Schools by area › Brighton and Hove › Varndean School
Varndean School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Community school
Balfour Road, Brighton BN1 6NP · varndean.co.uk · 01273 561281
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Oct 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 48.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Brighton and Hove 46.2, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,487
- 99% of 1,500 places
- Local authority
- Brighton and Hove
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 23%
- First language not English
- 8.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 350 families put the school first and 279 places were offered; 73% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 279 | 350 | 1.3▲ | 73% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 285 | 411 | 1.4▲ | 65% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 278 | 435 | 1.6▲ | 63% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 291 | 401 | 1.4▲ | 71% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 303 | 436 | 1.4▲ | 68% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 48.8, and 55.9% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Brighton and Hove it was 46.2, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲48.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲55.9% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲72.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲67.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.54 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 4.1 | +1.1 |
| Sixth form college | 71 | −3.2 |
| Further education | 14.3 | −0.5 |
| Other education | 1 | +0.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 0.3 | −0.1 |
| Employment | 1 | −0.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.5 | +0.2 |
| Activity not captured | 2.7 | +1.9 |
Ofsted
Varndean School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 5 October 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 5 Oct 2022
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jul 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jul 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Oct 2009Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
95% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (463 replies, to 4 September 2023).
- Recommend
- 95%
- Replies
- 463
- 32% · 4 Sept 2023
based on the 75% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 97 parents (21%) with SEND