Classpot

Varndean College

Brighton and Hove, BN1 6WQSecondaryAges 16–99MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2022
Progress 8
+0.42
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.4×
Oversubscribed
411 1st-choice / 285 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#623 of 3,141 nationally

About Varndean College

Nearly 7 in 10 parents who applied to Varndean College for 2025/26 entry put it as their first choice, and the school received 977 applications for 285 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.43. That level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, and it’s not hard to see why: the college is rated Good by Ofsted overall, with Outstanding marks for both personal development and behaviour and attitudes. Leadership and management also scored Outstanding. The headteacher, Donna-Marie Janson, leads a sixth-form college that serves students aged 16 to 99, though the main cohort is post-16. Around 20.4% of students are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average, and the school’s capacity of 1,500 means it’s a large institution. The college is non-denominational and mixed, and it sits in the Brighton and Hove local authority area.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range16 to 99 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSurrenden Road, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, BN1 6WQ
HeadteacherDonna-Marie Janson
Local AuthorityBrighton and Hove
Free School Meals (FSM)20.4%
School Capacity1,500

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

5 Oct 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 15 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
GymnasiumSports HallICT SuiteAstro TurfArt StudiosLibraryMusic RoomsTheatrePlaying FieldsSixth Form CentreDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

Cross CountryRowingCricketRugbyRoundersTennisDanceBadmintonHockey

Clubs & Activities

GardeningDramaArt ClubBook ClubFilm ClubChoirOrchestraYoung EnterpriseCodingNewspaper

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-Sensory

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Varndean College

Varndean College has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.