The Thomas Aveling School
Rochester, ME1 2UW · Medway · secondary school
Check the area around this school
11th of 19 secondary schools in Medway we can score, 20 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.5/10 against 728 of them, against 2.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.83 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 22.8 · 6 | 30% | 0.17 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.16 · 61 | 25% | 1.54 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.8 · 14 | 10% | 0.15 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Thomas Aveling School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022. In 2024/25, 25.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.16 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,201 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,204. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between the current Attainment 8 score and the national median? What specific steps are taken to maintain the positive Progress 8 trend for students from similar backgrounds? How does the school manage class sizes given the current proximity to full capacity?
What Ofsted said about The Thomas Aveling School
Overview
The Thomas Aveling School continues to be a good school, where pupils are happy, feel safe, and show pride in their education. Leaders maintain high expectations for behaviour and achievement, supported by an ambitious curriculum and strong community links.
Strengths
- Pupils are "well supported" with specific provision for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, disadvantaged pupils, and high performers.
- The curriculum is "ambitious" and "carefully structured," ensuring continuity from primary school through to the sixth form.
- Teachers use effective subject knowledge and regular assessment checks to ensure pupils "learn more and remember more."
- There is a "strong culture of safeguarding" with effective arrangements and high-quality welfare support.
- Staff feel their workload is manageable and have confidence in leaders, while governors are actively involved in school life.
Areas to improve
- Reading is not yet fully embedded across all subjects; leaders must develop strategies to assess and encourage pupils’ fluency and confidence.
- The personal, social and health education programme lacks coherence; leaders should improve the sequencing of content to allow for greater depth.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving regular training and knowing how to identify risks and respond to concerns.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.9 |
| 2024/25 | 41.3 |
| 2025/26 | 38.8 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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