Varndean College is a sixth form college in Brighton and Hove that serves the needs of sixth form students and adults.

Varndean College
Address
Map
Surrenden Road

Brighton
,
East Sussex
,
BN1 6WQ

England
Coordinates50°51′06″N 0°08′37″W / 50.8516°N 0.1435°W / 50.8516; -0.1435
Information
TypeSixth form college
Established1884
Department for Education URN130668 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalDonna-Marie Janson
GenderCoeducational
Age16+
Enrolment1800
Websitehttp://www.varndean.ac.uk

Location

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Varndean College is on Surrenden Road, in the northern part of Brighton. It shares the Surrenden campus with Balfour Junior School, Balfour Infants School, Dorothy Stringer School and Varndean Secondary School.[1][2]

History

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The college was founded in 1884 in York Place, Brighton, as a boys' secondary school and moved to its current site (overlooking the city and the sea) in 1932, later attaining grammar school status, becoming Varndean Grammar School for Boys, administered by the Education Committee for the County Borough of Brighton. In 1972 the first girls were admitted to the school (a small number of girls attended A level physics classes at the school in 1970–71), and in 1975 it became a sixth form college under its first principal, David A.G. Turner.[3]

Former Headmasters and Principals

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Varndean Grammar School for Boys

  • 1884–1901 Edwin H. Lethbridge (died 1932)
  • 1902–1932 William J. Stainer (died 1937)
  • 1932–1963 Eric J. Hutchins (died 1972)
  • 1963–1970 John E. Mollison (1916-2003)
  • 1970–1975 David A.G. Turner (died 1997)

Varndean College

  • 1975–1988 David A.G. Turner (died 1997)
  • 1988–2006 Alan Jenkins (died March 2020)
  • 2006–2020 Philip Harland
  • 2020–present day Donna-Marie Janson

Notable alumni

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The Old Varndeanian Association exists to maintain a network between former pupils and students of both the school and college, as well as former pupils of Varndean Girls' School. The association maintains contact with thousands of Old Varndeanians and organises regular reunions and other functions.

Varndean Grammar School for Boys

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References

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  1. ^ "Varndean College principal praises resilience of A-level students on results day". Brighton and Hove News. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Pride and success for Varndean College students in first public examinations".
  3. ^ 'Onward and Upward, York Place to Varndean 1884–1975' by Tony Allt and Brian Robson. Published privately in 1993 by the Old Varndeanian Association.
  4. ^ "On The Radar: Celeste". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  5. ^ Promisloff, Samantha (17 July 2007). "Wrap Your 'Arms' Around Monster Bobby". SPIN. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Gwendoline Christie: a famous face in Burgess Hill". CommunityAd. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
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