Donna-Marie Janson

Principal and Governor

Donna-Marie Janson is the Principal and CEO of Varndean College. She joined the College as Vice Principal in September 2018, after seven years as Assistant Principal at a college in Southampton.  She became Principal at Varndean College in September 2020.

Donna-Marie has over 25 years of experience of working in the Education sector, specifically in Sixth Form Colleges. She started her career as a secondary school teacher in Crowborough, Kent, teaching English, Film Studies and Photography.  She worked at two Sixth Form Colleges in Sussex, before then moving to Southampton. In addition to this she has taught in Greece and Australia. 

Donna-Marie is also Chair of  the steering group for External Quality Review and the representative for FE Sussex on the Local Skills Improvement Board.

She has a huge adoration for Varndean College and has found her home here, believing there is no better place to study or work. 

She is passionate about transforming the lives of our community through the provision of exceptional education and opportunities for lifelong learning. She is committed to enabling social mobility and narrowing gaps in society and ensuring that every young person has access to the educational environment, support and opportunities to succeed.   

When she is not at work, you will find Donna-Marie enjoying her spare time with her beautiful Labradoodle, Digby.