Varndean School

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Varndean School
Varndean School, Stringer Way, Brighton (August 2016, seen from Highcroft Villas, Prestonville) (2).JPG
Location
Varndean School
Balfour Road

Brighton and Hove
,
East Sussex
,
Brighton

England
Coordinates 50°51′01″N0°08′14″W / 50.85028°N 0.13714°W / 50.85028; -0.13714
Information
Type Community school
MottoChallenge and Pride
Established1884
Local authority Brighton and Hove
Department for Education URN 114579 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Chair of governing bodyIan Rodgers
HeadteacherShelley Baker
Staff170
Gender Coeducational
Age11to 16
Enrolment1498
HousesAngelou, Russell, Turing, Ellis, Lennox
Website http://www.varndean.co.uk/

Varndean School is a secondary school serving a large area of Brighton and Hove, England.

Contents

In 2013, 2017 and 2022, Ofsted inspectors described Varndean as a 'Good' school. [1] Varndean shares the Surrenden Campus with Balfour Primary School, [2] Dorothy Stringer School, Varndean College [3] and Downs View Link college.

History

Varndean was founded in 1884 in central Brighton as York Place Higher Grade School. [4] The name changed to Brighton Municipal Secondary School for Girls in 1905. [5] During World War I, the York Place buildings were taken over for use as an Indian Military Hospital and were not returned until 1919. [6]

In 1926, the school moved to a new site on the outskirts of Brighton. It was renamed Varndean School for Girls, after the nearby farm. The new building was opened by the Duchess of Atholl. [7]

During World War II half the school evacuated to the Holme Valley in West Yorkshire. [8] [9]

The School was a grammar school for girls until the comprehensive movement and the take-over of Brighton by East Sussex County Council saw the educational system reorganised. Between 1975 and 1979, Varndean Grammar School for Girls became Varndean High School. [10]

The original building design from 1926 has been both modified and expanded since to accommodate increased pupil numbers. In the original building, several rooms have been converted into IT suites and extensions made to house new Mathematics rooms, a Music suite and extra PE facilities, such as a Fitness Suite and a Dance Studio. A sports hall, AstroTurf and 3G pitches have also been added. [11]

In 2012, a house system was introduced to Varndean, with four houses being instated: Angelou, Turing, Russell and Ellis. A fifth house, Lennox, was introduced in 2020. [12]

Several Pygmy goats were introduced in September 2016 and were cared for by students. The goats were initially being rehomed and intended to control grass, but their therapeutic effects were recognised. [13] [14] In April 2021, the goats were moved to Ferring Country Centre during construction works at the school, but are now there permanently. [15] In 2022, several Continental Giant Rabbits were introduced as the school's new therapy animals, followed by a herd of guinea pigs in the autumn. [16]

Headteachers

Below is a list of all the headteachers of the school. [5]

Reception

For three consecutive visits in 2013, 2017 and 2022, Ofsted inspectors described Varndean as a 'Good' school. [17]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "Ofsted Information - Varndean School". www.varndean.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  2. ↑ Balfour Primary School Website
  3. ↑ Varndean College website
  4. ↑ "Varndean School". Schrole. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Our History & Alumni - Varndean School". www.varndean.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Our History & Alumni - Varndean School". www.varndean.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Our History & Alumni - Varndean School". www.varndean.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Varndean School, Brighton". The National Archives. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Family History: Links between Varndean School, Brighton and Honley High School, Brenda Freeman". Yorkshire Examiner Live. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Our History & Alumni - Varndean School". www.varndean.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "Varndean Centenary Celebrations Begin". www.varndean.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Overview Of Our Schools - Varndean School".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ "Brighton school now home to five pygmy goats". ITV News. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  14. ↑ "How pygmy goats have transformed pupil behaviour". Tes News. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  15. ↑ @varndeangoats (23 April 2021). "The observant humans amongst you may have noticed that we are away from @VarndeanSchool at the moment" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 October 2022– via Twitter.
  16. ↑ "Therapy Animals". www.varndean.co.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  17. ↑ enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk, Ofsted Communications Team (19 July 2024). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 "Our History & Alumni - Varndean School". www.varndean.co.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  19. ↑ "Gill the Apprentice". theyflysohigh.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  20. ↑ Workman, Joanne (2004). "Normanton, Helena Florence (1882–1957), barrister and feminist campaigner" . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/39091. ISBN   978-0-19-861412-8 . Retrieved 20 June 2022.(Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)
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