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Varndean School
Balfour Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6NP, Brighton and Hove
LocaleIQ Score
LocaleIQ Score
78.9 / 100
Top 21%
Better than 79% of all open schools in England. Composite of Ofsted, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction.
Overview
Ofsted
Good
Pupils
1,497
Capacity
1,500
Ages
11–16
Gender
Mixed
Occupancy
100%
Summary
With a Good rating from Ofsted and strong performance in GCSEs, this secondary school excels in providing a solid education, achieving an Attainment 8 score in the top 35% nationally. The percentage of students achieving grade 4 or above in English and Maths stands at 73%, while 56% attain grade 5 or above, indicating a strong foundation in core subjects. Additionally, the school's LocaleIQ score suggests it outperforms 79% of schools, reflecting a positive environment for student growth.
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Open area analysis →Ofsted inspection
Last inspected: 5 October 2022Quality Of Education: GoodPersonal Development: OutstandingBehaviour & Attitudes: OutstandingLeadership & Management: Outstanding
GCSE Results
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8Combined grade score across a pupil's best 8 GCSEs. Higher = stronger academic outcomes. National average ~46.7. | 48.8 | Top 35% UK |
| English & Maths — Standard pass (grade 4+)Share of pupils who achieved grade 4+ in both English and Maths. Grade 4 is the minimum threshold for most employers and sixth forms. National average ~64%. | 73% | Top 32% UK |
| English & Maths — Strong pass (grade 5+)Share of pupils achieving grade 5+ in both English and Maths. Required by many universities and competitive sixth-form programmes. National average ~44%. | 56% | Top 24% UK |
| EBacc — Entry rate% of pupils who sat GCSEs in the full EBacc suite: English, Maths, History or Geography, a language, and Sciences. Signals a broad academic curriculum. National average ~39%. | 68% | Top 20% UK |
| EBacc — Achievement (grade 5+)% of pupils who achieved grade 5+ across all EBacc subjects. Reflects both curriculum breadth and academic rigour. National average ~22%. | 41% | Top 20% UK |
Pupil Ethnicity
White British69.5%
White Other8.4%
Mixed W+Asian4.6%
Mixed Other2.9%
Mixed W+B Carib.2.0%
Mixed W+B African1.9%
Other1.5%
Asian Chinese1.4%
Asian Other1.2%
White Irish1.2%
Black African0.9%
Asian Bangladeshi0.8%
Asian Indian0.7%
Gypsy/Roma0.1%
Black Other0.1%
Black Caribbean0.1%
traveller_irish0.1%
Location
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50.85030, -0.13714 · BN1 6NP
School details
Local authorityBrighton and Hove
RegionSouth East
URN114579
School typeCommunity school
Websitewww.varndean.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
What is Varndean School rated by Ofsted?
Varndean School was rated "Good" by Ofsted at its last inspection on 5 October 2022.
Is Varndean School a good school?
Varndean School scores 78.9/100 on the LocaleIQ index, placing it in the top 21% of all open schools in England. The score is a composite of Ofsted inspection results, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction surveys.
How do pupils perform at Varndean School in GCSEs?
Varndean School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.8. 73% of pupils achieved grade 9–4 in English and Maths.
What are the best schools near BN1 6NP?
Use the LocaleIQ map to explore all schools near BN1 6NP with Ofsted ratings, GCSE results, and parent reviews overlaid. You can filter by Primary, Secondary, Nursery or College.