St Katharine’s School is founded in Wantage by the Community of St Mary the Virgin (CSMV)
1894
1903
St Helen’s School is founded in Abingdon by the Community of St Mary the Virgin (CSMV); the school is attended by ten girls and one boy ranging in age from 4–17
1906
St Helen’s School buildings officially opened by the daughter and granddaughter of Queen Victoria
1922
Work begins on the Chapel of the Holy Cross; the Foundation Stone is laid by Bishop Shaw
1923
Chapel of the Holy Cross is completed and dedicated on St Luke’s Day by the Bishop of Oxford
1930
Hayward House opens
1934
The School’s swimming pool opens
1938
St Helen’s School, Abingdon, and St Katharine’s School, Wantage, merge to become the School of St Helen and St Katharine
1968
Frances Hayward becomes the first lay Headmistress
Yolande Paterson become Headmistress
1973
1973
Original Sports Hall opens
Yolande Paterson Hall opens with a full stage and a seating capacity of 500+
1992
1993
Cynthia Hall becomes Headmistress
Junior Department opens for Years 5–6
1995
1995
Boarding ceases at the School of St Helen and St Katharine
Original Sixth Form Centre with common room and garden opens
2000
2004
Centenary Centre for the Performing Arts opens
Rowan Edbrooke becomes Headmistress
2008
2009
Swimming pool officially closes
Jean Duffield Library and School Archive open
2010
2014
Science Centre officially opens with 13 state-of-the-art laboratories, including a dedicated science lab for our Junior Department, break-out study areas on each floor and a 200sqm three-storey glass atrium for concerts, seminars, guest lectures and partnership activities.
3D Design Centre opens to support Ceramics and Design and Technology
2015
2015
Rebecca Dougall becomes Headmistress
Sports Centre opens with national league standard courts, an Ergo Suite, Fitness Suite, Group Cycle room and Dance Studio
2016
2021
Church Farm Pavilion opens
Three-lane indoor cricket nets are installed in the Sports Centre
2022
2023
New Sixth Form Centre, the Benedict Building, opens with nine spacious classrooms, individual and group study spaces, higher education library, flexible lecture and performance hall, café and common room; the building is officially opened by ex-Headmistress, Lady Cynthia Hall
Ranked top girls' school in Oxfordshire in The Times Parent Power 2024 schools guide
2023
2024
Ranked top 4 girls' school for sport in the country in School Sport Magazine top 200
SHSK Sounds podcast awarded 'Best Use of Audio' at School Stories Awards 2024
2024
