School life goes on long after the final bell has sounded.
There is a wealth of activities outside normal school hours with every department offering activities at some point throughout the year. Whether or not you want to learn a new skill, develop existing ones, represent your school, meet new people or just turn up and have fun, with over 100 different extra-curricular clubs running last year there really is something for everyone.
Extra-curricular Timetable 2024
Please view the timetable for up to date information on all our clubs this term. This is a live document so please do keep an eye on this for any changes or new additions throughout the term.
In addition the PE Extra Curricular clubs can also be viewed below:
PE Extra-curricular Timetable - Summer 2024
Varndean Galaxy Girls Academy Information
Doing extra-curricular things has helped my confidence enormously.
As well as extra-curricular activities throughout the year, there are also many enriching opportunities outside the classroom through DofE and Enrichment.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is a well established enrichment programme that many students at Varndean benefit from each year. For further information about what this involves, please see the FAQs below, or contact us.
Did you know? Varndean was the first state school in Brighton and Hove to become a Directly Licensed DofE Centre.
The Duke of Edinburgh award scheme provides an incredible opportunity for building students’ resilience, teamwork, independence, preparedness, commitment and community spirit, which is why we consider it to be such an important aspect of our curriculum offer.
Entry onto the scheme is totally inclusive and we are proud to be one of the largest centres for DofE in the South East, with record numbers of students completing their Bronze and Silver Awards year on year.
There rarely seems to be a weekend go by without one group or another out on the Sussex Downs on a practice DofE Expedition or final assessment.
One of the lasting effects that we see from the course is that many students decide to continue with their community work long after they have completed their DofE because they find it so rewarding.
Our Directly Licensed Centre plaque is displayed with pride.
It helps with leadership skills, public speaking, meeting new people, working as a team.
Enrichment enhances, improves and makes something more rewarding.
A central part of our enrichment programme is the enrichment week that takes place during the last week of the summer term. Every student and member of staff takes part and students can choose from a variety of activities based either at school, in the local area or much further afield.
Area of Excellence
Varndean School have been recognised nationally as having an Area of Excellence for character education by independent charity for school improvement, Challenge Partners and our enrichment programme forms an important aspect of this.
These experiences have been really poignant for me and I've loved every moment of it.
ANNA, STUDENT HEAD TEACHER 2020
