
Varndean School students celebrate their graduation from the Making Choices programme.
Students from Year 8 took part in the aspirational programme run by the University of Sussex.
Making Choices offers secondary school students the opportunity to explore life at university and is designed for student groups that are under-represented in higher education. Running over the course of 6 months, our students took part in university-style classes covering all manner of subjects from STEM to politics to law. The Year 8 students also had a glimpse into daily life for a university student on a tour of the university which included visiting student accommodation.

We are thrilled to have once again taken part in Making Choices. The aspirational benefits it brings to students is clear to see on their return to school and going forward.
The making choices program was a great experience for everyone who took part in it, it was so useful to know what it is like to be at university. Also, to be able to study things we don't do at school. Most importantly to help us decide what we want to do when we leave school.
Lex, Year 8
I enjoyed the Making Choices programme because it was a nice opportunity to experience different subjects than I normally learn and use other poeple's knowledge to help me learn more.
It was great and I really enjoyed it.
Ellie, Year 8


Making Choices is just one of the programmes Varndean School has participated in through working in partnership with local universities.
Thank you so much to @MrBreis for coming in today to inspire Years 9 & 10 through creative presentations & workshops as part of our #Literature Festival this week. Lots of excited students queued up for the book signing afterwards as well #hiphop https://t.co/gMAnaOjEnk
@MrsCox_DC @ANewChapterBks Woo hoo! Thank you @MrsCox_DC for entering! #reading https://t.co/r8moaNaYPe
One advantage of living in my school catchment is that you get to find and collect lost property on your dog walks @VarndeanSchool - anyone lost a blazer? https://t.co/aV45qbcTRt
Brilliant day with our new year 7 students - we can already tell this is going to be a fabulous five years ahead - what wonderfully polite, engaged and lovely people you all are! See you all again in school on 1st September https://t.co/QzZcvxH9Sx
A huge well done to Harvey our #tabletennis superstar for being the first player in the world to reach a whopping 1000 matches of AllStars TT! @BTTCOfficial