A school in Oxford city centre has limited the number of vehicles parking in its car park to give pupils a bigger playground.

Christ Church Cathedral School in Brewer Street has decided to ask staff to find other ways of getting into work.

The independent preparatory school for boys aged three to 13 has 65 staff plus a large number of music teachers.

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Anna Fairhurst, deputy head academic, said the school has always had staff parking as about half the staff live outside Oxford.

She added: "Around 22 cars were parked in the same playground the children used at breaktime: a problem, but one it seemed impossible to fix.

"Pupils complained about not having enough space to play and there was constant concern about cars being damaged. 

"Last year we started thinking the impossible: what if we got rid of the parking and gave the space to the children?

"The leadership team started to talk to staff about trying different approaches to driving. We emphasised the environmental benefits, the health benefits, and the fact that we wanted to take action ahead of the county council introducing a Workplace Parking Levy."

Ms Fairhurst said all staff, herself included, were willing to give the scheme a try.

(Image: Christ Church Cathedral School) "I started to come in by train from 20 miles away, bringing my son with me and cycling the last stretch from Oxford station," she said.

"Other staff also tried the switch, and several said they’d just needed a push to give alternatives a go. People tested various routes: train, park and ride, bus, cycling, a combination.

"The alternatives turned out to be easier than they’d thought, and often easier than driving."

In September, after listening to staff experiences, the school decided to change the car park from Easter 2024: cutting 65 per cent of spaces and extending the pupil playground instead.

Ms Fairhurst said headteachers were "pleasantly surprised" by the reaction of the staff.

She said: "Colleagues knew why we wanted to make the change, and they were supportive of the goals.

"Some were worried about it, but the ones who hadn’t yet tried out alternatives were all willing to give it a go."

Staff who really need to drive have been asked to apply for one of the eight remaining parking spaces outside the main school, stating when they’d need it. 

The school is now working with parents to encourage them to travel 'more sustainably'.

Ms Fairhurst added that the school was calling for safer cycling routes for children - the number one issue stopping parents from cycling to school.

She said: "We also need better public buses - our catchment area is widely scattered so not everyone can cycle.

"The parking turning to playground has caused a huge shift in the way adults come to our site.

"Not one member of staff has left because of this, and everyone is delighted with the results: parents, staff, prospective parents - and most of all our pupils."

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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