Blatchington Mill School
Community school · 1,622 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 51.0
Further education
Varndean College
- Pupils on roll
- —
- Free school meals
- —
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- —
- Ofsted
- Not covered by Ofsted school inspections
What the data says
Varndean College is a 16–19 provider, so there is no Year 11 cohort: this page covers where its students went after 16–18 study and what they achieved.
Among the 879 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 27% went to university (Brighton and Hove 36%, England 37%), and 12% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
A level grades average C+, around the England average of B-; 8% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Psychology, Mathematics and Sociology.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Brighton and Hove and England.
The Department for Education has not published destination figures for this school (new school, small cohort or not a state-funded school).
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Varndean College | Brighton and Hove | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 879 | 3,036 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 78% | 80% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 27% | 36% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 12% | 31% | 19% |
| Further education | 9% | 8% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 3% | 7% |
| Employment | 35% | 32% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 15% | 14% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
No published Key Stage 4 results for this school.
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Varndean College | Brighton and Hove | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 1,878 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 686 | 2,662 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | B | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 34.02 | 38.79 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 8% | 19% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 129 | 19% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 88 | 13% | 31% |
| Sociology | 79 | 12% | 13% |
| Photography | 76 | 11% | 3% |
| History | 72 | 10% | 13% |
| Fine Art | 67 | 10% | 3% |
| Business Studies | 65 | 9% | 13% |
| Film Studies | 57 | 8% | 2% |
| Law | 51 | 7% | 4% |
| 3D Design | 47 | 7% | 1% |
| Biology | 46 | 7% | 20% |
| Economics | 45 | 7% | 13% |
| Physics | 44 | 6% | 12% |
| Geography | 43 | 6% | 10% |
| English Literature | 41 | 6% | 11% |
| Graphic Communication | 40 | 6% | 2% |
| Media Studies | 40 | 6% | 4% |
| Philosophy | 37 | 5% | 1% |
| Politics | 37 | 5% | 6% |
| Textiles | 35 | 5% | 1% |
| English Language and Literature | 34 | 5% | 2% |
| Chemistry | 32 | 5% | 17% |
| Classical Civilisation | 30 | 4% | 1% |
| Music Technology | 29 | 4% | 0% |
| English Language | 28 | 4% | 4% |
| Computer Science | 27 | 4% | 5% |
| Physical Education | 17 | 2% | 3% |
| Drama | 17 | 2% | 2% |
| Spanish | 16 | 2% | 2% |
| French | 14 | 2% | 1% |
| Further Mathematics | 11 | 2% | 5% |
| Arabic | — | — | 0% |
| German | — | — | 0% |
| Russian | — | — | 0% |
| Turkish | — | — | 0% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 116 | 17% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 59 | 9% | — |
| Biology | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 55 | 8% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 55 | 8% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 38 | 6% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 35 | 5% | — |
| Engineering Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 35 | 5% | — |
| Law / Legal Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 29 | 4% | — |
| Baccalaureate | International Baccalaureate | 29 | 4% | — |
| Psychology | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 28 | 4% | — |
| Tourism | VRQ Level 3 | 18 | 3% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 17 | 2% | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 15 | 2% | — |
| Childcare Skills | VRQ Level 3 | 14 | 2% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 14 | 2% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 12 | 2% | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | 9 | 1% | — |
| Sociology | GCE AS level (All) | 9 | 1% | — |
| Sociology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 9 | 1% | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 9 | 1% | — |
| Photography | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 8 | 1% | — |
| Photography | GCE AS level (All) | 8 | 1% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 6 | 1% | — |
| Politics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Speech and Drama | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Film Studies | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Politics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Film Studies | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Engineering Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Brighton and Hove
Brighton Aldridge Community Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 808 pupils
75% stayed in education · Attainment 8 36.2
Cardinal Newman Catholic School
Voluntary aided school · sixth form · 2,657 pupils
92% stayed in education · Attainment 8 50.4
Dorothy Stringer School
Community school · 1,626 pupils
93% stayed in education · Attainment 8 53.3
Hove Park School and Sixth Form Centre
Community school · sixth form · 941 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.1
King's School
Free schools · sixth form · 925 pupils
93% stayed in education · Attainment 8 53.7
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.