The Thomas Aveling School

Thomas Aveling School
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Arethusa Road Rochester , Kent , ME1 2UW England
Coordinates	51°21′52″N 0°30′09″E / 51.3645°N 0.5024°E / 51.3645; 0.5024Coordinates: 51°21′52″N 0°30′09″E / 51.3645°N 0.5024°E / 51.3645; 0.5024
Information
Type	Academy
Motto	An academy for success
Established	1990 (1990)
Department for Education URN	137376 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Headteacher	Paul Jackson
Gender	Co-educational
Age	11 to 18
Houses	Victory   , Resolute   , Cavalier   , Achilles
Colour(s)	Blue, gold and white
Academy Trust	Fort Pitt Thomas Aveling
Website	www.thomasaveling.co.uk
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The Thomas Aveling School is a secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located in Rochester, Kent, England.

History[]

The school is named after Thomas Aveling, inventor of the traction engine and a partner in the world's largest manufacturer of steamrollers in the 19th century, Aveling and Porter, who were located in Rochester. The school badge depicts one of Aveling's steamrollers, below two trees that cross one another to represent the merging of two schools.^[1]

Drama/Dance facility

The Thomas Aveling School was formed in 1990 after three local schools, (Warren Wood Boys, Warren Wood Girls and Highfield) were closed. The former Warren Wood Boys School site was re-developed with new facilities added to the refurbished classroom and administration block and school hall. During the 1990s, the school became grant-maintained, enabling the Board of Governors to expand the facilities, including the addition of a sports hall in 1997.^[2] In 2001, the school received a positive Ofsted report.^[3]

In 1997, with the lapse of the grant-maintained system within England, the school became a foundation school and was taken under the authority of the newly formed Medway LEA. The school went on to gain Technology College status and Training School status.^[4] The school became an academy in September 2011.

Site[]

Since its creation in 1990, extensive new facilities have been built at the school. These include a major development of the Learning Resource Centre & Community Library (2002), a music recording studio (2003), fitness & media suites (2004), a post-16 science lab.(2005) a design & technology suite (2006), a drama facility (2008) and, more recently, extensive sports facilities.^[5]

Subjects[]

Part of School building (front)

In Years 7 and 8 students study English, Maths, Science, Design Technology, PE, RE, PSHE, History, Geography, Art (and textiles) and a Modern Foreign Language.

When entering Year 9 all students study English, Maths, Science, RE, PSHE and Design Technology, but they also follow a vocational course. Students then have a free choice of two other subjects to study at GCSE. The options include Art & design, Business studies, Dance, Drama, Geography, History, ICT, Media studies, Modern Foreign Languages and Music.^[6]

League Tables and Examination results[]

A 2012 BBC report says that 45% of students received 5 A*-Cs in GCSE subjects.^[7] 85% of sixth form students attained three A-levels. As a result, the school became the 12th best secondary school in the Medway towns based on GCSE results, and 10th based on students getting three A-levels or equivalent.^[7]

Houses[]

The house system at the school was created in 2010. There are four houses and colours associated with each: Victory (purple), Resolute (red), Cavalier (green), and Achilles (yellow). The Houses are named after ships built in the nearby historic Chatham Dockyard. The forms are split into Houses throughout all year groups.^[8]

Notable former pupils[]

• Kelly Brook – Model and television presenter

References[]

External links[]

• Official website