The Thomas Aveling School


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.
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 grant-maintained, enabling the Board of Governors to expand the facilities, including the addition of a sports hall in 1997. In 2001, the school received a positive Ofsted report.
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. 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, a music recording studio, fitness & media suites, a post-16 science lab. a design & technology suite, a drama facility and, more recently, extensive sports facilities.

Subjects

In Years 7 and 8 students study English, Maths, Science, Design Technology, PE, RE, PSHE, History, Geography, Art 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.

League Tables and Examination results

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

Houses

The house system at the school was created in 2010. There are four houses and colours associated with each: Victory, Resolute, Cavalier, and Achilles. 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