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The Thomas Aveling School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

The Thomas Aveling School is an academy converter secondary school in Rochester, Medway , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1212 pupils, and a capacity of 1204 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-18

Age range

1,212

Pupils

1,204

Capacity

101%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2016

The Thomas Aveling School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The Thomas Aveling School?

The catchment area for The Thomas Aveling School is the geographic zone Medway uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Medway publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, The Thomas Aveling School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Medway. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Currently oversubscribed: 1212 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1204 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Medway publishes the 2027 The Thomas Aveling School numbers →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Medway before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Medway catchment area documents →

The Thomas Aveling School: at or above its 1204 place limit

The Thomas Aveling School has a published admission number of 1204 places. 1212 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 101%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1204 places. Medway allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 30.7% of pupils at The Thomas Aveling School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Medway.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Medway publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Medway school admissions →

The Thomas Aveling School: School Information

Full address
Arethusa Road, Rochester, ME1 2UW
Local authority
Medway
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
30.7% of pupils
DfE URN
137376

Other Secondary Schools in Rochester

If The Thomas Aveling School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Rochester are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to The Thomas Aveling School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Thomas Aveling School

What is the catchment area for The Thomas Aveling School?

The catchment area for The Thomas Aveling School is the geographic zone Medway uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Medway publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is The Thomas Aveling School oversubscribed?

Yes, The Thomas Aveling School currently has 1212 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1204 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for The Thomas Aveling School?

Admission to The Thomas Aveling School is managed by Medway. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does The Thomas Aveling School cover?

The Thomas Aveling School is a secondary school in Rochester, Medway, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for The Thomas Aveling School?

The Thomas Aveling School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2016. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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