Set in the Newbold on Avon area of Rugby, The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College serves a diverse community of approximately 1,100 students. As its name suggests, the school places a significant emphasis on the creative arts, holding a specialist status that shapes much of its extracurricular and cultural identity. Since a major fire in 2004 led to a total rebuild, the school has operated from modern, purpose built facilities that support its specific focus on performance and technical arts.
The school is currently led by Blake Francis, who took over as Headteacher in September 2023 following the long tenure of Alison Davies. The latest Ofsted inspection, conducted in March 2023, confirmed that the school remains Good. It is a mainstream, non selective state secondary school that caters to students aged 11 to 16, meaning students transition to local sixth form colleges or further education providers after Year 11.
The atmosphere at Avon Valley is defined by its Performing Arts status, which is woven into the daily experience of its students. This is not a school where the arts are a secondary thought; they are a primary vehicle for building student confidence and community. The modern architecture of the school, designed with open spaces and dedicated performance areas, reflects this mission.
Students are organised into a house system including Apollo, Fortune, Garrick, and Phoenix, which provides the framework for pastoral care and internal competition. Each house is led by a dedicated House Leader and a Student Leadership Team, fostering a sense of belonging within the larger school population. The school motto, Aspire, Engage, Achieve, is supported by a set of core values often referred to as the Avon Valley Way, which emphasises respect and personal responsibility.
The school has a reputation for being inclusive and community focused. The 2023 inspection noted that students feel safe and that the school provides a calm environment where the majority of students behave well and show respect to staff and peers.
In the 2024 GCSE examinations, students at Avon Valley achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41.2. This metric, which measures achievement across eight key subjects, reflects the broad ability range of the school intake. The Progress 8 score for the same period was -0.28, which indicates that students make progress slightly below the England average from their various starting points.
The school ranks 3,084th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and ranks 7th among secondary schools in the Rugby local area. This performance sits in the tier below the England average, placing it within the bottom 40% of schools in England (67th percentile) for academic attainment, though this should be viewed in the context of its non selective intake in a town with several grammar schools.
A specific area for development identified by the school is the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) entry rate. In 2024, 4.1% of students achieved a grade 5 or above in the EBacc, which is significantly lower than the England average. This often reflects a curriculum choice where students are encouraged to pursue vocational and arts based qualifications alongside core GCSEs.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum at Avon Valley is designed to be broad and balanced, with a clear emphasis on the arts without neglecting the core academic subjects. In Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9), students follow a wide ranging programme that includes specialist teaching in drama, dance, and music.
As students move into Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11), they can choose from a variety of GCSE and vocational options. The school performing arts status is reflected in the popularity of BTEC and GCSE courses in Performing Arts, Music, and Art and Design. Teachers are noted for their subject expertise and their ability to plan lessons that engage students interests.
The school uses a Faculty structure (e.g., Performance and Arts, Communications, STEM) to manage its teaching. This approach ensures that even as a creative college, the rigour of Mathematics and Science is maintained through dedicated specialist departments and well equipped laboratories.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
The extracurricular life of the school is, predictably, exceptional in the creative sector. The school produces high quality annual productions that involve students not just as performers, but as technicians, set designers, and stage managers. Recent productions have included large scale musicals that draw audiences from across the Rugby community.
While the arts are prominent, STEM subjects are well supported through dedicated clubs and facilities. The school features modern ICT suites and design technology workshops where students engage in electronics, textiles, and food technology. The STEM Faculty encourages participation in regional competitions and science based workshops.
Students have access to recording studios, dance studios with sprung floors, and a professional standard theatre space. Instrumental tuition is available through a team of visiting teachers, and many students participate in the school choir or various musical ensembles.
The school offers a range of sporting activities supported by its large sports hall and outdoor playing fields. Traditional team sports like football, netball, and rugby are popular, alongside individual pursuits such as trampolining and badminton.
Pastoral care is delivered through the house system, which ensures that every student is known individually. Each student has a form tutor who acts as the first point of contact for families. The school has a dedicated Student Support department that provides additional help for students with special educational needs (SEN) or those facing emotional challenges.
Safeguarding is a high priority, and the latest inspection confirmed that the school arrangements are effective. There is a strong focus on mental health awareness, with staff trained to recognise and support students in distress. The school also employs a consequence system for behaviour that is clear and understood by students, helping to maintain an orderly environment.
The Avon Valley School is part of the Warwickshire Local Authority coordinated admissions scheme. Although the school has a capacity of 1,100, it is frequently oversubscribed. For the 2024 entry, there were 546 applications for 215 places, with a subscription proportion of 2.54. This indicates that for every place available, more than two and a half families applied.
As a specialist school, Avon Valley selects 10% of its intake (22 places) based on aptitude in the Performing Arts. For 2026 entry, the deadline for these specialist applications is Monday 29 September 2025, with auditions typically held on Friday 10 October 2025.
The school does not have a formal catchment boundary map published in the same way some London schools do, but places are generally allocated based on proximity to the school after priority is given to looked after children and siblings. Parents should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to previous intake patterns.
This is a state school with no tuition fees. As a foundation school funded by the local authority, it is free to attend for all students. There are no costs for standard curriculum teaching; however, parents may be asked to contribute towards optional educational trips, specific residential experiences, or individual music lessons. Financial support may be available for families eligible for Pupil Premium to help cover these additional costs and the cost of the school uniform.
Applications
546
Total received
Places Offered
215
Subscription Rate
2.5x
Apps per place
The school day typically begins at 8:50am and concludes at 3:15pm. A wide range of after school clubs usually run until 4:15pm or 4:30pm.
The school is located on Newbold Road, which is well served by local bus routes connecting to Rugby town centre and the surrounding villages. While there is on site parking for staff, parents are encouraged to use the designated drop off areas to avoid congestion on Newbold Road during peak times.
The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College is a vibrant, modern secondary school that provides a unique environment for students in Rugby. It successfully balances a Good standard of education with a truly impressive commitment to the performing arts. Best suited to students who want to develop their creative talents alongside their GCSEs in a supportive, community oriented setting.
Yes, the school is currently rated Good by Ofsted (latest inspection March 2023). It is well regarded locally for its inclusive atmosphere and its exceptional facilities for the performing arts.
In 2024, the school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41.2. While its Progress 8 score of -0.28 is slightly below the England average, the school provides a broad curriculum that includes many successful vocational and arts qualifications.
Applications must be made through Warwickshire County Council admissions service. The deadline for Year 7 applications is typically 31 October for entry the following September. If applying for one of the 22 specialist performing arts places, a separate form must be returned to the school by 29 September 2025.
No, the school caters to students aged 11 to 16. Most students move on to Rugby College, Lawrence Sheriff School, or other local providers for their A level or vocational post 16 studies.
Yes, the school is consistently oversubscribed. In 2024, it received over 540 applications for just 215 places, meaning that distance from the school and sibling links are crucial factors for admission.
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