UKSchoolSearch
OpenSecondaryURN 114579

Varndean School

Community school · Brighton · BN1 6NP

Compare school

Phase

Secondary

Age range

Ages 11–16

Pupils

1,487

Local authority

Brighton and Hove

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision snapshot

Based on official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • NurseryNo Nursery Classes
  • Sixth formDoes not have a sixth form
  • BoardingNo boarders
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

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

Overview

School type
Community school
Phase
Secondary
Age range
11–16
Gender
Mixed
Status
Open
URN
114579

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

Size & intake

Pupil numbers and free school meals come from the GIAS school census fields. Capacity fill is calculated when both pupils and capacity are published. Census date: 15 Jan 2026.

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 characteristics

Nursery provision
No Nursery Classes
Sixth form
Does not have a sixth form
Boarding
No boarders
Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Community school

Contact

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

Official links

Ofsted

Latest inspection outcomes from Ofsted monthly management information. Report-card grades use the current framework where published; older OEIF grades are shown when that is the latest graded inspection.

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

Read the Ofsted report

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results from DfE school and college performance tables. Figures are not rankings — suppressed or unavailable values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Attainment 8
53.5
Progress 8
0.4
English & maths grade 5+
66%
English & maths grade 4+
80%
EBacc entry
66%
EBacc APS
5.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables