Varndean School is a mainstream secondary school in Brighton, Brighton and Hove, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 439 of its 1,487 pupils (29.5%) were getting SEN support and 99 (6.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,487 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Brighton and Hove.
29.5% get SEN support
439 of 1,487 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
6.7% have an EHC plan
99 of 1,487 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism190
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia129
- Social, emotional and mental health121
- Moderate learning difficulty63
- Speech, language and communication16
- Hearing impairment7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,487 (places for 1,500)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Shelley Baker
- Free school meals
- 23% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Brighton and Hove
- School reference (URN)
- 114579
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Brighton and Hove council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, October 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Balfour Road, Brighton, BN1 6NP
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Carden Nursery and Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.0 mile
- Downs View Life Skills College Independent · Ages 19–25 1.1 miles
- Team Domenica Independent · Ages 18–25 1.1 miles
- Moulsecoomb Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Balfour Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 10.9%, EHC plans 1.4% 0.2 miles
- Dorothy Stringer School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 14.8%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.3 miles
- Hertford Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 26.8%, EHC plans 5.4% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Brighton and Hove SEND schools in Brighton and Hove
Questions about Varndean School
How many pupils at Varndean School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 439 of the 1,487 pupils (29.5%) were getting SEN support and 99 (6.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Varndean School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (190 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (129 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (121 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Varndean School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Varndean School?
Through Brighton and Hove council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Varndean School?
You can ask for Varndean School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Varndean School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Carden Nursery and Primary School, about 1.0 mile away.
Where is Varndean School?
Balfour Road, Brighton, BN1 6NP, in Brighton and Hove.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.