The Thomas Aveling School

Thomas Aveling School

Motto	An academy for success
Established	1990 (1990)
Type	Academy
Headteacher	Paul Jackson
Location	Arethusa Road Rochester Kent ME1 2UW England Coordinates: 51°21′52″N 0°30′09″E / 51.3645°N 0.5024°E / 51.3645; 0.5024
DfE number	887/5451
DfE URN	137376 Tables
Ofsted	Reports Pre-academy reports
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11–18
Houses	Victory     , Resolute     , Cavalier     , Achilles
Colours	Blue, Gold and White
Academy Trust	FPTA Academies
Website	www.thomasaveling.co.uk

The Thomas Aveling School is a secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located in Rochester, Kent, England.

History

Drama/Dance facility

The Thomas Aveling School was formed in 1990 after three local schools 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 a grant-maintained school, allowing the Board of Governors the latitude to expand the facilities, including the addition of a sports hall in 1997.^[1] In 2001, the school received a positive Ofsted report.^[2]

In 1997, with the lapse of the grant-maintained system within England, the school became a foundation 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.^[3] The school is now an academy and is independent of LEA control.

Due to the Thomas Aveling School being a relatively recent development (1990), its history is not extensive. However, new facilities for the school have been built continually. 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), and a brand new drama facility (2008). There are plans for major new sports facilities.^[4]

The school is named after Thomas Aveling, a partner in the world's largest manufacturer of steam rollers in the 19th century, named Aveling and Porter, who were located in Rochester. This gives reason to the existence of a steam roller on the badge of the school uniform. The two trees that cross one another represent the merging of Warren Wood Boys and Warren Wood Girls in order to create the Thomas Aveling School.

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, PE, 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 consist of Art, Business Studies, Dance, Drama, Geography, History, ICT, Media Studies, Modern Foreign Languages,Fashion and Music.^[5]

League Tables and Examination Results

A 2012 BBC report says that 45% of students received 5 A*-Cs in GCSE subjects.^[6] 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.

Notable former pupils

• Kelly Brook – Model

References

External links

• Official website