Varndean College

Varndean College is a sixth form college located in Brighton & Hove that serves the needs of sixth form students and adults.

Its current principal is Dr Philip Harland, appointed in 2006.

History

The college was founded in 1884 in York Place, Brighton as a Boys' Secondary School and moved to its current site overlooking the city and the sea in 1932, later attaining grammar school status. In 1972 the first girls were admitted to the school, and in 1975 it became a sixth form college under its first principal, David A.G. Turner.

Since its foundation the institution has been known by the following names:

*1884-1888 York Place Board School
*1888-1902 York Place Higher Grade Board School and Organised Science School
*1902-1905 York Place Higher Grade and Secondary Day School
*1905-1910 Municipary Secondary School, York Place
*1910-1928 Municipary Secondary School for Boys, Brighton
*1928-1946 Varndean School for Boys (Municipal Secondary School) Brighton
*1946-1955 Varndean School for Boys (County Secondary) Brighton
*1955-1972 Varndean Grammar School for Boys
*1972-1975 Varndean Grammar School
*1975 on Varndean Sixth Form College, later Varndean College

The Headmasters of the School were:

*1884-1901 Edwin H. Lethbridge (died 1932)
*1902-1932 William J. Stainer (died 1937)
*1932-1963 Eric J. Hutchins (died 1972)
*1963-1970 John E. Mollison
*1970-1975 David A.G. Turner

The Principals of the College were:

*1975-1988 David A.G. Turner
*1988-2006 Alan Jenkins
*2006 on Philip Harland

Location

Varndean College is situated in Surrenden Road, in the northern part of Brighton. It shares a campus with Balfour Junior School, Balfour Infants School, Dorothy Stringer High School and Varndean Secondary School.

Alumni

The Old Varndeanian Association [http://www.oldvarndeanians.org.uk] exists to maintain a network between former pupils and students of both the school and college, as well as former pupils of Varndean Girls School. The association maintains contact with thousands of Old Varndeanians and organises regular reunions and other functions.

Famous [alumni] of the old Boys' School include:

*Steve Ovett, Olympic athlete
*Des Lynam, television presenter
*Frank Bridge, composer
*Paul Scofield, actor
*David Collings, actor
*Major-General Sir (Herbert) Ralph Hone, Governor of North Borneo 1949-54
*Bishop Walter Hubert Baddeley, Bishop of Melanesia, Ripon, Blackburn and Adelaide
*Simon Schaffer, historian
*David Blanchflower, economist
*Michael Stringer, Rear Admiral (retired) 1965-1967
*David Greenfield, Stranglers (keyboards) 1960-1967
*Mike Winch, Commonwealth Games Athlete and national coach.

Famous alumni of the College include:
*Natasha Kaplinsky, television presenter
*Darren Freeman, footballer (Brentford, Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion)
*Russell Martin, footballer (Wycombe Wanderers)
*Tommy Fraser, footballer (Brighton and Hove Albion)
*Lucy Griffiths, actress
*Lisa Francesca Nand, journalist and broadcaster
*Rebecca Stephens, musician
*Bobby Barry, musician.

Rebuild Project

The college building is too small to offer the curriculum it wishes to and is currently not large enough to accommodate the students attending; around 1200 [ [http://www.qca.org.uk/14-19/6th-form-schools/index_1254.htm QCA - Varndean College] ] . The building was constructed in 1930s as a boys' grammar school for 500 students and the Principal believes it is not suitable for modern needs [ [http://www.theargus.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1954503.mostviewed.brighton_heads_promise_better_results_for_pupils.php Brighton Heads Promise Better Results For Students - The Argus] ] . The plans would completely knock down the old building but the design of the new one is keeping with the same style; revolving around an open air courtyard. When completed the college will be able to offer modern facilities and teaching spaces for all subjects [ [http://www.theargus.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1954503.mostviewed.brighton_heads_promise_better_results_for_pupils.php Brighton Heads Promise Better Results For Pupils - The Argus] ] . The plans also include an extension to the Downs View Link College on the same site, which provides education and care for 16 to 19-year-olds with physical and mental disabilities and new block, including a gym and hydrotherapy pool, which will provide for up to 100 under 25s with severe learning difficulties and disabilities [ [http://www.theargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1381572.0.college_to_be_rebuilt_with_government_cash.php College to be rebuilt with government funds - The Argus] ] . If all goes according to plan, construction should be complete by 2015. Principal Dr. Philip Harland has said recently, "the current plans for re-constructing the College will cause controversy within the local community and area, but hopefully these people will realise the potential in these plans for future students and will approach the ideas with a more positive attitude." (April 2008)

References

"Onward and Upward, York Place to Varndean 1884-1975" by Tony Allt and Brian Robson. Published privately in 1993 by the Old Varndeanian Association.

External links

* [http://www.varndean.ac.uk/ Varndean College]
* [http://www.oldvarndeanians.org.uk/ Old Varndeanian Association]