholarships, giving free instrumental tuition. Bursaries awarded according to academic merit and financial need.

Headmistress: Mrs Cynthia Hall, in post from 1993. Educated at North London Collegiate and Oxford University (English). Previously Head of English at St Paul's Girls' School and Assistant English Mistress at Lady Eleanor Holles and at Westwood House, Peterborough. Also researched and established an educational consultancy. Teaching staff: 49 full time, 29 part time.

GCSE: 101 pupils in Year 11; all gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects, with an average GCSE score of 76. A-levels: 89 in Year 13: 13% passed in 4+ subjects; 85% in 3 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 401.

98% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (39% after a gap year), 21% to Oxbridge. 5% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 16% in science and engineering, 65% in humanities and social sciences, 11% in other vocational subjects eg business, physiotherapy. The remainder took an art foundation course, prior to taking a degree.

GCSE (and IGCSE), AS and A-levels. 18 subjects at GCSE, 4 IGCSE, 25 AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 3-5 subjects at AS-level, 3-4 at A-level; general studies taught but not examined. Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision: Extra tuition can be arranged for mild dyslexia. Languages: Modern languages compulsory to GCSE. French, German, Spanish, Italian, classical Greek and Latin offered to GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular exchanges. ICT: Taught as a discrete subject and used in the teaching of many subjects. All pupils take GCSE short course. 110 computers solely for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access; plus 10 laptops available for loan. Network is school-wide with fibre optic backbone.

Music: Over 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; Associated Board instrumental and theory exams taken every term. Some 25 musical groups including 2 orchestras, 4 choirs, saxophone quartets and ensembles, brass groups, jazz ensembles, concert band, wind band, numerous and varied chamber ensembles. GCSE and A-level offered. Drama and dance: Extra-curricular drama and dance offered. GCSE drama and A-level theatre studies may be taken (and are popular). Recent school productions include The Taming of the Shrew and Fiddler on the Roof (joint with Abingdon School), Oliver and The Wind in the Willows. Art and design: GCSE design technology, ceramics, home economics, offered, also A-level history of art.

Sport: Lacrosse, netball, gymnastics, tennis, swimming, athletics, rounders, basketball, volleyball, badminton, cross-country, hockey, football, rugby, aerobics, sailing, tae kwondo, pilates, fitness compulsory at various ages. Optional: fencing, rowing, aerobics. Additional sixth-form options: golf, rowing, squash, weights. Pupils in various national, regional and county lacrosse teams; also national athletics; regional cross-country and county players in tennis, hockey, swimming, athletics, cross-country, netball and badminton. Nationally successful lacrosse, netball and tennis teams. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service optional for 2 years (from 16). 20+ clubs, eg Young Enterprise plus various art, sport and music activities.

Uniform: School uniform worn except in sixth form. Houses and prefects: No competitive houses. Prefects, head girl, elected by Year 12 and staff. School Council. Religion: Church of England. Attendance at religious worship compulsory. Social: Music, drama, debates, lectures and sixth-form conferences with Radley College and Abingdon School. Various language exchanges. Pupils allowed to bring own car/bike/motorbike to school although parking on site not guaranteed. Meals self-service.

Pupils failing to produce homework once would receive a firm reminder; further repetition could result in detention. Any pupil using drugs or other illegal substances on school premises could expect suspension and both the pupil and parents would be required to sign a contract of good behaviour.

is run by Mrs S Burnett, Old Girls Liaison Officer, c/o the school.