Key Points
- Parents report multiple near‑misses at school gate
- Angry crowd gathers after child almost hit by car
- Local residents blame speeding vehicles and poor signage
- Headteacher confirms incidents and calls for urgent review
- Council pledges to review traffic measures and school safety
Oxford (Oxford Daily News) 6 February 2026 – Dozens of parents staged an impromptu protest outside a primary school in Oxford yesterday after several children narrowly avoided being hit by vehicles near the school gates, sparking fresh calls for stricter traffic controls and improved safety measures.
The demonstration took place at St Mary’s Primary School in North Oxford, where parents and carers formed a human chain across the pavement and road outside the main entrance during the morning drop‑off period.
As reported by Sarah Thompson of the Oxford Mail, one mother told reporters: “My daughter stepped out of the car and a van came within inches of her. I couldn’t breathe for a full minute.”
The protest followed a series of “near‑miss” incidents over the past fortnight, with parents claiming that speeding cars, delivery vans, and buses routinely ignore pedestrian crossings and school‑zone limits.
Local resident and parent James Carter, quoted by Alex Reed of the Oxford Times, said: “We’ve seen kids almost knocked over three times in the last ten days. It’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt.”
What triggered the protest?
Parents say the latest flashpoint came on Tuesday morning when a seven‑year‑old pupil almost walked into the path of a van as she crossed the road outside the school. According to eyewitness accounts collected by Emma Lloyd of BBC Radio Oxford, the driver braked sharply, and the child was pulled back by a teaching assistant just in time.
As reported by Emma Lloyd of BBC Radio Oxford, the teaching assistant, who asked not to be named, said: “I grabbed her arm and yanked her back. The van was going way too fast for the school zone.”
Another parent, Fatima Khan, told the Oxford Mail: “We’ve been complaining for months. Nothing has changed, so we had to take to the streets.”
Parents claim that the school’s location on a busy residential road, combined with a lack of clear signage and enforcement, has turned the area into a hazard. Several said they now refuse to let children walk to school unaccompanied.
What are parents demanding?
During the protest, parents held handwritten placards reading “Slow Down, Our Children Are Here” and “Safe Routes to School Now”. As reported by Alex Reed of the Oxford Times, parent and protest organiser Rachel Hughes outlined a five‑point demand list: lower speed limits, additional signage, better‑marked crossings, more traffic‑warden presence, and a review of drop‑off and pick‑up arrangements.
Rachel Hughes told the Oxford Times: “We’re not asking for miracles. We just want our kids to get to school without risking their lives.”
Another parent, Mark Ellis, added: “If this were a private estate, the residents would have had the road closed by now. Why are children’s lives worth less?”
Parents also called for a meeting with Oxford City Council’s transport committee and the school’s governing body. Some said they would consider organising regular “slow‑down” marches if no action is taken within the next month.
How has the school responded?
In a statement issued to the Oxford Daily News, headteacher Dr Alison Porter confirmed that the school had recorded several near‑miss incidents in recent weeks and acknowledged parents’ concerns.
Dr Porter said: “We take every incident extremely seriously and have already notified the local authority and the police.”
Dr Porter also revealed that the school had temporarily altered its drop‑off procedures, asking parents to park further away and walk their children the final stretch.
She added: “We are reviewing our safety policies and will work closely with the council and police to ensure our pupils are protected.”
Staff members told reporters that they had increased supervision at the gates during peak times and were considering introducing a “walking bus” scheme, where groups of children are escorted by adults along designated routes.
What is the council doing?
Oxford City Council’s transport spokesperson, Councillor David Wilkins, told the Oxford Mail that officials had been made aware of the situation and would carry out an urgent safety review of the road outside St Mary’s Primary.
Councillor Wilkins said: “We are treating this as a priority and will inspect signage, road markings, and traffic‑flow patterns.”
He confirmed that the council would liaise with Oxfordshire County Council’s highways department and Thames Valley Police to explore options such as introducing a 20mph zone, installing speed‑cameras, or adjusting parking restrictions.
Councillor Wilkins added: “We understand parents’ fears and will act quickly to make the area safer.”
However, some parents expressed scepticism about how fast changes would be implemented.
As quoted by Emma Lloyd of BBC Radio Oxford, parent Aisha Rahman said: “We’ve heard ‘urgent review’ before. We want visible changes, not just promises.”
What are police saying?
Thames Valley Police confirmed that they had received reports of speeding and dangerous driving near the school but declined to give specific figures, citing ongoing inquiries.
In a statement to the Oxford Times, a police spokesperson said: “We are aware of the concerns raised by parents and are liaising with the school and local authority to assess the situation.”
The spokesperson added that officers would increase patrols around school drop‑off and pick‑up times and reminded drivers to observe speed limits and be vigilant for children.
As reported by Alex Reed of the Oxford Times, the spokesperson said: “Any driver who endangers children in a school zone will face the full force of the law.”
Parents welcomed the pledge but said enforcement alone would not solve the underlying design problems.
One father, quoted anonymously by the Oxford Daily News, said: “We need better infrastructure, not just more fines.”
What happens next?
Parents have agreed to hold a formal meeting with school governors, council officials, and police representatives within the next fortnight. As reported by Sarah Thompson of the Oxford Mail, the group plans to present a petition signed by more than 300 local residents calling for immediate traffic calming measures.
Rachel Hughes, the protest organiser, told the Oxford Times: “We will keep up the pressure until we see real change. Our children’s safety is non‑negotiable.”
The incident has reignited a wider debate in Oxford about school‑zone safety, with campaigners from other areas saying similar problems exist at several primary schools across the city.
As reported by Emma Lloyd of BBC Radio Oxford, local campaigner Tom Bradley said: “This isn’t just about one school. It’s about how we value children’s lives in our streets.”
For now, parents at St Mary’s Primary remain on high alert, determined to turn their protest into a lasting improvement in road safety.
