The Thomas Aveling School
Arethusa Road, Arethusa Road, Rochester, ME1 2UWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Thomas Aveling School is a secondary school in Rochester for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 110 schools in Medway. It ranks 5th of 6 secondary schools in Rochester. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2016.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 14 June 2016, report published 11 July 2016
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 13 September 2022
Pupils and students say that they are happy and they feel safe. They say that staff care about them and help them to do their best. Pupils show a pride in their school. They work hard and want to do well. The school's extensive careers programme ensures that pupils are well prepared for their next stage. Pupils have increasingly high aspirations for their future. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are very well supported. Disadvantaged pupils are well known and prioritised. Higher performing pupils spoke well of the 'Brilliant Club' and visits to universities. All pupils spoke positively about the care received from the school. Pupils are kind to each other and behave very well in lessons. They move around the school respectfully and in an orderly manner. Pupils say that bullying is quickly dealt with when it does occur. Expectations for behaviour are very high. Leaders make sure that all pupils can take part in a wide range of clubs that inspire and interest them. For example, there are opportunities to play sports and music, as well as activities that develop their leadership skills. Pupils value the opportunities provided to broaden their experiences. Those in the sixth form enjoy supporting younger pupils to achieve their best.
What the school should improve
- Reading is not yet fully embedded across the school. As a result, reading does not allow all pupils to access the full curriculum and assessment practices are still being refined. Leaders across the school should continue to develop strategies to assess, develop and encourage pupils' fluency, confidence and enjoyment of reading.
- The PSHE programme is not sufficiently developmental and coherent. The programme requires further development to pull together content across stand-alone lessons, tutorial time and assemblies, as well as subjects. Leaders should develop a more efficient approach to the sequencing of the curriculum, to allow content to be developed in greater depth.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
217 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
90 students
Average A level grade C-, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,201 pupils on roll, with places for 1,204
Schools near The Thomas Aveling School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 69.5 |
| The Rochester Grammar School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 68.4 |
| Holcombe Grammar School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 62.4 |
| St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | Attainment 8: 40.0 |
| Fort Pitt Grammar School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 65.9 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- BEYOND SCHOOLS TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Fiona Linter
- Phone
- 01634844809
- Address
- Arethusa Road, Arethusa Road, Rochester, ME1 2UW
- Local authority
- Medway
- URN
- 137376
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.