The Year 11 GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition students were invited to use the kitchen one last time before they leave, to bake sweet treats for a mini bake off.

Staff were asked to judge the students' creations and award one pair from each class as 'Star Baker'. It was a difficult task!

All students were presented with engraved wooden spoons and everyone enjoyed tasting the their creations.

City College Plymouth Tours for Year 10

This week we began a series of visits for our Year 10 students to City College Plymouth as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting students with their future pathways and post-16 choices.

Students had the opportunity to explore a wide range of exciting courses, including forensic science, cybersecurity, and engineering, gaining valuable insight into potential careers and next steps beyond school. The visit really helped bring learning to life and showcased the diverse opportunities available locally.

One of the highlights for many was seeing how college life differs from school - from the impressive specialist facilities to the more independent learning environment. Students particularly enjoyed visiting social spaces like The Underground, exploring breakout areas designed for collaborative learning, and experiencing how technologies such as VR are being used to enhance education.

This is just the beginning, with all six Year 10 classes set to take part in the coming weeks. These experiences are vital in helping students make informed decisions about their futures and understand the wide range of pathways open to them.

A huge thank you to Sarah Sinclair and her team at City College Plymouth for hosting us and providing such an engaging and informative experience.

Mr Scott

Leader of Careers & PSHE

Exploring the Future of Tech at BSides Exeter

We were delighted to take 30 students from Years 9-13 to the recent BSides Exeter event - an inspiring opportunity to explore the ever-evolving world of technology.

BSides Exeter is a community-driven event that brought together professionals, enthusiasts, and learners from across the fields of computing and cybersecurity.  Our students had the chance to explore a wide range of topics including cyber security, ethical hacking, gaming, robotics, and emerging technologies.  It provided a fantastic environment for sparking curiosity and opening doors to future career pathways.

Throughout the evening, students attended a variety of talks, workshops, and interactive sessions led by industry experts.  These experiences not only helped to build their knowledge but also gave them a real sense of what working in the tech industry is like.  Whether they were interested in coding, problem-solving, or creative tech design, there was something to engage everyone.

Trips like this are a key part of our commitment to providing meaningful, real-world learning experiences beyond the classroom.  They helped students connect what they learn in school to the wider world and encouraged them to think ambitiously about their futures.

It was a fantastic evening of discovery and innovation, led by Mr Scott, Mrs Corboy, and Mr Evans. We look forward to building on this experience in the future.

Mr Scott

Head of Computer Science

DofE News

This academic year, nearly 100 Year 9 students have signed up to take part in their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. This has four sections: volunteering, physical activity, skills and expedition. Last weekend, the first half of the cohort put their training into practice and completed their two day practice expedition, walking from Coypool to Jennycliff, via a night camping near Wembury. The D of E expeditions are led by Dynamic Adventure, who were very complimentary about our students. All teams are now ready for Assessment with some very strong teams starting to emerge, with four groups singled out for extra praise for demonstrating teamwork, resilience, independence and campcraft by the instructors. I have also been impressed with their time management and organisation by returning school equipment clean, dry and at the allotted time.

The next group of Bronze students will be out on expedition in May, with both qualifying expeditions in June and July on Dartmoor. Thank you to Ms Davidson and Mr Watling for their assistance throughout this weekend, and to parents/carers for assisting with drying and returning school equipment. 

Mr Guy-Fierens

Duke of Edinburgh Award Manager

Ten Tors News

DHSB's two 45-mile teams had a full turnout of 13 students (2x6 plus one reserve) for our final training weekend. Most of the walk was under clear skies with temperatures rising through the day. Both teams made excellent progress on a great circuit of North Dartmoor, starting and finishing near Princetown and camping high up behind Brat Tor. They now have a fortnight to recover before the Ten Tors Challenge 9th-10th May (including Year 12 doing their mock A-level exams, which is one of the reason why Ten Tors team members are highly sought after by employers and universities alike for their ability to plan ahead and manage a diverse workload including mental and physical exertion!). Details of routes and team codes to track the teams on the challenge will be published on tentors.org.uk next Tuesday and here in the Head's Blog next Friday.

Dr Colvile

Ten Tors Team Manager

April Sixth Form Update: Inspiration, Application, and Preparation

It was an incredibly busy and productive Spring term in the Sixth Form, with a strong focus on inspiring our students and preparing them for the exciting next steps in their lives. We’ve welcomed a host of engaging speakers and covered essential life skills in our tutorial program.

Guest Speakers Bring Real-World Insight

Our enrichment program has been bolstered by a fantastic line-up of visiting speakers this term, bringing diverse perspectives and practical advice to our students:

• Creative Careers: We welcomed Jenny Evans from Arts University Plymouth, who introduced students to their exciting new Content Creation degree, highlighting the evolving landscape of media and creative industries.

• University Guidance: Peter Offord from the University of Exeter delivered two highly relevant sessions. He spoke to Year 12 about the core question of why go to university and why Exeter could be a compelling option. For our Year 13 students, many of whom have already submitted applications, he provided vital information on managing offers, understanding student finance, and thriving during their first undergraduate year. A special thank you to the parents who encouraged Year 13 attendance—we were delighted with the turnout!

• Inspirational Journey: We were thrilled to host former student Harrison Nash, who shared his inspiring journey with Year 12. His talk covered the vital work of non-government organisations (NGOs), the experience of changing career paths, and the value of travel. His insights were both motivational and thought-provoking.

Tutorial Highlights: Essential Life Skills

Our weekly tutorial sessions continue to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the world beyond school.

Year 13: Preparing for Independence

Year 13 has been focusing on practical citizenship and future planning:

Our year 13 go on Study Leave from noon next Wednesday after their final assembly and brunch cheer.

Year 12: Looking Ahead and Developing Skills

Year 12 has been laying the groundwork for their transition into their final school year and future applications:

Looking Ahead to Next Term

As we approach the final stretch of the academic year, our focus shifts to final preparations, especially for our departing Year 13 students.

Year 13 Final Sessions

Before Year 13 departs for study leave, their last few tutorial and enrichment sessions will focus on financial and personal responsibility:

• Financial Literacy: Being responsible with money, understanding borrowing, and managing debt.

• Employment Basics: Understanding payslips and key employment terms and conditions.

• Safety & Well-being: Essential information regarding safety around drugs and alcohol.

Year 12 Preparation

Year 12 will be reflective after their  intensive mock examination period and in our Enrichment sessions we’ll also be moving forward with: 

• Career Opportunities: Exploring opportunities within the Civil Service (pictured are a group of students undertaking a crisis simulation with a team who visited from London), as well as the value of placements years whilst at Uni, networking and marketing yourself with respect to future prospects.

• An introduction to becoming financially savvy (with input from Nat West bank)

• Sexual health with a focus on fertility, pregnancy and the menopause.

We wish all our students a good term and a healthy balance of work, leisure and study routines as they prepare for their upcoming assessments, future transitions and head into the summer. 

Mrs Davidson

Head of Sixth Form

Mr Veale is one of our more innovative teachers, experimenting with the use of AI in teaching and learning. He has been teaching his Year 9 class how to use AI in their revision for next week's Summer Exams in Physics.

The work shared in the image below is by two students, Harry and Oliver, who under teacher supervision, created excellent guided learning using AI to help apply the techniques on the Revision@DHSB website. The first part (top left) is a brain dump from memory, on a topic that was previously identified as an area for improvement. This was then corrected in purple, using AI to mark it with prompts that Mr Veale taught the students to write. The second (top right) is a sketch summarising the relevant knowledge. Next (bottom left) is key "How...?" and "Why...?" questions written by the student, the answers to which are central to understanding the topic. Finally (bottom right), the "Examiner traps" are informed by AI using a prompt that provides some of the common ways some students lose marks in this topic, and how to boost their grades by avoiding them.

Dr Roy Colvile

Head of Physics

Last week saw the second round of the year 7 scholarship project. Once again we had some great submissions on a wide range of subjects, from environmental issues, scientific inventions, historical and nutritional research. 

All the projects showed good research and were creatively presented with evidence of where students had developed their understanding.  It's lovely to see students enjoying this opportunity of self guided learning outside of the curriculum and doing it so well.  Congratulations Year 7!

Head of Business and Economics &

Deputy Head of 6th Form

Sparx Maths and Sparx Reader

Each week we celebrate our highest performers in both Sparx Maths and Sparx Reader, two of our core homework platforms. We are proud of all of our students who complete their homework each week to such a high standard but these students deserve a special mention.

Congratulations!

Building Creativity: Support Our LEGO Club!

Our LEGO Robotics Club, open to students in Years 7-10, has become a hub of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.  Students give up their free time to design, build, and experiment with a wide range of LEGO, TECHNIC and DUPLO, alongside our exciting LEGO Spike robotics kits.  From imaginative structures to programmable moving models, the club is a space where ideas come to life.

What makes LEGO Club so special is the mix of hands-on building and digital thinking.  Students are not only constructing models but also learning how to code and control them, developing key skills in teamwork, resilience, and innovation.  It’s inspiring to see students support one another, share ideas, and take pride in what they create.

As the club continues to grow in popularity, we would love to expand and offer places to even more students. To do that, we need your help.

We are asking for donations of any LEGO or DUPLO you may have at home.   Whether it’s a full set, a box of mixed bricks, or even a handful of pieces, every contribution makes a difference. All types and conditions are welcome - the more variety, the better for sparking creativity!

Donations can be dropped off at: Room A22 (students), or Visitor Reception (parents).

Your support will help us continue to grow this fantastic club and provide more students with the opportunity to build, code, and create.

Thank you for helping us inspire the next generation of engineers, designers, and problem-solvers!

Mr Scott

Head of Computer Science

Please join us for our next PTFA meeting - we’d love to meet you.  The Conference Room is directly behind the Visitor Reception.  If you are considering coming please email ptfa@dhsb.org so we have an idea of numbers for refreshments.  Last minute attendees welcome too.

Mrs Kinsella

PTFA Liaison

On Saturday I was delighted to welcome back some of our 2006 leavers - Harrison Nash, Ian Miller, Andrew Walker, Dominic Wu, Craig Britzman, James Goss, Christ Hodgett and Harry Andrews. The sun shone and they had a great time touring the school, reminiscing, and sharing memories. It was the first time some of them had seen each other for 20 years! We got our steps in touring six blocks and earned our nostalgic lunch! A delicious pasty and pink finger from Brimbles! An added bonus was Miss Davidson serendipitously coming by - just as I was lining them up for a photo.  Harry brought along his fantastic 2006 Yearbook to look at and the 2000 and 2004 whole school photos were studied closely!

A lot happened during their years at DHSB - a large multi-role Sports Hall was built (a space finally large enough to hold whole school assemblies), lunch went from being served in a dining hall (which no longer exists, in an area now part of our astroturf) to the construction and opening of Gibbons refectory (renamed Refuel), and the replacement of the old Air Training Corps hut with a new squadron drill hall ‘Ingle.’ The Jervis building was extended for the benefit of the Music Department and an exercise suite was established in the basement of E Block. A new bridge leading to the entrance of E Block was also added, leading to the reception area and school library.

My visitors were surprised to see the changes in F Block, their Common Room, now the Sixth Form Centre. They told me that when they were there, all they had was a piano, chairs down one side, and the opposite side, with nothing else - not even tables. They managed to procure, from various sources, a television, DVD player, pool table and a table football game! They even held a ‘crazy tie’ day to raise money for Christmas decorations!

The chairs laid out on opposite sides was deliberate - Year 12 on one side, and Year 13 on the other - with absolutely no mixing.

They just missed out on the refurbishment of the Sixth Form Centre - it was ready for business in the autumn of 2006 - adding a new outside staircase, a mezzanine floor, kitchenette (now Refuel 6) and an open-out stage. And I believe the sixth formers do indeed mix nowadays.

I was told there used to be two graves in the school, does anyone else know anything about this?

A big thank you to Harrison for approaching me to host his reunion and a big thank you to my colleague Paul Scott for coming along to help. And double House points awarded to Harry as he came to the recent 130th Anniversary too!

If you would like your own year/class reunion at the school please get in touch - alumni@dhsb.org

In other alumni news, I attended Charlie Trevethan’s funeral this week. I was so saddened to hear that he passed away, quite suddenly in April.  I posted about Charlie’s 100th birthday a few months ago which you may remember seeing.  Such was the affection for Charlie that even Plymouth Argyle paid their respects during last Saturday’s football match. Our condolences to Charlie’s family and friends at this very sad time. Rest in Peace Charlie.

Mrs Kinsella

Alumni Engagement & Archives

Sports Updates and News

Cricket

Well done to the DHSB Year 7 Cricket Team who played their part in a really competitive game Monday afternoon in the Devon Cup against Mount Kelly. DHSB (104 all out) lost by 26 runs to Mount Kelly (129-6) but it was a really encouraging performance from all.

Great effort lads!

Flag Football

It was a great day for the DHSB U15s NFL Flag Football team on Tuesday. With the team made up of Year 9s in a Year 10 competition, it was great to see them finish 2nd in the South West of England regional tournament.

Special mention to Jaeden who was voted as MVP by the teachers of the opposition schools!