Varndean School
Brighton, BN1 6NP · Brighton and Hove · secondary school
4th of 10 secondary schools in Brighton and Hove we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 8.5/10 against 932 of them, against 7.6/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.81 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 55.9 · 76 | 30% | 2.28 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.42 · 80 | 25% | 2.00 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 48.8 · 66 | 10% | 0.65 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. Varndean is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2022. In 2024/25, 55.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 48.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.42 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom. Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh award or participate in dance.
Getting in. The school has 1487 pupils in a capacity of 1500, leaving 13 spare places. The school is close to full, so places are likely to be competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school support pupils who need extra help to reach the national median in Attainment 8? What specific support is available for students aiming for the Duke of Edinburgh award? How does the school manage the competitive nature of admissions with only 13 places remaining?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
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