Dear Parent/Carer,
I hope this finds you and your loved ones well.
As we finish for the Spring break, included in this email is some key information & helpful reminders for next term.
Spring Update
Please read our new Spring 2026 Update, which is filled with the latest news about the recent activities and successes of our students and, as always, a really positive and uplifting read.
Key information & helpful reminders
Key dates for the Summer term have been collated into a Quick View Summary.
Our latest term dates are available to assist you with organising family time or holiday bookings.
The best reminder of all - term begins again on Monday 13 April.
Upcoming Exams
As we approach the exam season, I know our Year 2 and Foundation students will spend some of the spring holiday revising and preparing for their final term and Year 1 students will be revising for their Practice Exams. All teachers have also provided a range of resources on Google Classroom to help with revision.
Year 1 Practice Exams & Curriculum Update
These assessments are an important part of Year 1. They help teachers assess progress and identify where students may need further support as they move towards Year 2. We have been very pleased with how well Year 1 students have settled into college life and the progress they have made so far. Students have already been preparing for these assessments in lessons, and programme areas will continue to provide guidance on what to revise. Students should also make full use of the revision materials and support available through their programme area's Google Classrooms. To allow students to concentrate fully on their courses during this crucial time, all enrichment courses are ending this term and will instead be replaced by revision classes and workshops.
During practice exam week (Monday 27 April to Friday 1 May), Year 1 A-level and IB students will sit their practice exams under full exam conditions, with A-level and IB lessons not running during this time. The exam timetable is now available on the exams tab of MyVarndean and on the parent portal. Visual Arts students should continue to attend their Art & Design lessons during the week, as they will complete their Year 1 mock exam experience in normal lesson time. Please note that Year 2, GCSE and Level 2 Vocational courses will not be affected by the practice exam week, and these students should continue to attend lessons during the Year 1 practice exam week
The result of these assessments will be published after the May half-term holiday, and will inform the summer report sent home in June. The grade students receive will form their end-of-year grade. For A-level and IB students, this will be based on performance in the practice examinations. For students on vocational courses, it will reflect their overall performance across coursework and any external assessments completed so far. This provides an important indication of progress at this stage of the course and will be used to support discussions about next steps as students move into Year 2.
There will be a parent/carers consultation evening on 30th June to discuss student progress ahead of the summer break, and we will write again nearer the time with further details.
Library
Our library is open to support students during the second week of the Spring break; Tuesday 7 - Friday 10 April, 10.30 am to 4.30 pm. A reminder that if students require help with their well-being during exam season, they can email wellbeingzone@varndean.ac.uk.
New Student Union
Many congratulations to all the students who took part in our recent SU elections. A heartfelt thank you to the outgoing SU for their outstanding dedication and for being excellent ambassadors for the College. Your contributions have been truly invaluable.
Our New Student Union Executive for 2026-27 are as follows:
- Presidents: Apollo & Zeb
- Communications: Veronika
- Wellbeing: Kit
- Enrichment: Eva
- Environment: Leo
- Marketing & Events: Maya
- Charity: Shelyn
- EDI: Bertie
- Democracy & Voice: Illona
We are very much looking forward to working alongside you over the next year.
University Information Evening: 24 March
Many thanks to the parents and carers who visited the college to hear about the support students receive here when considering university. We offered a wide range of sessions, including a student finance talk from the University of Brighton, budgeting advice from current students, as well as optional talks on Aspire support for Oxbridge and Russell Group applicants, and the Art Foundation course. Should you wish to revisit this talk, please see this link for the main talk slides and a link to further information on our careers website.
Upcoming Events
Progression and Work Experience Week : Mon 18 - Fri 22 May. All first-year students will have the opportunity to have work experience during their time at College. We have a Progression Week in May involving university visits, work experience and employer engagement. If you can offer any placements from one day upwards, please do contact our Careers team on careers@varndean.ac.uk
Breaking Boundaries - Varndean Sixth Form College Dance students are performing at The Old Market in Hove on Saturday, 25 April. The production features a selection of choreographic work from Year 1 students and ends with the debut performance of the Year 2 students' full-length piece 'Letting the Days Go By'. Guest performances from alumni will also feature. Tickets go on sale next week via The Old Market here.
Wishing all our students and families a happy Spring holiday with at least some opportunity for some relaxation and fun.
Best wishes
Donna-Marie Janson
Principal
