Avon Valley Academy

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 16
Ofsted judgements: Good

Recreation Road, Durrington, Salisbury, SP4 8HHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Avon Valley Academy is a secondary school in Salisbury for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 262 schools in Wiltshire. It ranks 7th of 7 secondary schools in Salisbury. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 1 July 2025, report published 11 September 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 July 2025

The school creates a strong sense of belonging for all pupils. Many pupils join and leave the school throughout the school year. Pupils and their families value the warm welcome. After a period of change, the school is enjoying stability. Pupils and staff positively recognise the changes, which are well implemented. The school has high expectations for pupils. The day begins with a line up, which supports pupils to be ready for their learning. In lessons, quiet classrooms and planned discussion times help pupils to focus on their learning. Pupils progress well through the curriculum. If pupils have a concern, they are well supported by staff. Provisions such as the 'thrive room' help pupils if they need it. A minority of older pupils sometimes use derogatory language or share inappropriate opinions. The school takes strong action to tackle this. It is not tolerated. The school is an inclusive and welcoming school. The school is proud of the enrichment it plans for all pupils. Pupils explore their interests through shows, sports and a wide range of visits and speakers to the school. The school parliament takes an active role in contributing to the decisions the school takes, and pupils take pride in this.

What the school should improve

  • In some parts of the curriculum, adaptations to learning that support pupils are not enacted in a timely way. When this happens, some pupils achieve less well. The school needs to make sure that staff have the knowledge and skills to support pupils effectively with their learning and those strategies are well embedded across the curriculum.
  • The school's work to secure regular attendance has not reached some pupils who miss too much time in school. This means those pupils miss out on valuable learning and social opportunities. The school has put robust strategies and actions in place to improve the attendance of all pupils and needs to persist in its work to help those pupils to attend school regularly and punctually.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

77 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score34.8

34.8, 11.3 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths18.2%

18.2%, 27.2 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths45.5%

45.5%, 19.3 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc13%

13%, 27.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score2.92

2.92, 1.17 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

517 pupils on roll, with places for 925

Eligible for free school meals25.3%

25.3%, 1.2 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language13.3%

13.3%, 8.3 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support16.1%

16.1%, 1.3 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan5%

5%, 1 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Avon Valley Academy

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
The Stonehenge School2 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 37.4
The Wellington Academy7 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 42.1
St Joseph's Catholic School8 milesOfsted: Requires improvementAttainment 8: 40.4
Wyvern St Edmund's Academy8 milesOfsted judgements: Requires improvement to goodAttainment 8: 42.2
Sarum Academy8 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 33.7

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
ACORN EDUCATION TRUST
Age range
11 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
No
Headteacher
Mr Henry Haydon
Address
Recreation Road, Durrington, Salisbury, SP4 8HH
Local authority
Wiltshire
URN
143005

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.