School Development Plan

As we head off to enjoy the summer, I’d like to share with you the progress we’ve made towards the school development priorities this academic year.

Please take a moment to read through our update by following this link.

A Night of Pure Talent: DHSB’s Inaugural Year 7 Music Awards Evening!

On Monday we held our first-ever Year 7 Music Awards Evening to celebrate the progress our youngest students have made this year and to shine a spotlight on the outstanding up-and-coming musical talent within the school.

The audience were impressed by the phenomenal talent in this year group and enjoyed a variety of performances ranging from junior vocal group 'Noys' performing ‘Revolting Children’, to classical solo recitals on piano, violin and trombone. They delighted in musical theatre performances, original composition and Pop and Rock ensemble performances of wonderful renditions which included ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘A Thousand Years’ and ‘Billie Jean’.

Class nominations for Progress in Music were given to the following students:

7L - Leighton, Jacob and Reuben

7T - Olaolu, Elliott and Andrew

7W - Jerome and Sam

7J - Samuel and Harrison

7A - Evan and Jasper

7F - Oakah and Stefan

7S - Liam and Ridit

Prestigious Awards and Cups were presented, with Alexander (7L) receiving the Outstanding Commitment to Extra Curricular award, Jorik (7L) receiving the Peri Musician of the Year award, Eddie (7W) receiving the Outstanding Musical Theatre Performer ward and Eric (7W) receiving the Young Musician of the Year award.

The evening also held a deeply special moment of gratitude as the Music Department took this opportunity to extend their heartfelt thanks to our Deputy Headteacher, Dave Adams, for his support of the Arts at DHSB.

To honour his unwavering devotion and to mark his incredible contribution to the Music Department, the Music Department created the ‘Commitment to Music - Dave Adams Award'. The first-ever recipient of this prestigious new honour was Indy (7T) — a phenomenal young man and a thoroughly deserving winner.

The future of music at DHSB is looking incredibly bright. Thank you to all the staff, parents, and, most importantly, our talented Year 7 musicians for making this inaugural evening such a resounding success!

The DHSB Music Department

Celebrating Success: Rewards Trip to Cineworld and Five Guys

Huge congratulations to the 150 students from Year 7 to Year 11 who earned a place on this year’s Rewards Trip in recognition of their outstanding commendations and excellent academic progress throughout the year.

The trip was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the hard work, commitment, and positive attitudes our students have consistently demonstrated both in and out of the classroom. As a reward for their achievements, students enjoyed a visit to Cineworld, where they had the opportunity to choose between two exciting films: Toy Story 5 or Supergirl. With plenty of laughs, action, and entertainment on the big screen, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

For our Year 11 students, the trip also provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the completion of their GCSE examinations. After months of dedication, revision, and hard work, it was a well-deserved chance to relax with friends, reflect on everything they had achieved, and mark the end of an important chapter in their school journey.

After the cinema, the celebrations continued with lunch at Five Guys, where students enjoyed a well-deserved meal together. It was wonderful to see students socialising, celebrating their successes, and making lasting memories with their peers.

We are incredibly grateful to the University of Plymouth for sponsoring and financially supporting this year’s Celebration Day. Their support helped make this memorable experience possible and enabled our students to celebrate their achievements in a meaningful and enjoyable way.

This event is a wonderful example of the impact that strong partnerships can have on our students and we thank them for their continued commitment to supporting young people and recognising the importance of celebrating success.

A huge thank you goes to our colleagues at the University of Plymouth - Katherine Keay, Laura Sorensen, Sophie Slater and Kate Sardella - for their support in making the day such a success. A special mention to Mr Scott for his work with the University team in designing the bags, books and pens which were distributed to the students as an additional gesture of recognition.

The students were accompanied by members of the Pastoral Team, who thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the students and seeing them recognised for their dedication and achievements. Rewarding students for their hard work is always a highlight of the school year, and it was inspiring to witness the pride and positivity shown throughout the day.

We are incredibly proud of every student who earned their place on this rewards trip. Their commitment to achieving their best and contributing positively to our school community is something to be celebrated, and we hope this experience serves as motivation to continue striving for success in the year ahead.

Well done to all 150 students—we look forward to celebrating even more achievements in the future!

Mr Manley and Mrs McGowan

Road Safety, Future Pathways, and Sixth Form Superstars

It has been a beautifully warm and fast-paced week at DHSB. Despite the rising temperatures, the energy and engagement across the school have been fantastic.

This week, we have a bumper update from our Sixth Form, highlighting the incredible ways our senior students are preparing for the future and contributing to the wider community.

Road SHaRP: Invaluable Life Skills for KS5

On Monday, our Key Stage 5 students attended a superb road safety session called Road SHaRP, delivered by Mick Wright.

The session focused heavily on a vital question: What do you do when things go wrong? Rather than just standard driving advice, the presentation enthralled students with practical, invaluable life learning. Topics covered included:

• Dynamic risk assessment

• Staying safe roadside

• How to properly call for help

• Bystander intervention (the latest in life-saving techniques)

These are highly transferable life skills that help build resilient, well-rounded community members. Even our staff picked up vital new insights, particularly regarding the functionality of the in-vehicle emergency call (eCall) system on steering wheels for reporting highway debris, and the significance of the SARaH Act 2015 (Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act).

Contributing to Research

DHSB students have also been asked to act as a control group to contribute to the independent evaluation of this program. They participated in a pre-session survey, one at the start, and will complete a follow-up later this summer. As always, the engagement and maturity of our students were exemplary.

A Huge Thank You: This amazing resource was made possible thanks to a collaborative effort. Our immense thanks go to @devonandcornwallpoliceroadsafetyteam,@ DevonandSomerset Fire & Rescue Service, Devon and Cornwall Police, South West Ambulance, Devon Air Ambulance, Devon County Council, Somerset Council, Cornwall Council, and Plymouth City Council

Link to programme here:https://learn-2-live.org.uk/about

Preparing for the Future: Unifrog and Apprenticeships

In our weekly Sixth Form assembly, we celebrated the proactive steps our students are taking toward their next steps.

Students have been busy updating UNIFROG with their skills, extracurricular activities, and work experience placements. At a time when direct entry to university is not the chosen path for everyone, securing employment or competitive degree apprenticeships requires a distinct edge. This detailed information is vital, enabling our tutor team to craft excellent, tailored references that help our young people shine bright in a competitive market.

Sixth Form Superstars

We have had a tremendous amount to celebrate this week, with several students demonstrating outstanding leadership, academic drive, and community spirit.

• Imperial Global Health Competition: 21 of our students were celebrated in assembly for their exciting engagement in this competition. They designed large e-posters illustrating how science and technology combine with health research to improve lives across five different contests, each focusing on distinct medical conditions.

  
  

• Community Volunteering with 'The Zone': A group of students demonstrated exceptional community spirit by volunteering their time with The Zone’s Young People’s Participation Group. They contributed thoughtfully to developing Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and PSHE programmes. Their ideas will help improve these vital resources for young people across Plymouth, leaving a lasting positive impact.

  
  

• Musical Honours at the Menin Gate: Year 12 student Bea travelled to Belgium this week, delivering a beautiful flute performance at the historic Menin Gate.

  
  

• House Leadership: Our House Captains have been working incredibly hard coordinating the upcoming Summer Fair. Grace and Max deserve a special mention for their quiet commitment, leadership skills, and constant willingness to help the school community.

  
  

• Sports Day Heroes: A big shout out to the 10 Year 12 individuals who showed incredible generosity and energy in supporting staff and peers throughout Sports Day this week.

Thank you to Sharon Davidson, Head of Sixth Form, for compiling these wonderful updates. It is incredibly reassuring to see our senior students leading by example with such energy, compassion, and dedication.

Year 8 Students Celebrate Their Tamar Crossings Work Experience

This week, six Year 8 students from Devonport High School for Boys enjoyed a very special celebration visit to the Tamar Bridge, marking the culmination of their Digital Enterprise Work Experience project with Tamar Crossings.

Earlier this year, students worked as consultants for a real employer, taking on the challenge of developing ideas for celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Tamar Bridge in 2031, while also helping to raise awareness of the Bridging the Tamar Visitor & Learning Centre. Throughout the project, students developed their skills in research, teamwork, creativity, marketing, presenting and problem-solving, all while responding to a genuine business brief.

This project formed part of the new KS3 Work Experience activities at DHSB, giving students the opportunity to experience the world of work before their formal Year 10 placements. It demonstrated how the skills developed in the classroom can be applied to real challenges faced by employers.

Following their successful pitches in our Dragon’s Den-style final, the winning students were rewarded with an unforgettable afternoon at one of Plymouth’s most iconic landmarks.

The students were welcomed by Jane Cooper, Coral Jonas and Katherine Peberdy from Tamar Crossings, who provided a fascinating behind-the-scenes experience of the Tamar Bridge and the work involved in maintaining this vital piece of local infrastructure.

The visit included a tour of the Anchorage Chamber and the Visitor & Learning Centre, as well as the opportunity to explore parts of the historic bridge itself. Students learned about the incredible engineering behind the structure and discovered some amazing facts about one of the South West’s most important transport links.

The afternoon concluded with a wonderful afternoon tea overlooking the Tamar Bridge and River Tamar, prepared by Mr Austin, whose incredible efforts helped make the celebration a memorable occasion for everyone involved.

A huge thank you goes to Jane Cooper, Coral Jonas and Katherine Peberdy from Tamar Crossings for their time, enthusiasm and support throughout this project, and to Mrs Wilkinson and Mr Parkin for accompanying the students and helping to make the visit possible.

Experiences like this show the true value of employer partnerships: they inspire students, develop confidence and help them understand the many exciting opportunities that exist beyond the classroom.

Mr Scott

Leader of Careers & PSHE

Drum Corps Workshop

On Monday, 12 students took part in a workshop led by our very own leavers Jack and Elliot. This was Drum corps training for our identified high achieving drummers and the aim was to experience military style drumming as a unit, and open up careers potential for musicians in the forces.

Elliot and Jack showed outstanding leadership, and our students picked up the material very quickly. 

KS3 Work Experience to Meadow View

A group of 5 students from Devonport High School for Boys recently took part in an exciting and highly practical KS3 work experience visit to Meadow View, one of Plymouth’s most significant new developments in supported housing.

A group of students arrived on site to gain a real insight into the construction industry and the wide range of careers involved in delivering large-scale community projects.  Meadow View is set to provide state-of-the-art accommodation for adults with additional needs, creating a safe, modern, and inclusive environment that will have a lasting positive impact on the local area. The visit gave students a valuable opportunity to see how developments like this are carefully planned, built, and brought to life.

The experience was split into two engaging sessions. In the first session, students were welcomed into the site hut by the friendly project team from Devon Contractors. They learned about the scope of the Meadow View development and explored the many different roles involved in construction, from project management and site engineering to health and safety and logistics. Students were encouraged to ask questions about career pathways and apprenticeships, gaining a clearer understanding of how they might enter the industry in the future.

In the second session, students were taken out onto the construction site for a guided tour. After being issued with appropriate safety equipment, they were able to see the project in action and understand how different stages of the build come together.  A particular highlight was the “have a go” bricklaying activity, where students had the chance to try laying bricks under expert supervision.  This hands-on experience was a real highlight, giving students a taste of the practical skills required on site and the satisfaction of working with their hands.

The visit also helped students appreciate the wider purpose of the development. Meadow View is not just a construction project, but a vital community facility that will support vulnerable adults in Plymouth. Seeing this purpose first-hand helped students understand how their work in the future could directly contribute to improving lives in their own city.

Devon Contractors, an award-winning independent construction company, continue to demonstrate their commitment to quality, sustainability, and community impact. Their use of local labour, subcontractors, and suppliers also highlights the importance of supporting the local economy while reducing environmental impact.

A huge thank you to Carla Wilkinson from Devon Contractors, and to Mr Campbell for taking the students on the visit.

Mr Scott

Leader of Careers & PSHE

DHSB achieves national Quality in Careers Standard

We are delighted to announce that Devonport High School for Boys has successfully achieved the prestigious Quality in Careers Standard, nationally recognised as the benchmark for excellence in careers education, information, advice and guidance.

Following a detailed assessment by Investors in Careers assessor Nicki Young, DHSB was officially confirmed as: "nationally assessed as achieving the Quality in Careers Standard, fully meeting all the accreditation criteria incorporating the Gatsby Benchmarks."

This achievement recognises the commitment of our whole school community to ensuring that every student receives a high-quality careers education and is prepared to make informed decisions about their future pathways.

The assessment process involved a comprehensive review of our careers programme, including discussions with students, staff, governors, parents and employers. The assessors highlighted the breadth and quality of our provision, including our strong employer engagement, careers curriculum, work experience opportunities, enrichment activities and the way careers learning is embedded across the school.

The Quality in Careers Standard recognises that effective careers education is much more than preparing students for their next step. It is about developing ambition, raising aspirations and helping young people understand the opportunities available to them - whether through university, apprenticeships, employment, entrepreneurship or other pathways.

Over recent years, DHSB has continued to expand its careers offer, working closely with universities, employers, training providers and local partners. This includes our annual Careers Fair, weekly Careerousel programme, work experience opportunities, subject-linked careers learning, employer-led workshops, careers guidance, use of platforms such as Unifrog, and a wide range of enrichment opportunities that connect students with the world beyond school.

The assessors also recognised the commitment of staff across the school in embedding careers-related learning within their curriculum areas, ensuring students understand how their subjects connect to future opportunities.

Headteacher, Mr Roberts, said: “Achieving the Quality in Careers Standard is a fantastic recognition of the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in supporting our students’ futures. Careers education is at the heart of ensuring our young people leave DHSB with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make successful choices. I would like to thank Mr Scott, our Leader of Careers & PSHE, and all colleagues, employers, partners, parents and students who have contributed to this achievement.”

Leader of Careers & PSHE Mr Scott added: “This award reflects the collective effort of our whole school community. We are incredibly grateful to our staff, governors, employer partners, universities and training providers who continue to provide our students with inspiring opportunities and meaningful encounters with the world of work. The assessment process was a valuable opportunity to reflect on our provision, celebrate our successes and identify further ways we can continue to improve.”

DHSB is now a full holder of the award for the next three years and will continue to work with Investors in Careers to maintain and further develop its careers programme.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported our journey towards achieving this national recognition. Together, we are continuing to ensure that every DHSB student is equipped to thrive in the future.

Students Learn About Plymouth's New Food Waste Recycling Service

This morning, Devonport High School for Boys was pleased to welcome Emma Dixon and Lauren Park-McCann from Plymouth City Council's Food Waste team, who delivered an informative Year 8 assembly about Plymouth's new household food waste recycling service.

The assembly introduced students to the new scheme, explaining why recycling food waste is so important and how it can help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.  Students discovered what can and cannot be placed in food waste caddies, what happens to food waste after it is collected, and how it is transformed into valuable resources such as renewable energy and fertiliser.

Emma and Lauren also challenged students to think about the amount of food that is wasted every day and the environmental impact this has.  By making small changes at home, such as using the new food waste recycling service correctly, every family can play a part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping Plymouth become a greener, more sustainable city.

The assembly forms part of our wider commitment to sustainability and environmental education, helping students understand how their everyday choices can have a positive impact on the world around them.  Developing environmentally responsible citizens is an important aspect of life at Devonport High School for Boys, and we are grateful to organisations that help bring these important messages to our students.  The work will continue into Year 9's Careers & PSHE lessons for 2026/27.

Mrs Brophy and I would like to thank Emma and Lauren for taking the time to visit us and for delivering such an engaging and thought-provoking session.  We look forward to continuing to work with Plymouth City Council to support environmental awareness across our school community.

Mr Scott

Leader of Careers & PSHE

STEM News

This year has been incredibly successful for our Industrial Cadets students. Over the course of the year, we have had 28 students across years 8-12 involved in the EDT Industrial Cadets awards.

Particular congratulations go to our Gold Award students who were awarded with Project of the Year for the South of England, an incredible achievement!

Our two Bronze Award teams had equally successful projects. Our Future Buildings team were awarded the Teamwork award for the South of England, and our School is and Island team were awarded the Ingenuity award. They were also given a Highly Commended mention for Project of the Year. For the second year running DHSB have been awarded two of the three awards given out in the South of England at the Bronze level.

On top of this, we have had multiple students being awarded the Silver Award for their work experience and projects in space shuttle engineering.

Gold Award (year 12):

Elizabeth

Jakub

Sebastian

Benedict

Maruf

Silver Award (Year 12):

Ben

Kenzou

Leo

Luke

Rohan

Tom

Isla

Magnus

Jakub

Maruf

Bronze Award (Year 8):

Aeron

Logan

Connor

Edward

George

George

Lucas

Otto

Sam

Seth

Tom

Future Skills: Careers in STEM

Ayaan

Tom

Rhys

Filip

Ken

Mr Spencer

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Coordinator

Thom Guy-Fierens, Teacher of Physics and our Duke of Edinburgh Award Manager, is also a volunteer with Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team Plymouth which is a registered charity. The team is run entirely by volunteers from a range of backgrounds and are assigned tasks by the Police. Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team Plymouth are also one of our House charities. Thom has been involved in searches at 2am, rescues of injured climbers and was recently involved in the evacuation of residents following the discovery of three different WW2 bombs. You can find out more about Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team Plymouth by visiting the team's website.

We are very proud of Thom and what he does and also proud of the school which releases staff when they are needed and provides cover for them.

Well done, Thom!

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!

The PTFA have had a busy couple of weeks.  We provided the refreshments at the two 11+ Familiarisation events last week, and at the Open Evening this week - a big thank you to staff and PTFA members Dr Downes, Mrs Luing-Holmes, Isa, Rachel M, Rachel R, Jade, Kelly, Prefects Cicely, Ivan, Arthur and George, student Bill and my mum. A special thank you to Joanna for organising much of it.

Sandwiched in between we had our Summer Disco! I had a little panic when it was announced on Friday that the England match may be moved to 7.00pm on Sunday - I was envisioning an empty disco!  Thankfully no change to the time and crisis averted  

It was certainly a hot one!  Despite the heat, just under 500 students did the cha-cha slide and sang along to Abba!  Finishing with Sweet Caroline - I like to think we manifested a win for England just a few hours later! A big thank you to all our volunteers - we can’t run our events without you.

On the 1st July we held our final meeting of the year - it was a busy one! We sorted wristbands for the Summer Disco, framed the 11+ Certificates of Achievement and chose the short list of entries for our photography competition. Our winner will be announced next week! The standard is fantastic!

We were pleased to approve grants, for a DHSB flag for our flagpole, and for items for music technology recording, radio microphones, lights and cables - totalling £3787.00.

An approved grant from last year came full circle when we were invited to see it in action during our meeting.  In our November meeting, Mr Scott and Mr Evans presented a bid to us for a new projector and screen for our theatre.  We unanimously approved it, but it was a lengthy process from start to finish.  Along the way we also approved a lighting desk and theatre recording system - our performances can now be recorded and live streamed.  We were delighted to cover the cost of £24,000 - everyone in the school will benefit from these improvements.

When we saw it we were so impressed! We viewed the photography competition entries on the giant screen in all their glory! Thank you to Mr Evans for coming back to DHSB in the evening to facilitate this - we really appreciated it. A big thank you to Refuel too for making us a lovely end of year buffet.

Finally, keep an eye on our Facebook and X feeds for all PTFA news and forthcoming events.

Mrs Kinsella

PTFA Liaison 

Year 10 student Rowan, achieved a Merit in his Grade 8 Flute exam this week. Rowan has been playing the flute for just over six years; he started just before COVID and survived many online lessons during the early years!

He has played with Devon Youth Wind Orchestra and now plays regularly with the Devon Youth Orchestra Symphony Orchestra and the Plymouth Youth Symphony Orchestra. You will have also seen Rowan performing as a member of the school's Pit Orchestra playing pieces for the school productions. He particularly loved the opportunity to play in Les Miserables.

Well done, Rowan!

Good luck to Year 12 student Harry Mills who is a competing in the European ILCA 6 Sailing Championships as part of Team GBR. The championships are taking place in Thessaloniki, Greece and there are 225 boys and 90 girls competing. You can read more by following this link.

Harry is part of the British sailing pathway and talent performance academy and was invited to join the Diploma in Sporting Excellence program which is delivered in the class room, online and on the water through the RYA and Loughborough. He continues to compete nationally and internationally and after the European ILCA 6 Sailing Championships, he will be taking part in the World Championships in Denmark. 

Harry is a brand ambassador for Rooster Sailing and is also supported by a number of other sailing companies and received a Cornwall young and talented grant. He is also a qualified sailing instructor himself and in September he will become an RYA Race Coach.

We look forward to hearing about your summer and success over the summer, Harry.

Cricket

Our Under 13s have been crowned Devon Cup Champions after a brilliant 4 wicket victory against Uffculme School. The team put in an excellent bowling performance, restricting Uffculme to 114, before successfully chasing down the target in 16 overs. Special mention to Oscar Hulbert and Yasser Oriolowo who were excellent with the ball, taking 3 wickets each. In reply, Oliver Hulbert got us off to a good start scoring 31 runs. We had a nervy finish, but a composed innings from Rehaan Chatterjee got the team over the line. 

​A massive well done to all the students who played in the final but also those who have played throughout the year. 

Sports Day 2026

Staff and students had a brilliant day of track and field athletics and multi-sport activities. The events were inclusive, active and fun as always!

In the morning, Years 7 and 8 took part in multi-sports activities in school while Years 9 and 10 headed over to Brickfields and took part in a traditional track & field athletics competition, swapping over in the afternoon so by the end of the day they had all taken part in some multi-sports and athletics events.

Track and Field events included the usual distance races and relays, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot and Javelin. Multi-sports activities included Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, Table Tennis, Tug of War, Archery, Handball, E-Sports, Dodgeball and Rounders.

Sports Day is always one of those events in the school calendar that students look forward to and creates lasting memories. Thank you to the whole team at DHSB for chipping in to make the day great!