The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College
101%
Capacity
1,114
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College
The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College is a popular choice among local families, with 207 first-preference applications for 215 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, though the school was oversubscribed overall with 546 applications for those places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.54. Of those first-preference applicants, 167 received offers. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This continues a pattern of Good ratings, as its previous inspection in 2013 also awarded Good overall. The school serves a community with relatively high disadvantage, with 34.3 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, significantly above the national average.
Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.28 is below the Warwickshire local authority average of 0.02, placing it 24th out of 42 similar schools in the county. This score is classified as ‘Below average’ nationally, ranking in the bottom 50 per cent of all schools. The Attainment 8 score sits at 41.2, and 55.8 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, while 30.9 per cent achieved a grade 5 or better in both. The English Baccalaureate entry rate is low at 18.4 per cent, with only 4.1 per cent of pupils achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. The school’s EBacc average points score is 3.42. In the local Rugby area, the school ranks 5th out of 6 schools by Progress 8, and regionally it sits 231st out of 371 in the West Midlands.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, music rooms, art studios, science labs, an astro turf pitch, and playing fields, with sports on offer from rowing and swimming to basketball and hockey. Clubs include Young Enterprise, Eco Club, choir, drama, and orchestra. The school has no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. Its SEND provisions cover a broad spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. For families considering The Avon Valley School, it is a Good-rated, oversubscribed secondary that serves a diverse intake and offers strong performing arts and sports programmes, though its academic outcomes are below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Newbold Road, Rugby, Rugby, CV21 1EH |
| Headteacher | Blake Francis |
| Local Authority | Warwickshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,114 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 34.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,114 / 1,100 (101% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 18 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.28)
2188th of 3,141
Nationally
231st of 371
In West Midlands
5th of 6
In Rugby
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2320%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 215 pupils).
- FE college62%
- School sixth form (stay)20%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship2%
91% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed215
546
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
207 families put this school as their 1st choice (38% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British55.9%
- White (other)17.8%
- Mixed6.9%
- Asian5.9%
- Black0.8%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Newbold Road, Rugby
Rugby, CV21 1EH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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