Brighton Aldridge Community Academy vs Varndean School
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary schools in South East, England, 3.1 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Brighton Aldridge Community Academy
Brighton · Academy secondary · Ages 11–19
808 students
Varndean School
Brighton · Local authority secondary · Ages 11–16
1,487 students
| Measure | Brighton Aldridge Community Academy Brighton, South East | Varndean School Brighton, South East |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 13 Lower 50% | 68 Top 50% |
| Region rank | #637 of 679 | #227 of 679 |
| National rank | #3863 of 4,090 | #1106 of 4,090 |
| Sector | Academy | Local authority |
| Type | Secondary | Secondary |
| Year range | Ages 11–19 | Ages 11–16 |
| Students | 808 | 1,487 |
| Pupils on roll | 808 | 1,487 |
| Free school meals | 50.8% | 23% |
| Capacity filled | 70.3% | 99.1% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | – | – |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | – | – |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | 36.2 | 48.8 |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 23.3% | 55.9% |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | 44.8% | 72.9% |
| EBacc average points | 3.15 | 4.54 |
| A level points per entry | 18.8 | – |
| town | Brighton | Brighton |
| region | South East | South East |
| Website | www.baca-uk.org.uk | www.varndean.co.uk |
The verdict
- •Varndean School scores higher on the Success Index (England) (68.1 vs 13.4).
- •Varndean School is the larger school with 1,487 students compared with 808.
- •Brighton Aldridge Community Academy is a academy school while Varndean School is a local authority school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Brighton Aldridge Community Academy better than Varndean School?
On the Success Index (England), Varndean School ranks higher (68.1 vs 13.4 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Brighton Aldridge Community Academy and Varndean School?
About 3.1 km in a straight line, between Brighton and Brighton in South East.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Brighton Aldridge Community Academy: 808. Varndean School: 1,487. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Brighton Aldridge Community Academy and Varndean School rank in South East?
Brighton Aldridge Community Academy is 637th of 679 and Varndean School is 227th of 679 among secondary schools in South East on the 2025 Success Index (England).