How many pupils does Varndean School have?

Varndean School has 1,497 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.

What is Varndean School's Ofsted rating?

Varndean School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection (5 October 2022).

How does Varndean School perform at GCSE?

Pupils at Varndean School achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 54.7 in 2025/26.

Where is Varndean School?

Varndean School is located at Balfour Road, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, BN1 6NP.

Varndean School

Balfour Road, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, BN1 6NP

Good

Inspected 5 October 2022

Good

Ofsted

54.7

Attainment 8

Secondary

Phase

11–16

Ages

1,497

Pupils

Mixed

Gender

Community school

Type

About Varndean School

Varndean School is a community school in Brighton, Brighton and Hove, England, for pupils aged 11–16. It has 1,497 pupils on roll. Its most recent Ofsted inspection (5 October 2022) rated it Good. At GCSE, pupils achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 54.7 (2025/26). 23% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 8.9% have English as an additional language.

School Information

Local Authority: Brighton and Hove →
School Type: Community school
Phase: Secondary
Age Range: Ages 11–16
Gender: Mixed
Pupils / Capacity: 1,497 / 1,500 (100%)
Sixth Form: Does not have a sixth form
Nursery: No Nursery Classes
Religious Character: Does not apply
Admissions Policy: Non-selective
Last Ofsted Inspection: 5 October 2022

Pupil profile

2025/26

Who attends this school — useful context if you’re considering teaching here.

23%

Free school meals

8.9%

EAL

6.2%

SEN support

24.8%

EHC plan

Source: DfE School Census, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Results & performance

2025/26

Official Department for Education results, pupil destinations and attendance.

GCSE results (Key Stage 4)

54.7

Attainment 8

293 pupils

67.9%

Grade 5+ English & Maths

81.6%

Grade 4+ English & Maths

Progress 8 isn’t published for this year group: their Key Stage 2 baseline (2021 SATs) was cancelled during the pandemic, so a progress measure can’t be calculated. GCSE figures are provisional and may be revised.

Where pupils go next

96%

Sustained destination

94%

Stayed in education

Apprenticeship

Attendance

9.2%

Overall absence

21.9%

Persistent absence

Source: Department for Education performance tables, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Some independent schools’ qualifications (e.g. IGCSEs) are not all reflected in these figures.

Workforce

2024/25

Staffing at this school, with the trend over recent years — useful if you’re considering working here.

90.59

Teachers (FTE)

↑ +5.6 vs 2023/24

16.9

Pupils per teacher

↓ -0.8 vs 2023/24

19.47

Teaching assistants (FTE)

↑ +5.2 vs 2023/24

£49,893

Avg teacher salary

Mean · 10% on leadership pay

↑ +£4,929 vs 2023/24

Teacher vacancies

0% rate

→ 0 vs 2023/24

9.6

Leadership (FTE)

↓ -1.2 vs 2023/24

Data for the 2024/25 academic year (trend lines show 3 years). Source: DfE School Workforce Census, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. State-funded schools only.

School finances

2024-25

How this school is funded and where the money goes — per pupil.

£8,273

Spend per pupil

£8,173

Income per pupil

50%

Spent on teaching staff

Source: DfE school finance returns (CFR for council-maintained schools, AAR for academies), 2024-25, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Per-pupil figures are calculated from total income/expenditure.

Contact Details

Address: Balfour Road, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, BN1 6NP
Phone: 01273561281
Headteacher: Shelley Baker
Website: http://www.varndean.co.uk

Teaching Jobs

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Frequently asked questions

What type of school is Varndean School?: Varndean School is a community school in Brighton, Brighton and Hove, England, for pupils aged 11–16.
How many pupils does Varndean School have?: Varndean School has 1,497 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.
What is Varndean School's Ofsted rating?: Varndean School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection (5 October 2022).
How does Varndean School perform at GCSE?: Pupils at Varndean School achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 54.7 in 2025/26.
Where is Varndean School?: Varndean School is located at Balfour Road, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, BN1 6NP.

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