The Thomas Aveling School is a secondary school and

sixth form In the education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepare for A-l ...

with academy status, located in

Rochester Rochester may refer to: Places Australia * Rochester, Victoria Canada * Rochester, Alberta United Kingdom *Rochester, Kent ** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area ** History of Rochester, Kent ** HM Prison ...

, Kent, England.

History

The school is named after Thomas Aveling, inventor of the

traction engine A traction engine is a steam engine, steam-powered tractor used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location. The name derives from the Latin ''tractus'', meaning 'drawn', since the prime function of any t ...

and a partner in the world's largest manufacturer of

steamroller A steamroller (or steam roller) is a form of road roller – a type of heavy construction machinery used for leveling surfaces, such as roads or airfields – that is powered by a steam engine. The leveling/flattening action is achieved through ...

s in the 19th century,

Aveling and Porter Aveling and Porter was a British agricultural engine and steamroller (road roller) manufacturer. Thomas Aveling and Richard Thomas Porter entered into partnership in 1862, and developed a steam engine three years later in 1865. By the earl ...

, who were located in

. The school badge depicts one of Aveling's steamrollers, below two trees that cross one another to represent the merging of two schools. Thomas aveling school Drama and Dance Studio

Thomas aveling school Drama and Dance Studio

The Thomas Aveling School was formed in 1990 after three local schools, (Warren Wood Boys, Warren Wood Girls and Highfield) 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 The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a Non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament of the U ...

report. In 1997, with the lapse of the grant-maintained system within England, the school became a

foundation school In England and Wales, a foundation school is a state-funded school in which the governing body has greater freedom in the running of the school than in community schools. Foundation schools were set up under the School Standards and Framework A ...

and was taken under the authority of the newly formed

Medway Medway is a unitary authority district and conurbation in Kent, South East England. It had a population of 278,016 in 2019. The unitary authority was formed in 1998 when Rochester-upon-Medway amalgamated with the Borough of Gillingham to for ...

LEA Lea or LEA may refer to: Places Australia * Lea River, Tasmania, Australia * Lake Lea, Tasmania, from which the Lea River flows * RAAF Base Learmonth, IATA airport code "LEA" England * Lea, Cheshire, a civil parish * Lea, Derbyshire, a set ...

. The school went on to gain

Technology College In the United Kingdom, a Technology College is a specialist school that specialises in design and technology, mathematics and science. Beginning in 1994, they were the first specialist schools that were not CTC colleges. In 2008, there were 59 ...

status and Training School status. The school became an academy in September 2011.

Site

Since its creation in 1990, new facilities have been built at the school. These include development of the Learning Resource Centre and Community Library (2002), a music recording studio (2003), fitness and media suites (2004), a post-16 science lab (2005), a design & technology suite (2006), a drama facility (2008) and, more recently, sports facilities.

Subjects

In Years 7 and 8 students study English, Maths, Science, Design Technology, PE, RE,

PSHE Personal, social, health and economic education is a school curriculum subject in England that focuses on strengthening the knowledge, skills, and connections to keep children and young people healthy and safe and prepare them for life and work. ...

, History, Geography, Art, Dance, Drama, Music and a Modern Foreign Language. When entering Year 9 all students study English, Maths, Science, RE and PSHE. Students then have a free choice of four other subjects to study at GCSE. The options include Art & Design,

Business studies Business studies, often simply called business, is a field of study that deals with the principles of business, management, and economics. It combines elements of accountancy, finance, marketing, organizational studies, human resource management, a ...

, Dance, Drama, Geography, History, ICT,

Media studies Media studies is a discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history, and effects of various media; in particular, the mass media. Media Studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly ...

, 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 The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...

subjects.BBC: School league tables in Medway Towns
/ref> 85% of

students attained three

A-levels The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...

. 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 The term victory (from Latin ''victoria'') originally applied to warfare, and denotes success achieved in personal Duel, combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition. Success in a military campaign constitu ...

(purple), Resolute (red),

Cavalier The term Cavalier () was first used by Roundheads as a term of abuse for the wealthier royalist supporters of King Charles I and his son Charles II of England during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration (1642 – ). It ...

(green), and

Achilles In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus ( grc-gre, Ἀχιλλεύς) was a hero of the Trojan War, the greatest of all the Greek warriors, and the central character of Homer's ''Iliad''. He was the son of the Nereid Thetis and Peleus, k ...

(yellow). The Houses are named after ships built in the nearby historic

Chatham Dockyard Chatham Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the River Medway in Kent. Established in Chatham in the mid-16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring Gillingham (at its most extensive, in the early 20th century, ...

. The

forms Form is the shape, visual appearance, or configuration of an object. In a wider sense, the form is the way something happens. Form also refers to: *Form (document), a document (printed or electronic) with spaces in which to write or enter data * ...

are split into Houses throughout all year groups, excluding Year 13.School Website: Houses
/ref>

Notable former pupils

Kelly Brook Kelly Ann Parsons (born 23 November 1979), known professionally as Kelly Brook, is an English model, actress, and media personality. She is known for her modelling work in the UK, and in the US for her role as Prudence on the NBC sitcom ''One ...

– Model and television presenter

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas Aveling School Academies in Medway Educational institutions established in 1990 1990 establishments in England Secondary schools in Medway Rochester, Kent