Varndean School
URN: 114579 • Brighton BN1 6NP
Overview
- Name
- Varndean School
- URN
- 114579
- Type
- Community school
- Phase
- Secondary
- Status
- Open
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious
- Does not apply
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Trust
- Private
- No
- Ofsted rating
- Good
- Ranking score
- 64.7 / 100
Leadership & Contact
- Headteacher
- Shelley Baker (since 2025) , Headteacher
- Telephone
- 01273561281
- Website
- Visit
- Address
- Balfour Road, Brighton BN1 6NP
Summary
Varndean School, located in Brighton, is a mixed community secondary school with a current enrolment of 1,497 students, just shy of its capacity of 1,500. The school is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where individuality is celebrated, and students are encouraged to achieve their potential through a strong community approach to wellbeing. Varndean is structured into five smaller schools, each named after influential figures, which allows for a more personal learning experience akin to that of a primary school.
The curriculum at Varndean School is designed to provide a wide range of learning experiences, promoting both academic success and personal development. The school places a strong emphasis on attendance, highlighting its critical role in student achievement and wellbeing. Parents are encouraged to support their children in maintaining a minimum attendance of 95% to ensure they benefit fully from their education.
Varndean School also prioritises community engagement and offers various programmes and events that foster collaboration and support among students, families, and the wider community. This commitment to inclusivity and personal growth is central to the school's ethos. For more information, parents can visit the school's website at http://www.varndean.co.uk.
The curriculum at Varndean School is designed to provide a wide range of learning experiences, promoting both academic success and personal development. The school places a strong emphasis on attendance, highlighting its critical role in student achievement and wellbeing. Parents are encouraged to support their children in maintaining a minimum attendance of 95% to ensure they benefit fully from their education.
Varndean School also prioritises community engagement and offers various programmes and events that foster collaboration and support among students, families, and the wider community. This commitment to inclusivity and personal growth is central to the school's ethos. For more information, parents can visit the school's website at http://www.varndean.co.uk.
Useful links
- Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) (sen)
- 15 Oct SEND Workshop: Dyslexia (Year 7) (sen)
- Open Events (calendar)
- News (calendar)
- Calendar (calendar)
- 27 Oct Half term (calendar)
- Gallery (calendar)
- Key Dates (calendar)
- Letters Home (calendar)
Nearby alternatives
- Dorothy Stringer School (65.1)
- Patcham High School (62.4)
- Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (57.4)
- East Brighton College of Media Arts (45.2)
- Falmer High School (45.2)
Key details
- LA
- Brighton and Hove
- Age range
- 11 - 16
- Boarders
- No boarders
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Trust
- Capacity
- 1500
- Pupils
- 1497
- Boys
- 720
- Girls
- 777
- FSM %
- 20.40
- Open date
- Close date
- Last Ofsted
- 2022-10-06
- Next inspection
- Data snapshot
- 2025-07-14
- County
- East Sussex
Trends
| Date | Pupils | Boys | Girls | Capacity | FSM% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-14 | 1497 | 720 | 777 | 1500 | 20.40 |
| 2024-09-11 | 1490 | 703 | 787 | 1301 | 20.60 |
| 2023-09-11 | 1466 | 705 | 761 | 1301 | 17.30 |
| 2022-09-11 | 1466 | 705 | 761 | 1301 | 17.30 |
| 2021-09-11 | 1419 | 681 | 738 | 1301 | 16.50 |
| 2020-09-11 | 1390 | 673 | 717 | 1301 | 14.50 |
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