Dear Parent/Carer,

On behalf of myself and the staff, I am delighted to extend to you a very warm welcome to Varndean Sixth Form College. I hope that your young person enjoyed their induction day with us today.Thank you for entrusting us with this important stage of your child's education. We are so pleased they have joined our community.

We are proud to share that this summer saw the best results in our college's history, reflecting the commitment of our students and the dedication of our staff. We are excited about the year ahead and confident that your child will flourish here, too.

The first few weeks of college are about settling in, making new connections, and developing positive study habits. For some students, adjusting to new timetable, particularly with independent study periods included, can be a fresh challenge.

Study time and timetables

All timetables have study periods built into them so that students can manage the independent workload each subject requires. In the first few days, students may not yet have had all of their lessons, and they might be unsure how best to use this time. It does quickly become busier, and soon they will have plenty to do. We encourage students to use their study periods wisely, with the library and Room 18 providing quiet, focused spaces for independent work.

At the same time, our Wellbeing Centre is always available for advice, support, or simply a chance to pause when needed. The first week can feel overwhelming, but from experience, by the second week the majority of students feel much more settled and begin to really enjoy college life.

Each student also has a planned study session noted on their timetable. This is not a formal, timetabled lesson but a recommended slot in which to engage with further tutorial resources. Students do not need to be on site for this session and may choose to complete it at another time during the week.

Parent communication

We know that success comes from a strong partnership between college and home. To help you understand more about how we work, and how best to support your child, we have created a Parent/Carer Guide, we have created a Parent/Carer Guide, which you can access here.

The Parent Portal is the quickest and easiest way for parents/carers to access information such as attendance, report cards, course details, and tutor contact information. Registering is simple: you will need the student number of the young person in your care. Once you visit the Parent Portal section of our website, you will be guided through the process.

Parent Portal: https://parent.varndean.ac.uk/

First parent event

It may feel early to talk about life after college, but we believe it is important to begin planning for, and understanding, the options available after sixth form, whether university, apprenticeships, or employment. Over the coming months, we will host a number of events designed to support both students and families in navigating these next steps together.

Our first major event, New Parents Progression Evening, will take place at the University of Sussex on Wednesday 8th October, 6:00-7:30pm. We are excited to partner with the University of Sussex for this evening, which will include talks on both university and apprenticeship pathways. You will soon receive a letter from our Assistant Principal, Jo Hambleton, with further information, including details of our careers support.

Thank you once again for choosing Varndean Sixth Form College. We look forward to working with you and celebrating your child's achievements as they begin this exciting new chapter.

With best wishes,

Donna-Marie Janson

Principal