**Varndean School Review 2026: A "Small School" Experience on a Grand Scale**

Perched high on the Surrenden campus with panoramic views sweeping down to the sea, Varndean School combines the architectural grandeur of the 1920s with a thoroughly modern approach to student wellbeing. Sharing its hilltop site with Varndean College and Dorothy Stringer, it sits at the heart of Brighton's educational quarter. This is a state school that refuses to treat its 1,500 students as a monolith; instead, it breaks the large cohort down into five distinct "smaller schools", creating a sense of belonging often lost in large comprehensive settings.

First impressions are of space and light. The main building, with its quadrangles and clock tower, retains a grammar school dignity, while newer additions house specialist facilities. The atmosphere is energetic but purposeful. Students move between lessons with the confidence of those who feel ownership of their environment.

Ms Shelley Baker, appointed Headteacher in 2021, leads with a philosophy centred on "Challenge and Pride". The most distinctive feature of the school's identity is its pastoral structure. Students belong to one of five schools: Angelou, Ellis, Russell, Turing, or the newest addition, Lennox. This is not merely a house system for sports day; it is the organising principle of school life. Each school has its own Head, deputy, and pastoral team, ensuring that despite the large roll, no student slips through the cracks.

The school is famously known for its resident pygmy goats . Far from a gimmick, the goats are integral to the school's pastoral strategy, offering students a tangible way to connect, care, and decompress.

Academically, Varndean performs significantly above the national average. In 2024, the school achieved a Progress 8 score of +0.43, indicating that students make nearly half a grade more progress across all subjects than their peers with similar starting points nationally.

Attainment is equally robust. The Attainment 8 score of 53.5 exceeds the England average of 45.9. The school ranks 809th in England for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the top 18% of schools nationally (national strong band). Locally, it ranks 5th among secondary providers in Brighton, confirming its status as one of the city's high-performing options.

The curriculum is broad and ambitious, resisting the narrowing seen elsewhere. The Artsmark Platinum award reflects a commitment to developing skills beyond the exam hall. Teaching is structured but creative, leveraging the city's cultural links.

Students follow a three-year Key Stage 3 before selecting options. The EBacc entry rate of 37.5% is close to the national average, but the school maintains a strong commitment to the arts, offering Drama, Music, and Art as popular GCSE options alongside the core academic suite.

Where Students Go Next

As an 11-16 school, Varndean says goodbye to students after GCSEs. The transition is well-managed, with the vast majority progressing to Level 3 courses. The natural pathway for many is next door to Varndean College or down the road to BHASVIC (Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College), both outstanding providers. The proximity to Varndean College allows for a sense of familiarity with the next stage, and advice on post-16 options begins early.

Admission is coordinated by Brighton & Hove City Council. Varndean is consistently oversubscribed and highly popular. In the most recent intake, the school received 977 applications for 285 places, resulting in a ratio of 3.4 applications per place.

The school operates within the council's catchment zone system. Varndean shares a dual catchment area with Dorothy Stringer. When oversubscribed from within the catchment, places are allocated by random allocation (lottery), not distance. This makes the process distinct from many other parts of the country; living next door does not guarantee a place if the lottery goes against you.

The "five schools" model is the engine of pastoral care here. It allows staff to know students intimately. Form tutors stay with their groups, building relationships over five years.

Support is layered. Beyond the school teams, there is a dedicated pastoral base where students can access counsellors and mentors. The presence of the school goats provides a unique therapeutic outlet, particularly for students experiencing anxiety. The school has been recognised for its work in mental health, embedding it into the curriculum rather than treating it as an add-on.

The extracurricular offer is extensive. The D@rt (Dance, Art, Research, and Technology) centre serves as a hub for creative activities. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is popular, with high participation rates for Bronze and Silver.

Clubs range from the traditional, such as football, netball, and rugby, to the specific, such as the Feminist Society, Eco Club, and Goat Club. The drama department is active, staging productions that utilise the school's impressive main hall.

The school day typically runs from 8:40am to 3:00pm. Being on a hill, the site is exposed to the elements, and the sprawling campus means students get plenty of exercise moving between lessons. The site is served well by local buses, though traffic on Surrenden Road can be heavy at peak times.

The Lottery System: Living in the catchment area is necessary but not sufficient. The random allocation system means there is always an element of uncertainty for local families, regardless of proximity.

Site Topography: The campus is large, hilly, and spread out. Students need to be physically mobile and organised to navigate the site between lessons.

No Sixth Form: Unlike 11-18 schools, students must move institutions at 16. While local provision is excellent, families looking for a seamless seven-year run in one building should keep this in mind.

Varndean offers a compelling mix of academic rigour and pastoral warmth. The unique "Small Schools" structure successfully mitigates the scale of the institution, ensuring students feel known. With results in the top 18% of the country and a progress score that proves they add value, it is a standout choice. Best suited to students who will thrive in a busy, energetic environment and appreciate a school that values kindness as much as grades. The main challenge is the lottery of admissions.