Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers 

I hope that the young person in your care has settled well into their Foundation Year and is enjoying all of the opportunities that Varndean College has to offer. I am writing to relay the focus of the Foundation Year at Varndean College and the wealth of support and guidance available during this time. 

The Foundation Year at Varndean College is a fast-track year to support students in increasing their GCSE profile. Students have a range of opportunities available to them within this year, such as accessing early GCSE English / Maths resits, depending on their grades and commitment. Students who successfully complete their Foundation Year at Varndean College have a number of progression platforms available to them and we are very proud that a number of our Foundation Year students progress onto higher level studies at Varndean College. We will be in touch about this process later in the year and outline the system of applying for this and the set progression criteria which students are required to meet.

Students at Varndean College have access to a number of support networks and extension opportunities. All Foundation Year students have the support of a Personal Tutor who meets with learners weekly to discuss set pastoral curriculum topics and offer 1:1 appointments to support individual learners and their progress. Personal Tutors support students from a holistic perspective and offer regular 1:1s to help learners set targets and work towards meeting their potential. 

These registered Tutorial sessions are invaluable for learners and not only ensure they are aware of College events and updates but also further develop their personal values and further prepare them for life outside of College. 

The young person in your care is directly supported by their Personal Tutor and if you should have any questions or concerns about this correspondence or general College life,  they are your first point of contact. You will be able to find the details of the assigned Personal Tutor via the Parent Portal and access an email address for them on this platform. Other members of the Foundation Year pastoral support team include School Lead, Helen Chong, and myself as Head of School. We will be in touch later in the year with further updates on the Foundation Year journey.

Yours sincerely

George Marshall 

Director of Student Engagement & Head of School Foundation Year