The marquee was packed with students, families, Trustees and staff for our annual Speech Day celebration events on Wednesday.

Musicians from across the school performed pieces at both events: the DHSB String Quartet (Alex, Otto and Ralph), accompanied by the strings teacher Mrs Ashby; Neythen on the Euphonium, accompanied by Mrs Luing-Holmes Director of Creative and Performing Arts; Classical Guitar Soloist Ben; and Piano Soloist Thurein.

Our Guest of Honour this year was Management Consultant/Project Manager in Tech Corporations and Freelance Music/Entertainment Photographer, Raphael Pour-Hashemi, who left DHSB in 1998. After presenting the awards to our former Year 7 to 10 students, Raph gave an inspirational address to the students and guests about navigating life, career paths, and the future whilst describing his life journey from leaving DHSB - studying film and cinema at university, turning down a dream job because it wouldn't pay the bills, becoming a 'corporate warrior', and eventually becoming a paid and published photographer through wanting to take better pictures of his nights spent attending music gigs.

He spoke about how rapid technological growth means machines will handle many skill-based tasks, making human qualities like compassion, generosity, and community care more vital than technical abilities alone. Students were encouraged to embrace serendipity and Raph explained that trying to plan every step can kill the joy of discovery, wheras staying curious, meeting new people, and exploring unusual interests creates room for unexpected opportunities. He also told students that in his experience, feelings of hesitation, self-doubt, or fear of failure often signal worth-pursuing opportunities that encourage personal growth.

He finished his speech by offering the former Year 7 to 10 award recipients and assembled guests "Stay curious. Follow the things that interest you. Do some things that frighten you. Leave room for serendipity. Be open to what surprises the universe has for you. And above all, think about the kind of human being you want to be."

During the afternoon celebration event, School Captain Joshua Daniel spoke about his time in the role and the opportunities afforded him. He thanked Mrs Kinsella and fellow student Max for their help in putting together the School Magazine as well as Mr Roberts for his help and guidance. Highlighting the opportunities at DHSB to learn and grow through academic studies and extra curricular activities like the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in which he completed the Gold Award, Joshua spoke about the value of having grace within a large community, kindness, and being at peace knowing you have made a positive contribution to your community.

The evening celebration was attended by our former Year 11 to Year 13 students. There was a real buzz in the air as the students collected their awards and those present celebrated their achievements with them.

Our Guest of Honour, Raphael, joined alumni Harrison Elliot and Jordan Ogle, along with Mr Roberts, on stage to share their memories of their time at DHSB and their journeys since leaving. Harrison runs a successful bricklaying and construction company, manages a social media brand called 'Benchin’ Bricky' (where he shares the realities of life in construction, business, fitness and mental health), is developing a workwear brand and is launching a YouTube project focused on tradespeople and construction culture. Jordan works in organisational Learning & Development for HM Land Registry, after training to be a Civil Servant and working in the industry before realising that the industry and his university degree didn't align with his strengths.

When asked for some words of advice, Harrison advised students: "Work hard, be kind to people, and don’t be scared to try things even if you’re not immediately good at them. Most success doesn’t come from being the smartest person in the room, it comes from showing up consistently and not giving up when things get difficult."

Jordan added "Even if you don't like something, it will teach you what you do like and over time you will get closer and closer to doing what brings you the most fulfilment in life!"

Raphael concluded "In an AI age, simply being “good” at something probably won’t be enough. Instead, focus on being passionate, creative, supportive of people and society, and caring, because being human, and our own humanity, and following our own passions and interests, will increasingly be what sets us apart."

At the end of the evening, everyone enjoyed a fabulous buffet supper provided by Refuel staff, celebrated the students' achievements and caught up with leavers moving onto college, university, apprenticeships or gap years.

Well done to all the students who received an award this year—keep up the great work! Finally, thank you to all the staff involved in putting together the Speech Day celebration events. Your hard work helped make the day a fantastic success.

What some of our students did this summer

Over the summer, Year 8 student Edward, had success in both Tennis and Cricket. He attended 12 tennis tournaments with the following excellent results:

• Came 3^rd  - Grade 5 16U Bridgwater

• Consolation Winner – Grade 3 12U doubles Taunton (with his partner Robin)

• Runner Up – Grade 4 14U doubles Plymouth Open (with his partner Fin)

• 1^st place – Grade 4 12U singles Heron Open (Newquay)

• Consolation Winner – Grade 3 14U doubles Penzance Open (with his partner Fin)

• Runner up – Grade 3 12U Doubles Penzance Open (with his partner Fin)

• Runner up – Grade 3 12u Doubles Devon County Championships (Ivybridge with his partner Robin)

A Grade 5 tournament is for younger players who are playing up or new to competing own age category (so local or club level at own age). Grade 4 tournaments are county level and grade 3 are regional level. (grade 1 and 2 are national level)

In cricket, Edward was awarded ‘Best Bowler’ by Whitchurch Cricket Club

Well done, Edward!

Our Students Help Shape the Conversation About Young Men's Safety and Mental Health

Two of our students spent the summer taking part in an exciting youth research project designed to give young men a greater voice in conversations about their lives and their communities.

The Authoring Our Own Stories project, delivered through Plymouth City Council's Community Connections team in partnership with Youth Focus South West, brings together young men aged 15–17 to explore issues that matter to them and consider how their experiences can help influence decision-makers and services.

Becoming peer researchers

The project gives participating young people the opportunity to become peer researchers. Rather than simply being asked for their opinions, the students are actively involved in exploring issues affecting young men, gathering the views of other young people and helping to develop recommendations for organisations and decision-makers.

The project builds on work carried out by a previous group, which explored issues affecting women and girls, particularly around safety. This year's group has been given the opportunity to explore the experiences and concerns of young men.

Oliver and Tom have been enthusiastic members of the group and have made a strong contribution throughout the project. Their involvement has given them an opportunity to develop confidence, communication and research skills while working alongside other young people from across the region.

A trip to London

As part of the project, Oliver and Tom travelled to London over the summer to meet with other youth groups involved in the programme.

The visit provided an opportunity for the young people to meet face-to-face, share their experiences and continue working together on the project. Away from the research, Oliver and Tom also had the chance to experience some of London's landmarks, including a memorable visit to the London Eye as the sun was setting.

The trip was an important part of a wider programme of experiences designed to help the young people build confidence, broaden their horizons and recognise the value of their own voices and experiences.

From research to action

The project is now moving into its next phase. The young people are working to bring together the findings from their research and develop a survey focusing on young men's safety and mental health.

There is also the possibility of holding small focus groups in schools, allowing the researchers to gather further views from young people and strengthen their findings.

Ultimately, the aim is for the young people's experiences and recommendations to be shared with those who can influence services and decision-making - helping to make Plymouth a better, safer and more supportive city for young men.

We are delighted that Oliver and Tom have taken the opportunity to get involved in such a meaningful project. Their participation demonstrates the value of giving young people genuine opportunities to research, contribute, lead and influence change.

We would like to thank Plymouth City Council's Community Connections team and Youth Focus South West for their work on the project and for supporting our students throughout this experience.

We look forward to seeing the final findings and hearing more about the young people's recommendations later in the year.

Mr Scott

Leader of Careers & PSHE

Acting Success

Year 13 student Leila achieved Grade 8 in her Acting LAMDA. A Grade 8 Acting LAMDA is the highest level of speech and drama examination offered by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and is also known as the 'Gold Medal'.

Laila said "I have been acting in theatre since I was 5 years old, but have been in the professional industry since age 14 and I have filmed both short films and series. I have also taken acting LAMDA exams from age 11, and have completed all 8 to a distinction standard! I have always loved acting as I believe it is a beautiful way for people of all ages to escape from the confines of their own heads, and step into someone else's shoes for a while. Acting is not only a way to tell someone else's story, but to give a voice to the voiceless and put a face to the struggles people ignore. It is more than just a passion to me, but a means of getting out of my shell and a career I intend to pursue for as long as I can."

Well done Leila, we look forward to seeing your name in lights!

Student sees the inside of an MP’s Office

Year 13 student Lily, spent a few days during the summer break in her local MP's office.

Lily shared that she "spent 3 days in the offices of Rebecca Smith in Plympton, learning about the role of MPs outside of Westminster, and how they can have a real and meaningful impact on the local community. I was very grateful for the opportunity to broaden my political education and to explore the different pathways into a political career. Throughout this experience, there was the opportunity to partake in an open-question essay competition, and I chose to write my essay on the limitations placed on Prime Ministerial power. Politics has always been a passion of mine, particularly when considering the tensions between Prime Ministers/Cabinet and individuals."

Lily won the political essay competition with her piece about Prime Ministers. Well done, Lily!

Olford Bequest Recipients Receive Award

The Olford Bequest offers grants of £1,200 to students in Plymouth who are progressing to university from A Level or college study. This year, three DHSB students received the award.

Otto, Elliott and Kieran received their Olford Bequest from the Lord Mayor of Plymouth at Plymouth council house, last week. The presentation was held in the Lord Mayor's Parlour and the students and their guests were shown the council chambers and Nancy Astor's Diamonds.

Congratulations Otto, Elliott and Kieran, we understand that there was a very talented field this year!

The DHSB Community making an impact near and far

As the tenure of our outgoing House Captains comes to an end, we are looking back on one of the most inspiring achievements of their leadership: raising over £9,000 for incredible causes.

Selecting, championing, and fundraising for chosen charities serves as the ultimate climax of the House Captain journey, and this year’s impact has been nothing short of extraordinary. The generosity of the Devonport High School for Boys community reached grassroots local projects, vital national services, and life-changing international initiatives.

We are deeply grateful to have received personal words of thanks from a number of the organizations supported by our houses this year, including:

• World Bicycle Relief – supporting sustainable transportation to help students and workers in rural developing communities access education and livelihoods.

• Drake Sailing – enabling young people facing adversity or disabilities to build confidence through therapeutic sailing adventures.

• St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth – providing essential specialist end-of-life care and support to local families across our region.

• Peninsula Medical Foundation – funding vital local medical research and health breakthroughs right here in the South West.

  
  

Every student, staff member, and family who baked, supported or donated played a direct role in these achievements. You can explore all of our linked charities and see the full impact on our House Dashboards.

What’s Next?

To our outgoing House Captains: thank you for your incredible energy, empathy, and leadership. You have set a remarkably high standard and left a tangible legacy of support across the globe.

We will soon be announcing this year’s charity choices once our new House Captains are officially appointed. Watch this space!

Miss Cunningham

Assistant Headteacher

Head of Houses & Community

Year of Reading Book Reviews

Sharing our Reading

As part of our celebration of reading we will be sharing book reviews each week from within our school community. This week’s reviewers are Mr Berryman, Assistant Head and Leila in Year 13. They have both chosen to review their recent reading and want to encourage others to share too. If you have read a book recently which has entertained,  inspired or challenged you why not share this with others? Book reviews can be shared with Dr Downes - tracey.downes@DHSB.org.    

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel set in Gilead, a society where women have lost almost all of their rights and are forced into strict roles centred around reproduction. The story follows Offred, a Handmaid whose purpose is to produce children for the ruling class. I expected the novel to be a literary classic, but found it much more unsettling and gripping than anticipated. What makes Gilead so disturbing is that Atwood gradually shows how its restrictions become normalised, making the society feel disturbingly plausible and less far fetched from reality than you would hope. Offred was my favourite aspect of the novel. Rather than being a stereotypically heroic protagonist, she is primarily trying to survive. Her memories of her mother, daughter, husband and friends emphasise the identity and freedom she has lost. I also found her relationships particularly interesting, as it is believed that giving her small freedoms while ignoring being part of the system makes less of a contribution to the oppression and subjugation that has been thrust upon not only Offred, but her entire sex. I particularly liked Atwood’s portrayal of relationships between women. Characters such as Moira, Ofglen and Serena Joy respond to Gilead in very different ways, showing that oppression and resistance are more complicated than simply men versus women. 

Although I initially struggled with the slow pacing and Offred’s frequent reflections on the past, I came to appreciate how these memories contrast her former freedom with her restricted present. The ambiguous ending was also effective because it reflects how little control Offred has over her own fate. Overall, The Handmaid’s Tale became more interesting the longer I thought about it. What stayed with me most was Atwood’s exploration of how freedom can gradually be taken away and how people can become accustomed to restrictions when they are introduced slowly.

Leila (Year 13)

Inferno by Dan Brown

Dan Brown's Inferno follows renowned symbologist Robert  Langdon as he wakes up in a Florence hospital with amnesia and a macabre artifact hidden in his jacket. Plunged instantly into a deadly manhunt, he must decipher cryptic codes tied to Dante's dark epic to stop a devastating global biological threat. Though it is the fourth book in the Langdon series, it functions perfectly as a standalone adventure requiring no prior reading. 

What I particularly loved was the intricate blending of rich art history with breakneck suspense. If you have been to the places in the book it really does bring the story to life. Langdon remains a brilliantly grounded protagonist, and the vivid, fast-paced chase sequences through secret Italian passageways are expertly written, keeping me glued to the pages whilst sat around the pool on holiday in Salou. The chilling moral questions it raises also keep you guessing until the end. However, the somewhat repetitive formula - Langdon running alongside a brilliant female companion while dodging authorities - feels a bit stale if you are familiar with his previous works. Additionally, the heavy historical exposition sometimes bogs the pacing down just when the action should be peaking. Despite those minor flaws, I highly recommend Inferno to fans of high-stakes historical mysteries or anyone who loves The Da Vinci Code and Steve Berry’s thrillers. 

I give it 4 out of 5 stars! Enjoy the read! 

Mr Berryman

Assistant Headteacher

PTFA News and Updates

I hope that you had a lovely summer. We have our first PTFA Meeting of the year on Wednesday 16th September, at 6.30pm, in the Conference Room (directly behind the Visitor Reception). Inevitably we lose parents as their children leave DHSB so we are always keen for new parents to join us. Please come along - we’d love to meet you! I promise it’s not daunting - we are a small but effective PTFA and you would be warmly welcomed. Refreshments provided too. If you are thinking of coming along, please email ptfa@dhsb.org so we have an idea of numbers for catering. Last minute attendees welcome too as we know life can be unpredictable!

We look forward to meeting you.

Beverley Kinsella

Alumni Engagement & Archives / PTFA Liaison