IN March, I had the pleasure of visiting St James’ Primary School and speaking with the headteacher, Casey Cox, to discuss the importance of student safety outside the school on Paringdon Road.

While other schools in the area have additional measures in place, Ms Cox has been in talks for months in her attempts to have a pedestrian crossing constructed for her students.

The genuine fear for her students struck me as she spoke, particularly when she detailed the lucky escape of one young child. A car made contact with the child, yet he walked away unharmed. She expressed to me that it really was only a matter of time before something serious happened if action was not taken and the issues were not addressed.

Furthermore, a car had driven into the school. Luckily, no staff or students were on the premises at the time; however, the property damage suggested that the outcome could have been very different had it occurred during school hours.

Following this, speed checks carried out by local officers revealed the following:
12 drivers were stopped for excess speeding between 31 – 34
9 other drivers were given tickets for excess speed of 35mph and over – the highest speed today was 47mph.
1 driver was given a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt.

Headteacher, Casey Cox, stated:
“The safety of our children is our absolute priority, and the situation on Paringdon Road has become increasingly concerning. Recent speed checks carried out with our Year 6 pupils showed just how many drivers are travelling far too fast outside our school, even at times when families rely on being able to cross safely. We have already experienced a pupil being struck by a car, and we cannot wait for a more serious incident before action is taken. Introducing a zebra crossing would make a meaningful difference to the daily safety of our pupils, and we are grateful for the support we’ve received in pushing for this vital improvement.”

As a former teacher, I believe the school environment should provide the basic standards of safety and confidence for both parents and children. It should not be a place where parents drop off their children while worrying about their wellbeing and security. With 212 families at this school, the appropriate measures should be in place to provide the reassurance they need each day.