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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 114579

Varndean School

Community school · Brighton · BN1 6NP

Ages 11–16 · 1,487 pupils · Brighton and Hove

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

53.5

Overall absence

10.0%

Admissions demand

1.56 · Competitive

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2022-10-05

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.42
−20+2
Attainment 853.5
English & maths grade 5+66%
English & maths grade 4+80%
EBacc entry66%

EBacc APS: 5.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence10.0%
Persistent absence (10%+)24.7%
Unauthorised2.2%
Authorised absence
7.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
5.2%
Enrolments in measure
1,521

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.56 · Competitive

1st preferences

435

Places offered

278

1st-preference offers

272

Total preferences (any rank)
1,031
Preferred offers (top 3)
278
Applications from outside LA
6
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill99%

1,487 pupils · 1,500 places

Pupils on roll
1,487
Boys / girls
748 / 739
School capacity
1,500
Capacity fill
1,487 / 1,500 (99%)
Free school meals
23%
FSM pupils
342
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community school

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Community school
Headteacher
Mrs Shelley Baker

Location

Address
Balfour Road
Postcode
BN1 6NP
Town
Brighton
County
East Sussex
Local authority
Brighton and Hove
District
Brighton and Hove
Constituency
Brighton Pavilion
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed community school (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Brighton, Brighton and Hove, 1,487 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: special school, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 23%.

Open schools in Brighton
63
Secondary schools in Brighton
6
Academies among open schools in Brighton
13% (8)
Open schools in BN1
27
Secondary in BN1
4
Open schools in Brighton and Hove LA
83
Secondary in Brighton and Hove LA
10

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BrightonNear BN1

  • Dorothy Stringer School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Brighton · BN1 6PZ · Brighton and Hove

    Ages 11–16

    • Att849.8
    • P80.1
    • EM5+58%
    • Absence10.8%

    0.3 miles away

  • Patcham High School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Brighton · BN1 8PB · Brighton and Hove

    Ages 11–16

    • Att844.0
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+46%
    • Absence8.9%

    0.9 miles away

  • Cardinal Newman Catholic School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Hove · BN3 6ND · Brighton and Hove

    Ages 11–18

    • Att854.4
    • P80.6
    • EM5+61%
    • Absence8.9%

    1.3 miles away

  • Brighton Aldridge Community Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Brighton · BN1 9PW · Brighton and Hove

    Ages 11–19

    • Att837.3
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+30%
    • Absence14.2%

    1.9 miles away

  • Blatchington Mill School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Hove · BN3 7BW · Brighton and Hove

    Ages 11–16

    • Att852.4
    • P80.3
    • EM5+61%
    • Absence10.1%

    2.0 miles away

  • Hove Park School and Sixth Form Centre

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Community school · Secondary

    Hove · BN3 7BN · Brighton and Hove

    Ages 11–18

    • Att843.3
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+41%
    • Absence12.3%

    2.0 miles away

  • King's School

    Ofsted: Strong standard

    Free schools · Secondary

    Hove · BN3 8BN · Brighton and Hove

    Ages 11–19

    • Att860.0
    • P80.8
    • EM5+78%
    • Absence7.3%

    2.4 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Shelley Baker
Telephone
01273561281
Website
http://www.varndean.co.uk

Official links