Varndean School
About the school
Varndean School is an open secondary school in Brighton and Hove.
Latest Ofsted inspection
Published Ofsted information, current as at 31 July 2026. Inspection outcomes are not performance rankings.
- Latest inspection
- 5 October 2022
- Published
- 15 November 2022
- Inspection type
- S5 Inspection
- Latest outcome
- Good
Previous inspection framework
These judgements are retained by Ofsted from an earlier inspection framework.
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Yes
Early years
Not applicable
Sixth form
Not applicable
Results and school context
GCSE and key stage 4
Attainment 8
- School
- 48.8
- Brighton and Hove
- 46.2
- England
- 46.1
Progress 8
The DfE has not published this measure for 2024/25.
- School
- N/A
- Brighton and Hove
- N/A
- England
- N/A
English and maths grade 5+
- School
- 55.90%
- Brighton and Hove
- 47.90%
- England
- 45.40%
English and maths grade 4+
- School
- 72.90%
- Brighton and Hove
- 66.90%
- England
- 64.80%
EBacc entry
- School
- 67.60%
- Brighton and Hove
- 52.50%
- England
- 40.50%
EBacc average point score
- School
- 4.54
- Brighton and Hove
- 4.24
- England
- 4.09
Pupil context and attendance
DfE context data for 2024/25. These characteristics provide context and are not quality ratings.
Pupils on roll
1497
Girls
51.90%
Boys
48.10%
SEN support
24.78%
Education, health and care plan
6.15%
English as an additional language
9.40%
Eligible for free school meals in the past six years
20.51%
Overall absence
9.16
Persistent absence
21.86
Pupil destinations
DfE destination measures from the 2024/25 release. These outcomes are published after a time lag.
After Key Stage 4
Cohort
293
Sustained education or employment
96%
Education
94%
Apprenticeship
1%
Employment
1%
Not sustained
3%