State School
#3 in Best Secondary Schools in Brighton and Hove
Varndean School - Ofsted Report, Parent Reviews (2025)
Varndean School
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Varndean School
- Secondary
- Brighton and Hove BN1 6NP
1 schools in compare list
Ofsted report
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| The quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Previous inspection grade | Good |
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This insight was generated by AI, based on latest Ofsted report.
Academic Progress: Pupils achieve extremely well in most subjects.
Behaviour and Attitudes: Behaviour is excellent; pupils show unwavering respect for others.
Qualifications and Training: Staff training is exceptionally strong and well focused.
Current Educational Practices: Leaders streamline demands to foster excellent relationships.
Strengths and Challenges: Teachers adapt lessons well, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.
Opportunities for Involvement: Parents are overwhelmingly supportive and grateful.
Communication: Parents particularly value the work of the small schools.
Parent Satisfaction: Parents believe the school helps children 'find their passions'.
Handling Conflicts and Concerns: Inspirational leaders rapidly transform and improve the school.
Actions for Quality Improvement: Leaders drive through improvements with the greatest impact.
Managing Bullying and Safety: Staff diligently carry out safeguarding responsibilities.
Promoting Welfare and Safety: Exceptional pastoral care ensures pupils feel known and cared for.
Extracurricular Offerings: A plethora of clubs and activities are well-attended.
Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars: Varied activities ensure broad participation.
Career Counselling Services: Excellent careers advice that meets or exceeds guidance.
Managing and Supporting SEND: Pupils with SEND are identified early for adequate support.
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About Us
Varndean School is a top rated, Secondary, Co-Ed school located in East Sussex, South East.
It has 1490 students from age 11-16 yr with a student-teacher ratio of 17 : 1.
At this school, 68% of pupils achieved grade 5 or more at GCSE.
This school rated Good by recent Ofsted inspection.
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Varndean School
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| Phase of Education | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Local Authority Maintained Schools | Local Authority Maintained Schools | Local Authority Maintained Schools |
| 夜来香研究所 grade |
B+
|
B
|
B
|
| Ofset report | Good | Good | Good |
| Age range | 11-16 | 11-18 | 11-16 |
| Gender | Co-Ed | Co-Ed | Co-Ed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student teacher ratio | 17.5 | - | 18.1 |
| Proficient Math | - | - | - |
| Proficient Read | - | - | - |
| Grade 5 or above GCSE | 68% | 63% | 51% |
| Grade 5 or above A Level | - | 11.60% | - |
| Day Fees | - | - | - |
Secondary Exam Result
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.36 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 54.5 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 68% | 29.43% | 30.03% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 82% | 40.43% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 59% | 26.35% | 25.06% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 29% | 12.52% | 10.91% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 43% | 17.48% | 15.51% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.98 | 2.65 | 2.83 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 95% | 85% | 90.53% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 255 | 159 | 144 |
| Pupils staying in education | 94% | 80.43% | 84.16% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 14% | 26.07% | 32.73% |
| School sixth forms | 2% | 10.14% | 29.8% |
| Sixth form colleges | 77% | 38.43% | 10.22% |
| Other education destinations | 2% | 5.93% | 11.43% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 0% | 1.64% | 2.8% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 1% | 2.93% | 3.59% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.41 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 57.3 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 71% | 33.95% | 32.85% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 85% | 43.14% | 45.33% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 64% | 30.45% | 24.94% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 36% | 18.68% | 13.02% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 46% | 23.14% | 17.19% |
| EBacc average points score | 5.26 | 2.92 | 2.97 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 95% | 90.79% | 90.4% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 264 | 163 | 141 |
| Pupils staying in education | 94% | 88.79% | 86.29% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 17% | 29% | 34.03% |
| School sixth forms | SP | 12.07% | 30.82% |
| Sixth form colleges | 77% | 37.14% | 10.38% |
| Other education destinations | SP | 10.43% | 11.08% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 0% | 1% | 1.99% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 1% | 1% | 2.13% |
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.36 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 54.6 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 62% 3 | 31.71% | 29.3% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 81% 6 | 45.38% | 43.41% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 57% | 32% | 25.8% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 24% 3 | 14.48% | 11.47% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 35% 7 | 19.67% | 16.49% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.91 | 2.91 | 2.88 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 94% | 90.77% | 90.2% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 252 | 167 | 135 |
| Pupils staying in education | 91% | 86.08% | 84.08% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 23% | 22.85% | 33.25% |
| School sixth forms | 3% | 13.08% | 31.27% |
| Sixth form colleges | 64% | 32.15% | 8.45% |
| Other education destinations | SP | 18% | 11.14% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 2% | 2.46% | 3.4% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 1% | 2.08% | 2.75% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.33 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 53 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 59% 4 | 32.35% | 29.22% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 75% 8 | 44.6% | 42.62% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 40% | 24.2% | 24.73% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 21% 1 | 13.4% | 11.33% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 28% 5 | 17.6% | 16.01% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.65 | 2.91 | 2.84 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 94% | 69.54% | 84.87% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 266 | 161 | 140 |
| Pupils staying in education | 89% | 64.62% | 73.88% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 21% | 20.23% | 28.31% |
| School sixth forms | - | 11.31% | 31.6% |
| Sixth form colleges | 65% | 30.23% | 9.08% |
| Other education destinations | - | 0.31% | 5.87% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 3% | 1.92% | 2.96% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 2% | 1.62% | 2.05% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | -0.17 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 47.2 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 55% | 31.05% | 29.55% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 67% | 42.16% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 31% | 24.05% | 25.25% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 22% | 16.95% | 14.71% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 23% | 18.16% | 16.26% |
| EBacc average points score | - | - | - |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 96% | 65.15% | 85.29% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 267 | 168 | 145 |
| Pupils staying in education | 94% | 62.85% | 58.19% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 28% | 18% | 30.58% |
| School sixth forms | - | 14.38% | 32.22% |
| Sixth form colleges | 64% | 29.85% | 8.95% |
| Other education destinations | - | 0.46% | 5.7% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 3% | 3.15% | 4.78% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 2% | 2.15% | 2.45% |
Best Schools 2025
Varndean School Rankings
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Admission
Holidays & terms
Holidays 2024/25
| Holidays | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn Half Term Holidays | 28th Oct 2024 - 1st Nov 2024 |
| Winter Holidays | 23rd Dec 2024 - 3rd Jan 2025 |
| Spring Half Term Holidays | 17th Feb 2025 - 21st Feb 2025 |
| Spring Holidays | 7th Apr 2025 - 21st Apr 2025 |
| Summer Half Term Holidays | 26th May 2025 - 30th May 2025 |
| Summer Holidays | 23rd Jul 2025 - 29th Aug 2025 |
Terms Dates 2024/25
| Terms | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | 2nd Sep 2024 - 27th Oct 2024 |
| Autumn Term-2 | 2nd Nov 2024 - 22nd Dec 2024 |
| Spring Term | 4th Jan 2025 - 16th Feb 2025 |
| Spring Term-2 | 22nd Feb 2025 - 6th Apr 2025 |
| Summer Term | 22nd Apr 2025 - 25th May 2025 |
| Summer Term-2 | 31st May 2025 - 22nd Jul 2025 |
Students Teachers
17 : 1
Student teacher ratio at Varndean School
Local authority ratio 19 : 1