New trial school streets begin, creating safer and healthier journeys to school
The new school year marks the start of four trial school streets in Oxfordshire, with schemes launching in Banbury, Carterton and Didcot from today (2 September).
Residents, families and school communities are invited to share their feedback on the trial school streets in a survey which is open on Let’s talk Oxfordshire until 1 March 2027.
The trial school streets are for an initial period of six months. They are covered by an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order, which is valid for up to 18 months. They are at:
Harriers Academy in Banbury
Edith Moorhouse Primary School and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Carterton
Willowcroft Community Primary School and St Birinus Boys School in Didcot
Sandhills Community Primary School in Headington, which is an extension to the existing school street
School streets help create safer, healthier and more welcoming spaces outside schools at the beginning and end of the school day. They use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to restrict non-resident and non-essential traffic around school entrances during these times.
Residents, blue badge holders, and some other groups who need car access, can register for exemption in a school street. Families who need to drive can use the Park and Stride scheme to park nearby and walk through the school street.
The schemes have been developed in partnership with local schools and form part of Oxfordshire County Council’s wider work to support safer and more sustainable journeys to school.
Notes to editors
More about the school streets initiative on the county council’s website:
Previous trial school streets in Oxfordshire (oxfordshire.gov.uk)
The decision to trial the phase three school streets was made on 11 December 2025 at a cabinet members decision meeting, and announced in a county council press release.
The school streets programme is part of the council’s countywide Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP) and sustainable school travel strategy for promoting sustainable travel across Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire County Council’s travel to school policy was approved in June 2022.
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