The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College, Rugby

In its own words: "At The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College, we aim to create an inclusive learning environment where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe in respect, being relentlessly ambitious, and looking out for each other. Our goal is to inspire each individual to chase their dreams and make a difference in the world around them."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is with great pride and pleasure that I introduce you to The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College (AVS). Our school provides a great learning community, where students, staff and parents work collaboratively to realise every student’s potential. Individually, and collectively, we are on a mission to inspire, advance aspirations, and cultivate a school community of limitless potential."

The school week is 32.5 hours a week.

In 2026, pupils at The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50 in Warwickshire and 47 across England.

41% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 52% in Warwickshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 44.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.28: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 37.6, against 45.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and History.

For September 2026 entry, 199 families put The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College as their first choice and 512 named it as one of their preferences, for 208 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 32 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College are Lawrence Sheriff School (1.2 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 75.7); Harris Church of England Academy (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.8); Rugby Free Secondary School (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.5); and Bilton School (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.3).

The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Of the 217 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 54% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

25.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (57%), Mixed (7%) and Black (6%).

The nearest railway station is Rugby Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Avon Valley School (opposite), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 187 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 Warwickshire (88), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College issued 192 suspensions, 17.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College are Riverside Academy (under 0.1 miles), Northlands Primary School (0.9 miles), St Oswald's CofE Academy (1 mile) and St Matthew's Bloxam CofE Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.