How do I book my parent/carer consultation appointments in Varndean PLUS?
Please see our guidance document on the electronic parent/carer booking system going live on 13th March 2017.
How do I update my contact details & child's information?
You can also securely email our safeguarding manager via Varndean PLUS to notify them of any addition support needs your child may have or contact the school to speak to a member of your child's school base team if there are personal circumstances you wish to make the school aware of.
Where can I find details for the Options process for Years 8 & 9?
The Options booklet is published in spring each year and can be found on the Options page.
What if it snows?
How do I pay for school meals?
If you believe your child may be entitled to Free School Meals please see our Free School Meals page for information on how to apply. If your child is entitled to free school meals, it is very important that you claim them – even if your child prefers not to eat in the canteen. The reason is that a free school meal entitlement opens up Pupil Premium funding for your child.
We use a cashless card system called Wisepay to pay for all meals and you can also pay for trips and equipment in this way too. Students entitled to Free School Meals will have their cards pre-loaded with the daily allowance.
Where can I buy the school uniform?
School uniform can be purchased from Khalsa Schoolwear Ltd they can also be contacted on 020 7729 3286.
For more information please see our uniform page.
What equipment do students need?
Pencil
Ruler
Rubber
Protractor
Set square
Scientific calculator
Revision books are available through school in the majority of subjects, you can find out more from the relevant teacher.
Where can I find details of extra-curricular activities available for my child?
Where can I find details of what homework my child is receiving?
What happens if a student gets detention?
Detentions are referred to as Resolutions at Varndean School as we believe that they should lead to a resolution to a concern about behaviour, which will bring about a change in attitude and a return to a focus on learning.
Behaviours and/or incidents are recorded in the following way:
C2 - 10 minute resolution with the teacher that day
C3 - 30 minute department resolution held after school
C4 - 1 hour whole school resolution held after school
Restorative conversations are used by teachers with students if poor behaviour has been displayed in their lessons.
For any resolution longer than 10 minutes, parents/carers are notified by email or text with 24 hours’ notice.
Parents/carers can keep track of their child's/children's achievements and behaviour on Varndean PLUS.
How do I contact the Medical Centre?
Does the school have an online copy of its prospectus?
What is streaming and what is setting?
Setting is where students are grouped by ability or aptitude for a particular subject and streaming is where pupils follow different pathways through the curriculum based on ability or aptitude. Setting means that a school can mix the populations of teaching groups. Streaming means the populations will stay fixed. Varndean uses setting to aid achievement. We don’t use streaming.
For further details please see our setting information sheet.
Where can I find letters sent home?
Where can I view the latest Ofsted report for Varndean School?
What are the recent GCSE results?
What is the uniform policy at Varndean School?
Where can I obtain further details about the curriculum at Varndean School?
What are the times of the school day?
08.45 – 09.05 |
Registration/Assembly |
09.05 – 09.55 |
Lesson 1a |
09.55 – 10.45 |
Lesson 1b |
10.45 – 11.05 |
Break |
11.05 – 11.55 |
Lesson 2a |
11.55 – 12.45 |
Lesson 2b |
12.45 – 13.25 |
Lunch |
13.25 – 14.15 |
Lesson 3a |
14.15 – 15.05 |
Lesson 3b |
When is the canteen open?
Breakfast 08:00/08:45
Morning Break 10:45/11:00
Lunch 12:35/13:20
Please see the catering page for further information.
What is student reception?
At Varndean, students are encouraged to participate in and to manage many aspects of community life. One example of this is the role of the student receptionist.
Typically, once a year, students will be asked to support the reception area of the school by showing visitors around the building, relaying messages from parents and helping to operate the mail room.
We have found that this activity develops self-reliance, confidence, a sense of community – and most of all, introduces students to many aspects of the school’s daily routine to which they may otherwise have been unaware.
During the day – in addition to helping the reception team – students will have a set of work from different department bases that they must complete – but may also be found engrossed in their favourite reading book.
How can I hire facilities at Varndean School?