Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #25 in Wiltshire public Top 43% UK

Avon Valley Academy

verifiedData: DfE & Ofsted 2024/25

personMiss Louise Hamilton

corporate_fareACORN EDUCATION TRUST

location_onSalisbury, SP4 8HH

language Visit Website phone 1980652467

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

441

trending_up

Attainment 8

34.8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#25 in Wiltshire

#3,030 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Avon Valley Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Salisbury, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

article

School Summary

Avon Valley Academy is an academy converter in Salisbury, Wiltshire, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of ACORN EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 517 pupils on roll, of whom 28% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 34.8, placing the school #25 in Wiltshire and #3,030 of 3,216 nationally. 18.20% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 1.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 22.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: Department for Education 2024/25, Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

34.8

Grade 5+ E&M

18.20%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)1.9%

Entering EBacc13.00%

EBacc APS2.92

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23.30%

EBacc APS3.55

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.29

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS2.79

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.08

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS3.64

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc7%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.29

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8%

EBacc APS3.27

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.81

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc45%

EBacc APS3.43

explore

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

01 July 2025

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

06 June 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

21 February 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

04 June 2019

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

06 July 2016

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-07-01

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2023-02-21

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-06-04

S5 Inspection Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2014-03-13

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

22.6%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

9.1%(47 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 517 pupils. During this period, there were 117 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 22.6%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	517	117	22.6%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	536	119	22.2%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	513	300	58.5%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	503	251	49.9%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	498	292	58.6%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	445	231	51.9%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	441	184	41.7%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	440	168	38.2%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	405	72	17.8%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	403	146	36.2%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	413	131	31.7%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	396	67	16.9%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	409	11	2.7%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	404	75	18.6%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	400	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	400	59	14.8%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	415	68	16.4%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	408	50	12.3%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	410	28	6.8%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	414	27	6.5%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	442	46	10.4%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	445	44	9.9%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	460	66	14.3%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	540	28	5.2%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	549	49	8.9%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	558	95	17.0%	3.1%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 20 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 20 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 16 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 6 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

81.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

77.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

23.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree27%

agree41%

disagree13%

strongly disagree16%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree46%

agree41%

disagree4%

strongly disagree7%

don't know2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree32%

agree27%

disagree11%

strongly disagree13%

don't know2%

not applicable16%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes32%

no68%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree39%

agree22%

disagree6%

strongly disagree22%

dont know11%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree29%

agree39%

disagree16%

strongly disagree5%

don't know11%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree30%

agree45%

disagree11%

strongly disagree9%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree30%

agree43%

disagree21%

strongly disagree5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree27%

agree52%

disagree14%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree41%

agree45%

disagree5%

don't know9%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree30%

agree23%

disagree20%

strongly disagree7%

don't know20%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes77%

no23%

Top Secondary Schools in Wiltshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

South Wilts Grammar School

Good

location_on Salisbury, SP1 3JJ

emoji_events #1 in LA

Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School

Outstanding

location_on Salisbury, SP1 2ED

emoji_events #2 in LA

St Laurence School

Good

location_on Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1DZ

emoji_events #3 in LA

St John's Marlborough

Outstanding

location_on Marlborough, SN8 4AX

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Augustine's Catholic College

Good

location_on Trowbridge, BA14 9EN

emoji_events #5 in LA

Royal Wootton Bassett Academy

Outstanding

location_on Swindon, SN4 7HG

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Wiltshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Wiltshire

South Wilts Grammar School

Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School

St Laurence School

St John's Marlborough

St Augustine's Catholic College

Royal Wootton Bassett Academy