Come and tell me about Varndean / Stringer (Brighton)

[PeachesVonBeach]

We’re in the catchment in Brighton for Varndean and Stringerp. Dds at a local prep school but not having an amazing time there with friendships. Academically doing very well but feels like a bit of a square peg. Lots of local friends will be going to Varndean / Stringer. Lots of anxiety about going back to school and wishing she was “normal” like local kids 😔 We’ll obviously be going to look around in September but any local knowledge / opinion would be great!

My two are a fair few years off secondary yet but we live in the Varndean/Stringer catchment so I’m interested in seeing what replies you get. A neighbour with two at Stringer told me recently that Varndean is for the cool kids and Stringer is for the more academic ones. I don’t know if there’s any truth in that though!

They’re both well thought of and very popular but I think Stringer’s rep has taken a bit of a hit recently. Looking at this year’s admission figures I see they even had room for a few children from outside of catchment which hasn’t happened in a long time. Whereas Varndean didn’t have room for all the catchment children who wanted it.

Hi Donkey! That’s really interesting to know - thank you. The pastoral and extracurricular stuff at Varndean looks incredible. I haven’t really looked at Stringer - I’m not really sure why! Hopefully someone will come along and tell us all about them soon.

I have DC at Varndean. They are both very happy. I don’t agree with the neighbour’s assessment at all of the schools - I think it’s a myth that DS is still more academic; Varndean have been getting better results of late (not heard about this year’s GCSE’s in detail though) and have a happy staff cohort. I’m not sure that’s the case at DS.

I think DS is sportier - great football provision. Although there’s a big push for girls football at Varndean I think. Varndean has brilliant pastoral care, so perhaps more of a diverse range of kids. I’d say DS thinks of itself as cooler! The kids at Varndean seem to be more of who they want to be, rather than trying to be cool. A bit nerdier, if anything - a word I hate, but might be a clear shorthand.

My DC are really happy at Varndean. Still not far enough in to say much about academic achievements but they are doing well. I am very pleased with the energy and enthusiasm and support they’ve received. The head is great, too.

From your perspective, I would be realistic about what a state school will offer compared to private. They are so stretched financially, and you will see this in class size and other offerings. I went to a very significant private school as a teen, and I know the difference. That said, my DC are meeting a variety of kids, in the community, and for me that was so important as I never had that. But I am aware that they will not have the more bespoke academic offering that might get them better results - it will be about them and their motivation.

Hope that helps.

Ps - yes, tons of extra curriculum stuff for them to get involved in.

Thanks Irish. I went to a pretty shitty comp in the 90s, so we always said we’d try to send our kids to private school. Which we’ve managed. But it’s so hard seeing our eldest struggle socially at school but not outside of school.

i understand - I think some kids need to see themselves in others around them, or else it’s very distancing. And private school girls are a particular bunch

I've had 2 dc at Varndean and been really impressed with it. Excellent staff who really know the kids. Pastoral care seems very good- they have a "small school" system where they are divided into one of 5 small school bases.

It used to be true that Stringer was seen as more academic but not any more. I don't know overall results for 2023 but my academic dc finished this year and got stellar results. As did quite a few of their friends.

Thanks Little! Do they split the years into separate schools? Does that mean that that don’t have to mix with other year groups?

Huge congrats to your DD on her excellent results 🤩

Thank you! No, the mini schools have all years in them. Two or maybe three classes from each year go into each mini school. Calling them 'schools' is a bit odd as it suggests they are separate. They are sort of houses but more than that, it's more for pastoral care and form time. But they mix most lessons with other schools/ houses.

Ahh! Thanks for clearing that up for me 😃

Varndean is a phenomenal school, their completely free extra curricular activities number more than 100 - in every subject and interest you can think of.
They treat their students as individuals and their pastoral care is second to none. Mix that with excellent communication between parents and the school, and impressive exam results for a non- selective state school, and you really couldn’t ask for more for your child.

stringer is just okay - from what aI have heard from friends the communication between school and families is poor, and they are deffo having lots of behavioural issues with students.
its the same catchment as Varndean, so the difference isn’t the children, its how the school manages things.
Still has a good reputation though, in the city , compared to other schools.