The Thomas Aveling School

About The Thomas Aveling School

The Thomas Aveling School, a mixed state secondary in Medway, stands out for its Progress 8 score of 0.16, which is comfortably above the local authority average of -0.1 for its school type. This positive value means that, on average, pupils here achieve nearly a sixth of a grade more per subject across their eight best GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. It’s a solid, above-average performance that places the school 8th out of 18 secondary schools in Medway, and in the top 40% of schools nationally. While it doesn’t match the selective grammar schools that top the local rankings, it’s a strong showing for a non-selective comprehensive, and suggests that the school is adding real value for its students compared with the typical Medway state school.

Academically, the picture is nuanced. At KS4, the school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 42.9, and 69.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, though the figure drops to 26.8% for the stronger grade 5 benchmark. The EBacc average point score is 3.57, with only 18.9% of pupils entering the EBacc suite of subjects. Progress in English is slightly negative at -0.1, while maths progress is positive at 0.12, and the open element of Progress 8 (which covers other academic and vocational subjects) is a strong 0.35. In the sixth form, 82 students achieved an average of 25.58 points per entry, equivalent to a C- grade, with a value-added score of -0.13, which is banded as ‘Average’. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 confirmed it remains Good, with leadership, sixth-form provision, and behaviour all rated Good.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 212 places in 2025/26, there were 785 applications, a ratio of 3.7 applicants per place, and 196 of the 275 first-preference families were successful. Facilities are generous for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and a resourced provision, which suggests the school is well-equipped to support a range of additional needs. With 30.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a diverse intake. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, inclusive comprehensive with decent academic value-add, a strong sixth form, and a wide range of extracurricular clubs from DofE to Model UN, all within a context of high local demand.

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