The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College

The Avon Valley School, which recently underwent its first inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, is performing well overall, achieving a 'Good' rating across all key areas. The school is recognized for its inclusive environment where pupils feel cared for, safe, and supported. Strong relationships between staff and pupils are evident, and behavior within the school is commendable, with instances of disruption being rare. The education provided is solid, with a well-sequenced curriculum and high expectations set by teachers, promoting a positive learning atmosphere for all students. However, there are areas for improvement, particularly regarding the support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) who may not be receiving the appropriate accommodations to access the curriculum effectively. Additionally, the school is addressing concerns about the low uptake of subjects that form the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) at key stage 4, and there is a need to cultivate a stronger culture of reading among students. Overall, while the school has numerous strengths, focusing on these critical areas will be essential for continued growth.

Strengths

• Inclusive and welcoming school environment
• Strong relationships between pupils and staff
• Pupils feel safe and well cared for
• Positive attitudes and good behavior among pupils
• High expectations communicated through 'The Avon Valley Way'
• Effective curriculum planning and sequencing
• Strong emphasis on extracurricular activities and pupil development
• Effective safeguarding culture and staff training

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent support for pupils with SEND in lessons
• Need for a more effective strategy to promote reading across the school
• Low take-up of EBacc subjects at key stage 4

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College attended 89.8% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 26.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 8.5% of pupils at The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College had 16.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 17.6% of pupils at The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College received £8,468 and spent £8,323 for each of its 1,100 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £685,000 (£623 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Rugby · Warwickshire local authority: places and applications

What is The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College is Good, from an inspection in May 2023.

When was The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College last inspected by Ofsted?

The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College was last inspected in May 2023.

How many pupils does The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College have?

The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College has 1,096 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College cover?

The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 42.7, and 41% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College?

The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College is at Newbold Road, Newbold-on-Avon, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 1EH.