Oxfordshire County Council has approved a new round of School Streets trials to make the roads outside school gates safer and calmer at drop-off and pick-up. The schemes, enforced by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, temporarily restrict motor traffic on streets immediately around school entrances at the start and end of the school day.
Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said the county’s first trials in 2021 had shown “considerable benefits” for families and neighbours:
“Parents, carers and pupils enjoy a healthier, calmer and safer environment during the rush of school drop-off and pick-up… Residents on school streets are able to enter and exit their homes more easily without stress from school-run traffic.”
The Council will work with each school in the new year to set up the trials and contact households who may need exemptions (for example, residents, carers, Blue Badge holders, or disability-related access). Letters to affected properties are due in January, with trials anticipated to begin in March.
What is a School Street?
- A time-limited traffic restriction (school days only) on streets immediately outside a school.
- Operates only at start/finish times; enforced by ANPR cameras at the entry point.
- Exempt vehicles (e.g., residents, carers, Blue Badge holders, emergency and certain service vehicles) can register their plates so they are not fined.
- Parents/carers who must drive can use nominated nearby parking and walk the final short distance.
Where and when (trial details)
Banbury — Harriers Banbury Academy
- Times: 8:15–9:15 & 14:30–16:00 (school days)
- Area covered: Harriers View from the junction with Bloxham Road
- Notes: Council will consider adding double yellow lines on Bloxham Road opposite Harriers View to deter unsafe parking identified during consultation.
Carterton — Edith Moorhouse Primary School & St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
- Times: 8:15–9:15 & 14:30–15:30 (school days)
- Area covered: Carter’s Close, Edgeworth Drive, Home Close, Lavender Place, Richens Drive, Rose Close, Spurrett Gardens, and Lawton Avenue between Alvescot Road and Arkell Avenue/Rock Close junctions.
Didcot — Willowcroft Community Primary School & St Birinus Boys School
- Times: 8:00–9:00 & 14:30–15:30 (school days)
- Area covered: Abbott Road, The Croft, Glebe Road, Kynaston Road (between Mereland and Ridgeway Road), Mereland Road (between Abbott and Kynaston Road), Richmere and Ridgeway Roads.
- Exempt for access: addresses in Sinodun Road, Abbott Close and Bridge Close, as they rely on the restricted streets for access.
Headington — Sandhills Community Primary School (extension to existing scheme)
- Times: 8:00–9:00 & 14:30–15:30 (school days)
- Existing area: Terrett Avenue, Elton Close, Sweet Green Close (made permanent on 9 October 2025).
- Extension (trial): Delbush Avenue from the Merewood Avenue junction up to the Hill View junction, to address pavement-blocking by school-run parking.
Exemptions and how to register
- Residents and businesses within a School Street, or whose only vehicular access depends on it, can register vehicle(s) for exemption.
- Other exemptions include emergency services, Blue Badge holders, and specific service/carer vehicles.
- Households who may require exemptions will be written to in January with instructions.
- Enquiries: SchoolsActiveTravel@Oxfordshire.gov.uk (Oxfordshire County Council).
How ANPR works: Cameras are triggered by vehicles entering the zone during the operating times and capture number plates. A notice is issued automatically if the plate is not on the exempt list. Cameras do not record continuously.
Timeline and feedback
- January: Council writes to households about exemptions; schools brief parents/carers.
- March (anticipated): Trials go live (term time).
- During trials: Residents, schools and the wider community can feed back on what works and what needs adjustment; this will shape any final scheme.
Why this is needed
School Streets aim to reduce conflicts at the school gate, cut short car trips, and support walking, wheeling and cycling. The Council says earlier trials reported calmer streets, cleaner air at the kerbside, and less stressful drop-offs — without preventing residents from accessing their homes.
