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Varndean School

State school · Brighton, BN1 6NP
  • Secondary
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 11-16
  • 1,497 pupils

Schools on our list

We are currently considering this school for inclusion in The Guide. Parent recommendations are important to us so please get in touch if you have any thoughts on whether we should review this school.

Watch Behind-the-scenes of a school review

Overview & data

Pupil numbers
1,497 ·
Local authority
Brighton and Hove City Council
Area guides

Headteacher

Head

Mrs Shelley Baker

Entrance

Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)

Downs Junior School 17 %
Balfour Primary School 17 %
Other 12 %
Where the number of students is less than 10, we cannot say where they've come from or where they are going to due to data protection rules.
St Luke's Primary School 10 %
Stanford Junior School 8 %
Hertford Junior School 8 %
Elm Grove Primary School 7 %
Queen's Park Primary School 6 %
Carlton Hill Primary School 4 %
Fairlight Primary School 4 %
St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School 2 %
Unknown 2 %
Where the school a student attended before or after this school is not known. These might be students who have come from or going to home schooling, independent schools, moving abroad etc.
St Martin's CofE Primary School 1 %
Westdene Primary School 1 %
Data highlight

Exit

We do not have destination information for pupils leaving this school. To find out where pupils go on to, you can contact the school.

Latest results

GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)

School
65.5%
LA avg.
52.7%
Eng. avg.
45.9%
Data highlight

What is this?

This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

Teaching & learning

Qualifications taken in 2024
  • BTEC
  • GCSE
91
Number of teachers
17:1
Pupil to teacher ratio

Learning support & SEN

5 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
22.6 %
Students with SEN support

Pupils

1,497
Number of pupils

Inspection reports

Ofsted reports

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.

Full inspection: Good

You can read full reports on the Ofsted website

Personal development Outstanding
Quality of education Good
Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding
Leadership and management Outstanding

Full inspection: Good

Leadership and management Good

This school has not provided any information yet

If you are from this school, please, get in touch to feature images and useful information for parents.

Contact the school

Address

Balfour Road
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 6NP
Get directions

Telephone: 01273 561281

Email: admin@varndean.co.uk

Website: http://www.varndean.co.uk

Local authority: Brighton and Hove City Council

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School data & information Varndean School Balfour Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6NP
1,497 Pupil numbers
20.4 % % of pupils eligible for free school meals
10 % Pupils whose first language is not English
17:1 Pupil to teacher ratio
91 Number of teachers
19 Number of teaching assistants

% achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)

School
65.5%
LA avg.
52.7%
Eng. avg.
45.9%

What is this?

This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

Average overall GCSE score (attainment 8) (2024)

School
53.50
LA avg.
48.00
Eng. avg.
45.90

What is this?

Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional approved qualifications.

Improvement rates in core subjects (progress 8) (2024)

0.42 Score Above average
≈ 16% of schools in England

What is a progress score?

This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4, compared to pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2. This is based on results in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional approved qualifications.

Subjects entered at GCSE level (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Statistics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 30 8
Spanish GCSE (9-1) Full Course 100 6
Sociology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 84 5
Physics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 118 7
Music GCSE (9-1) Full Course 18 7
Media/Film/Tv Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 24 6
Mathematics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 288 6
History GCSE (9-1) Full Course 102 5
German GCSE (9-1) Full Course 31 6
Geography GCSE (9-1) Full Course 164 6
French GCSE (9-1) Full Course 75 5
Film Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 26 6
English Literature GCSE (9-1) Full Course 286 6
English Language GCSE (9-1) Full Course 287 6
Drama & Theatre Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 64 6
Design & Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 34 6
Dance GCSE (9-1) Full Course 37 6
D&T Food Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 28 5
Computer Studies/Computing GCSE (9-1) Full Course 31 6
Chemistry GCSE (9-1) Full Course 118 7
Biology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 119 7
Art & Design GCSE (9-1) Full Course 87 6

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)

Year 11 exit (average 2020-2022)

SEN overview

Varndean School is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

5 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 2.7%
22.6 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 12.9%

SEN conditons supported

No information available from the school. Find out more.

Ofsted reports

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.

Full inspection: Good

You can read full reports on the Ofsted website

Personal development Outstanding
Quality of education Good
Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding
Leadership and management Outstanding

Full inspection: Good

Leadership and management Good
Our data explained
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