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The Avon Valley School is a self-governing, 11-16 Foundation School, which means that the Governors own the land and buildings and employ all the staff in school, whilst working closely with the Local Authority. In recent years, our admission number has increased as the popularity of the school has risen and, for students entering the school in Year 7 in September, this number is 220. Even though the school is growing, we intend to retain the qualities that have made us a natural choice for those parents who value an environment in which each person cares for and respects the rights of other members and where they feel part of the Avon Valley community. The ethos and culture of the school are unique. In 2004, Ofsted commented that the school was a ‘special place to be ……… and that anything was possible for anyone.’ They also made comment about the ‘family’ atmosphere that existed at the school. In our most recent inspection in July 2008, Ofsted said that The Avon Valley School is ‘a good school which serves its community well’. Underpinning this ethos is our attention to detail and our care and support for young people. This is clearly demonstrated by our insistence on high standards of behaviour and discipline, in order to create a safe and purposeful environment in which young people can thrive and reach their potential. The school is at the forefront of educational and curriculum development and has, over the years, received many accolades: • Investor in People status in 1997; this was awarded again in 2003, 2006 and 2009 Our specialism as a Performing Arts College gives the school a distinctive flavour of achievement and undoubtedly raises the self-esteem of the students. This status has enabled us to become heavily involved in the wider community and the school musical productions ie. ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’, ‘My Fair Lady’ and, more recently, in February this year, ‘Back to the 80s’, have been widely acclaimed. Many students from across the age range take part in these high quality productions, which is indicative of their enthusiasm to ‘perform’. We have an innovative approach to the curriculum and always endeavour to tailor programmes of study to meet the individual needs of the students. As a result of this and many other initiatives, examination results have continued to improve year on year in both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. The school, rebuilt in 2007 includes facilities geared towards learning in the 21st Century, such as an Information Technology infrastructure which provides a virtual learning environment in each curriculum area. Students have the ability to access tasks set by teachers online and submit a completed task back to the teacher for marking. Parents can also track their child’s task progress and view up to date attendance, behaviour and assessment information. There is a state of the art theatre, with control room, recording studio and associated practice rooms, reflecting our specialist status. Students work in spacious rooms, equipped to a high specification, which undoubtedly creates a climate for further academic achievement and success. There is no better way to find out about us than by coming in and seeing the school at work and talking to me. Better still, come in and talk to our Year 7 students already with us and share in their experiences. In either case, we are always delighted to receive visitors. Don O’Neill |
