Avenue Centre for Education, Luton
Avenue Centre for Education is a pru school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Luton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Avenue Centre for Education in detail
Avenue Centre for Education in its own words
In its own words: "Avenue Centre for Education (ACE) is an inclusive and innovative KS3 and KS4 Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) supporting students in Luton. ACE has a model of working which is based on the Journey of the Child and commits to personalised, destination-focused contracts of education for all referred students whether they are at risk of exclusion or excluded from mainstream school."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 34 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 47% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college and 6% into work.
Who goes there
37.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 23.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 39 pupils (76.5%) received SEN support and 7 (13.7%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Luton Airport Parkway Rail Station, about 850 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Barnfield South Academy (opposite), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 510 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Luton (296), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
37.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with Avenue Centre for Education
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Avenue Centre for Education from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Avenue Centre for Education is in Luton; for families living there:
- Luton's school travel policy: Travel assistance policy for 0 to 25 year olds in education
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Luton is 28 (the median across 79 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Luton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Luton
Across Luton council
Places available
3,303
Applications
2,972
Got 1st preference
82.8%
Got preferred school
95.5%
All secondary applications across Luton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
39
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
90.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
51
Total Pupils
40
Boys
11
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
3.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,508
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Avenue Centre for Education
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Avenue Centre for Education
What is Avenue Centre for Education's Ofsted rating?
Avenue Centre for Education was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024.
What is the catchment area for Avenue Centre for Education?
No fixed boundary. When Avenue Centre for Education is oversubscribed, Luton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Avenue Centre for Education?
Avenue Centre for Education has around 51 pupils on roll. 37% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Avenue Centre for Education?
Apply through Luton's coordinated admissions process, naming Avenue Centre for Education on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Avenue Centre for Education?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Luton is 28 (the median across 79 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Avenue Centre for Education?
Avenue Centre for Education is at Cutenhoe Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3NJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)