Varndean School
Varndean School is a secondary school serving a large area of Brighton, England.
In 2013, 2017 and 2022, Ofsted inspectors described Varndean as a 'Good' school. Varndean shares the Surrenden Campus with Balfour Primary School,[1] Dorothy Stringer School, Varndean College[2] and Downs View Link college.
History
Varndean was founded in 1884 in central Brighton as York Place Higher Grade School. An Organised Science School was added in 1894. 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 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. In 1929, a football club, Old Varndeanians, was established for former pupils.
During World War II half the school evacuated to Yorkshire.[citation needed]
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, a coeducational comprehensive. The Boys' Grammar School became Varndean Sixth Form College.
The school’s position on Ditchling Road provides far reaching views across Brighton and Hove, and equally the school is visible from much of the City. 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 and an astro-turf pitch have also been added.
The Balfour Building, opened in 1993, houses Art and Design Technology. The Friar Building, in use since 2000, accommodates English and Humanities. In 2008, a new expanded Library opened in the Ditchling building, which was refurbished in 2013 as the new Reading Room. Further expansion works within the existing building footprint are due to proceed in 2021.
Varndean was the first specialist school in the city, being granted a specialism in Technology in 1998. In 2005 it went on to be designated a high-performing specialist school; in 2006 Varndean obtained its second specialism in Music, followed by a third specialism in Applied Learning in 2007.
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 and recreational benefits were recognised.[3][4] In April 2021, the goats were moved to Ferring Country Centre during construction works at the school, but are now there permanently.[5]
Headteachers
Below is a list of all the headteachers of the school.[6]
- 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 O.B.E
- 1999–2008 A. Schofield
- 2009–2021 W. Deighan
- 2021– S. Baker
Notable current staff
- Stuart Tuck, Professional footballer and coach (Brighton & Hove Albion, Eastbourne Borough, Bognor Regis Town, Whitehawk, Burgess Hill Town).[citation needed]
Notable former pupils
- Ebenezer Ford, FRSE, marine biologist
- 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)[7]
- 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.[8]
- Amita Suman, actress (Shadow and Bone, Doctor Who, Casualty, Ackley Bridge)
References
- ^ Balfour Primary School Website
- ^ Varndean College website
- ^ "Brighton school now home to five pygmy goats". ITV News. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ "How pygmy goats have transformed pupil behaviour". Tes News. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ @varndeangoats (23 April 2021). "The observant humans amongst you may have noticed that we are away from @VarndeanSchool at the moment" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Varndean History & Alumni".
- ^ "Gill the Apprentice". theyflysohigh.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ "Normanton, Helena Florence (1882–1957), barrister and feminist campaigner". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/39091. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
External links
- v
- t
- e
- Conservation areas
- Listed buildings: Grade I
- Grade II*
- Grade II: A–B
- C–D
- E–H
- I–L
- M
- N–O
- P–R
- S
- T–V
- W–Z
- List of places of worship (see list for links to individual articles)
- List of demolished places of worship
and mansions
- Adelaide Mansions
- Chartwell Court
- Courtenay Gate
- Embassy Court
- Fife House
- French Convalescent Home
- Grand Ocean, Saltdean
- Gwydyr Mansions
- 75 Holland Road
- Marine Gate
- Marlborough House
- Moulsecoomb Place
- New England Quarter
- Ovingdean Grange
- Ovingdean Rectory
- Patcham Place
- Pelham Institute
- Percy and Wagner Almshouses
- Portslade Manor (ruined)
- Preston Manor
- Regency Town House
- Southdown House
- Stanmer House
- Sussex Heights
- Tower House
- Van Alen Building
- Western Pavilion
squares and
terraces
- Adelaide Crescent
- Arundel Terrace
- Bedford Square
- Belgrave Place
- Bloomsbury Place
- Brunswick Town
- Eastern Terrace
- Hanover Crescent
- Kemp Town
- Lansdowne Square
- Marine Square
- Montpelier Crescent
- New Steine
- Norfolk Square
- Norfolk Terrace
- Old Steine
- Oriental Place
- Palmeira Square
- Park Crescent
- Pelham Square
- Powis Square
- Regency Square
- Roundhill Crescent
- Royal Crescent
- Russell Square
- Vernon Terrace
- Wykeham Terrace
buildings
civic buildings
- BHASVIC
- Brighton General Hospital
- Brighton Law Courts
- Brighton Town Hall
- Hove Library
- Hove Town Hall
- Hove Trial Centre
- Jubilee Library
- Kings House
- Ovingdean Hall School
- Police Convalescent Seaside Home (former)
- Preston Barracks
- Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital
- Royal Sussex County Hospital
- The Keep
- The Montefiore Hospital
- University of Brighton
- University of Sussex
- Varndean College
- Schools: List of former board schools
- Blatchington Mill School
- Brighton Aldridge Community Academy
- Brighton and Hove High School
- Brighton College
- Brighton College Preparatory School
- Cardinal Newman RC School
- Deepdene School
- Dorothy Stringer School
- Hove Park School
- King's School
- Longhill High School
- Ovingdean Hall School
- Patcham High School
- Portslade Aldridge Community Academy
- Roedean School
- St Aubyns School
- Varndean School
- Hotels: Bedford
- Clarence
- Grand (1984 bombing)
- Metropole
- Norfolk
- Old Ship
- Royal Albion
- Royal York
- Inns and pubs: The Cricketers
- Freemasons Tavern
- Hangleton Manor Inn
- King and Queen
- Prince Albert
- Royal Pavilion Tavern
and leisure
- The Arch
- Blind Tiger Club (former)
- Brighton Aquarium (Sea Life Brighton)
- Brighton Centre
- Brighton Marina
- Brighton Wheel (removed)
- Falmer Stadium
- King Alfred Centre
- Medina House (demolished)
- Pryzm
- Revenge
- Royal Pavilion
- Saltdean Lido
- Withdean Stadium
- Museums: Booth Museum
- Brighton Fishing Museum
- Brighton Museum and Art Gallery
- Brighton Toy and Model Museum
- British Engineerium
- Hove Museum and Art Gallery
- Cinemas and theatres: ABC Cinema (former)
- Astoria (demolished)
- Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts
- Brighton Dome and Studio (Pavilion) Theatre
- Brighton Hippodrome (former)
- Duke of York's Picture House
- Komedia
- Marlborough Pub and Theatre
- Old Market
- Open Air Theatre
- Regent Cinema (demolished)
- Theatre Royal
- Brighton Palace Pier
- Royal Suspension Chain Pier (demolished)
- West Pier
- Anthaeum (demolished)
- Barford Court
- Chattri
- Church Street Drill Hall (former)
- Clock Tower
- 11 Dyke Road
- Foredown Tower
- Hove War Memorial
- i360
- Madeira Terrace
- North Gate of the Royal Pavilion
- Patcham Pylons
- Peace Statue
- Pepper Pot
- Ralli Hall
- St Dunstan's
- Sassoon Mausoleum
- Statue of Queen Victoria, Hove
- Steine House (YMCA)
- Waste House
- Whitehawk Hill transmitting station
- Charles Busby
- Clayton & Black
- John Leopold Denman
- Thomas Lainson
- John Nash
- Gilbert Murray Simpson
- Thomas Simpson
- Basil Spence
- Amon Henry Wilds
- Amon Wilds