Varndean School
title: "Varndean School" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["secondary-schools-in-brighton-and-hove", "educational-institutions-established-in-1884", "1884-establishments-in-england", "community-schools-in-brighton-and-hove"] topic_path: "society/education" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varndean_School" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox school"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Varndean School |
| image | Varndean School, Stringer Way, Brighton (August 2016, seen from Highcroft Villas, Prestonville) (2).JPG |
| image_size | 250px |
| coordinates | |
| motto | Challenge and Pride |
| established | 1884 |
| type | Community school |
| head_label | Headteacher |
| head | Shelley Baker |
| chair_label | Chair of governing body |
| chair | Ian Rodgers |
| address | Balfour Road |
| city | Brighton and Hove |
| county | East Sussex |
| country | England |
| postcode | Brighton |
| local_authority | Brighton and Hove |
| ofsted | no |
| urn | 114579 |
| staff | 170 |
| enrolment | 1498 |
| gender | Coeducational |
| lower_age | 11 |
| upper_age | 16 |
| houses | Angelou, Russell, Turing, Ellis, Lennox |
| website | http://www.varndean.co.uk/ |
| :: |
| name = Varndean School | logo = | image = Varndean School, Stringer Way, Brighton (August 2016, seen from Highcroft Villas, Prestonville) (2).JPG | image_size = 250px | coordinates = | motto = Challenge and Pride | established = 1884 | closed = | type = Community school | head_label = Headteacher | head = Shelley Baker | r_head_label = | r_head = | chair_label = Chair of governing body | chair = Ian Rodgers | founder = | address = Balfour Road | city = Brighton and Hove | county = East Sussex | country = England | postcode = Brighton | local_authority = Brighton and Hove | ofsted = no | urn = 114579 | staff = 170 | enrolment = 1498 | gender = Coeducational | lower_age = 11 | upper_age = 16 | houses = Angelou, Russell, Turing, Ellis, Lennox | colours = | publication = | website = http://www.varndean.co.uk/
Varndean School is a secondary school serving a large area of Brighton and Hove, England.
In 2013, 2017 and 2022, Ofsted inspectors described Varndean as a 'Good' school. Varndean shares the Surrenden Campus with Balfour Primary School, Dorothy Stringer School, Varndean College and Downs View Link college.
History
Varndean was founded in 1884 in central Brighton as York Place Higher Grade School. The name changed to Brighton Municipal Secondary School for Girls in 1905. During World War I, the York Place buildings were taken over for use as an Indian Military Hospital and were not returned until 1919.
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.
During World War II half the school evacuated to the Holme Valley in West Yorkshire.
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.
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.
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.
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. In April 2021, the goats were moved to Ferring Country Centre during construction works at the school, but are now there permanently. 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.
Headteachers
Below is a list of all the headteachers of the school.
- 1884–1894 M. Brion
- 1894–1901 A. North
- 1901–1909 L. Hilton
- 1909–1937 E. Ellis
- 1937–1961 M. Warmington (Varndean School for Girls)
- 1961–1977 R. Clarke (Varndean School for Girls)
- 1977–1986 M. Smithers
- 1986–1999 P. Bowmaker OBE
- 1999–2008 A. Schofield
- 2009–2021 W. Deighan
- 2021– S. Baker
Reception
For three consecutive visits in 2013, 2017 and 2022, Ofsted inspectors described Varndean as a 'Good' school.
Notable alumni
- Russell Martin, football manager (Southampton, Swansea City, MK Dons) and international footballer (Scotland, Rangers, Norwich City, Peterborough United, Wycombe Wanderers)
- Lewis Dunk, international footballer (England, Brighton & Hove Albion)
- Darren Freeman, professional footballer and manager (Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Gillingham, Brentford, Whitehawk, Peacehaven & Telscombe, Lewes)
- Tommy Fraser, professional footballer (Brighton & Hove Albion, Port Vale, Barnet, Whitehawk, Ebbsfleet United, Peacehaven & Telscombe, Lewes, Burgess Hill Town, Bognor Regis Town)
- Alfie Deyes, YouTuber (PointlessBlog, NME Awards, William Hill Casino TV).
- Steve Gill, professional footballer (West Ham United, Hastings United, Bognor Regis Town, Worthing, Whitehawk)
- Allan Gunn, international football referee
- Helena Normanton, the first woman to join an institution of the legal profession, second woman to be called to the Bar of England and Wales, first British married woman to have a passport in the name she was born with. Pupil when school called York Place Higher Grade School.
- Amita Suman, actress (Shadow and Bone, Doctor Who, Casualty, Ackley Bridge)
References
References
- "Ofsted Information - Varndean School".
- [https://www.balfourprimary.co.uk/ Balfour Primary School Website]
- [http://www.varndean.ac.uk Varndean College website]
- "Varndean School".
- "Our History & Alumni - Varndean School".
- "Our History & Alumni - Varndean School".
- "Our History & Alumni - Varndean School".
- "Varndean School, Brighton".
- "Family History: Links between Varndean School, Brighton and Honley High School, Brenda Freeman".
- "Our History & Alumni - Varndean School".
- "Varndean Centenary Celebrations Begin".
- "Overview Of Our Schools - Varndean School".
- (8 February 2017). "Brighton school now home to five pygmy goats". ITV News.
- (3 February 2017). "How pygmy goats have transformed pupil behaviour". Tes News.
- (23 April 2021). "The observant humans amongst you may have noticed that we are away from @VarndeanSchool at the moment.".
- "Therapy Animals".
- enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk, Ofsted Communications Team. (2024-07-19). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare".
- "Gill the Apprentice". theyflysohigh.co.uk.
- (2004). "Normanton, Helena Florence (1882–1957), barrister and feminist campaigner".
- "Our History & Alumni - Varndean School".
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