Located in Reading, The Avenue Special School is a not applicable school, serving pupils aged 2 to 19. The school is a academy special converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a not applicable admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.

The Avenue Special School currently has around 246 pupils on roll, which is about 99% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 66.7% boys and 33.3% girls. Around 38.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.

Overall absence at the school is 13.4%. Persistent absence is recorded at 39.5%.

Pupil backgrounds are varied, with white british pupils forming the largest group at around 27.2%. other asian pupils make up about 11.4%

At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good. This suggests the school is performing well overall. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.

Around 86% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (86%) , including 0% who stay in school sixth forms and 0% progressing to further education , while 0% enter apprenticeships .

School Information

Address: The Avenue Centre, Conwy Close, Reading, RG30 4BZ
Website: https://www.avenue.reading.sch.uk/
Telephone: 01183389038
School Type: Academy special converter
Education phase: Not applicable
Local authority: Reading
Headteacher / Principal: Headteacher Symon Cooke
Religious character: Does not apply
Admissions policy: Not applicable
Unique reference: 137435

Map

Ofsted Inspection

  • Overall effectiveness
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Management effectiveness

Ofsted inspection date: 16/05/2023

Safeguarding is effective

Pupils

General

Age Range: 2 - 19
Gender: Mixed
School Capacity: 249
Number of Pupils: 246
Number of Boys: 164
Number of Girls: 82

Absence

SchoolEngland state-funded schools:
Overall absence: 13.4% 4%
Persistent absence: 39.5% 8.2%

Ethnicity

White British27.20%67
Other Asian11.40%28
Other White9.30%23
Indian8.90%22
African8.50%21
Pakistani7.70%19
Unclassified7.70%19
Other Mixed7.30%18
White and Asian2.00%5
Bangladeshi2.00%5
Other Black2.00%5
White and Black Caribbean1.60%4
Caribbean1.60%4
White and Black African1.20%3
Other (any other ethnic group)0.80%2
Chinese0.40%1
Gypsy/Roma0.00%0
Irish0.00%0
Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage)0.00%0

Education - Primary

Progress scores show how pupils performed compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. Scores above 0 are better than average; below 0 are worse than average.

Reading: Well Below Average (-5.1)
Writing: Well Below Average (-5.7)
Maths: Well Below Average (-6.0)
Pupils meeting expected standard in reading, writing and maths
School
0%
Town average
62%
Local authority average
56%
England average
61%
Pupils achieving at a higher standard in reading, writing and maths
School
0%
Town average
10%
Local authority average
8%
England average
8%
Average score in reading
School
Town average
105.9
Local authority average
104.5
England average
105.1
Average score in maths
School
Town average
104.9
Local authority average
103.7
England average
104.3

Education - Secondary

Progress 8 score

Progress 8 score (average over pupils)
School
Town average
0.14
Local authority average
-0.26
England average
-0.03
Entering EBacc
School
Town average
37%
Local authority average
29%
England average
35%
Grade 5+ in English & maths GCSEs
School
Town average
44%
Local authority average
31%
England average
41%
Attainment 8 score
School
Town average
47.2
Local authority average
40.2
England average
44.6
EBacc average point score
School
Town average
4.2
Local authority average
3.5
England average
3.9
Staying in education or employment
School
86%

Nearby Schools

Nursery

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Blagrave Nursery School
Recreation Road , Tilehurst RG30 4UA
3out of 4 1,053 yd Local authority nursery school Yes Mixed More About School
Norcot Early Years Centre
82 Lyndhurst Road , Tilehurst RG30 6UB
4out of 4 1,834 yd Local authority nursery school Yes Mixed More About School

Primary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Churchend Primary School
Usk Road , Tilehurst RG30 4HP
- not rated 161 yd Community school Yes Mixed More About School
Churchend Primary Academy
Usk Road , Tilehurst RG30 4HP
3out of 4 161 yd Academy converter Yes Mixed More About School
St Michael's Primary School
Dee Road , Tilehurst RG30 4AS
3out of 4 502 yd Community school No Mixed More About School
Moorlands Primary School
Church End Lane , Tilehurst RG30 4UN
3out of 4 503 yd Community school Yes Mixed More About School
English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School
Dee Road , Tilehurst RG30 4BE
3out of 4 703 yd Voluntary aided school Yes Mixed More About School

Secondary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Meadway School
The Meadway , Tilehurst RG30 4NN
- not rated 78 yd Community school Not Applicable Mixed More About School
King's Academy Prospect
Cockney Hill , Tilehurst RG30 4EX
3out of 4 911 yd Academy converter Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Prospect School
Cockney Hill , Tilehurst RG30 4EX
- not rated 911 yd Foundation school Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School
Fawley Road , Southcote RG30 3EP
3out of 4 2,032 yd Voluntary aided school No Mixed More About School
The WREN School
61-63 Bath Road , RG30 2BB
2out of 4 2,232 yd Free schools No Mixed More About School

Not applicable

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
The Avenue Special School
The Avenue Centre, Conwy Close , Tilehurst RG30 4BZ
3out of 4 0 yd Academy special converter Yes Mixed More About School
Thames Valley School
2 Conwy Close , Tilehurst RG30 4BZ
3out of 4 5 yd Free schools special No Mixed More About School
The Holy Brook School
145 Ashampstead Road , Southcote RG30 3LJ
3out of 4 1,492 yd Community special school No Mixed More About School
TLG Reading
Empress Road , Calcot RG31 4XR
- not rated 1,598 yd Other independent school No Mixed More About School
The Highlands School
Wardle Avenue , Tilehurst RG31 6JR
- not rated 1,831 yd Other independent school Yes Mixed More About School

School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.