Our day

Before the school day begins, our Library supervision is open from 7.30am – a wonderful space in which students can catch up on work, relax or socialise with their friends in a comfortable environment.

Your daughter can also join a music or sports club at this time, for example, Cricket or Cello and Bass Squad.

It’s time to start the school day. Your daughter will register with her tutor before having some time to chat with her friends before lessons begin.

Every week, Middle School students attend both a whole school and a section assembly. Led by the Headmistress or their Head of Section, assemblies are used to keep students well-informed on the goings on in our community and to celebrate the latest successes of fellow HelKats.

Your daughter will also take part in a weekly Chapel service and designated form time. Each term she will participate in several House meetings, enabling her to meet and connect with students from across year groups and establish a sense of community.

These important years, which culminate in (I)GCSE examinations, are characterised by the breadth and diversity of subjects, activities and opportunities available.

Whether she is settling in for double Physics, honing her Spanish grammar or off on the annual Battlefields trip, your daughter will have plenty of opportunities to broaden her worldview both in and out of the classroom.

Slow down, HelKat! It’s important to step back from studies, that’s why we provide students with a 20-minute break to leave the classroom and hang out with friends – usually over the famous St Helen’s cookies.

As lessons continue, your daughter may find herself out on the sports fields for PE, up in one of our computing suites to brush up on her coding and programming skills or conducting an experiment in our Biology labs.

Lunch is more than just a meal. Of course, there is plenty of variety when it comes to the food in our Refectory – from the salad bar to the dessert table, as well as at least three meal choices (including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options) – but it’s also a time to take advantage of the many clubs and societies on offer.

Beyond

After lunch, your daughter will dive into lessons once more – brushing up on her German skills, working on a GCSE Art project or settling in for personal development in her form room. Middle School will take part in a Personal Development (PD) lesson once every week. Topics range from body confidence to finances and A Level choices.

It’s been a busy day but there’s more to come. Before their final two lessons of the day, your daughter can step out and relax with friends for a short 10-minute break.

Most students study ten subjects at (I)GCSE, from Maths to Physics and Physical Education to our newly-added Food and Nutrition GCSE. Academic life at St Helen’s is full, vibrant and spirited.

It’s almost time to go but before heading off, we take a moment for students to check in with their form tutors at afternoon registration.

In these formative years, academic work is carefully balanced with a wealth of extracurricular activities to build in fun as well as challenge. After registration, students often find themselves attending one of the myriad Beyond extracurricular clubs as the School continues to buzz – from Joint Chamber Choir and gymnastics to GCSE Art Club or rehearsing for the Middle School Drama production, there is something to suit everyone!

Our Library is open for supervised prep until 6pm – a chance for students of all ages to relax, socialise or catch up on homework until the late bus departs or their parents pick them up. The early bus departs at 4.20pm from St Helen’s and the late bus departs at 5.20pm from Abingdon School.