Speech Day

Our annual celebration of success at the Guildhall was a showcase of talent and future potential. The long-standing tradition of highlighting DHSB’s special place in Plymouth’s hearts was warmly reciprocated by the Lord Mayor in his address.

This year’s event had an added poignancy in that it was my last as Headteacher. I am following my own advice and taking on new challenges as the Principal and CEO of the British School in the Netherlands, a group of four schools and a language centre in and around The Hague. Events like Speech Day will always serve as a reminder of my affection for DHSB and its community.

We all enjoyed seeing the students’ efforts and achievements recognised in the centre of the city. Tianyi Song and Oscar Guest were awarded the Holmes and Corrie prizes for best A level and GCSE results.

Dr Ian Hodgins, our Guest of Honour, talked to students about their potential and encouraged families to instill in their sons a life-long love of learning.

Oscar Guest, Ian Hodgins, Carolyn Bruce-Spencer, Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress, Tianyi Song

Priestley House wins the St Levan Shield

The Lord Mayor speaks of the city’s pride in this outstanding school

Kai Benjamin sings ‘Tomorrow’ from Bugsy Malone

Tickets for our Spring production will be on sale in the New Year

Carol Service

Our week began with a beautiful and festive carol service led by Year 7 students.

St Andrew’s Church was filled with students, staff, governors and parents who all appreciated and enjoyed the readings, carols, thoughts and prayers.

Do they know it’s Christmas 2014

Chris ‘Woody’ Wood returned to school today to recreate the 2014 Christmas song ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ with staff and students.

Woody, a founding member of the South London based band ‘Bastille’ first played the drums here before performing with bands in Plymouth.

He left DHSB in 2004 to take up his place at music college and played for artists and bands in London where he met his future Bastille band mates.

Bastille scooped the 2014 Brit Award for British Breakthrough Band and their debut album, Bad Blood, went in to the UK charts at number one.

Woody said he was delighted to return to his old school and enjoyed playing with staff and students.

I’m pretty confident that this will have been Woody’s toughest gig to date. Marshalling an enthusiastic group of teachers in front of a thousand students in a Christmas frenzy can’t have been easy.

Hi-hats off!

Behind the Lens

We said goodbye this week to Janet Wadhams from Tempest Photos.

Janet has been taking our student photos for 25 years. She has worked with three different Headteachers and has captured almost 9,000 smiling faces.

Here she is on the other side of the lens!

We wish her a happy retirement.

International News

Ms Ball has shared with staff and students her second International Newsletter.

Read this to find out how Christmas is celebrated around the world, and to hear about our German and French exchange visits.

Staff v Leavers Match

On a cold and blustery night on the DHSB 3GAWP the Leavers of 2013 took on a strong staff team that was bolstered by three Year 13 students.

2014 leaver, Ross Martin, refereed the match and as soon as the 2013 leavers kicked off with the wind behind them the ball was in the back of the staff net! The staff team rallied and had most of the possession in the first half but kept getting caught off side due to a combination of some poor timing from Mr Earley and some poor linesman decisions. The conditions were also against them and they trailed 4-2 at the break

At half time Mr Spearing and Mr Berryman had to leave due to childcare duties so Tom Scott and Dan Langman entered the fray and immediately had an impact leading to the staff team drawing level and then going ahead.

Mr Orkney and Mr Bunney who had been very solid then started to make mistakes. First Mr Orkney fell over his own boot laces allowing Nathan Vosper a shot on goal which was saved and then Mr Bunney gave away a blatant penalty which Kieran Wellington duly scored against Mr Huq in goal

The staff team now had the wind behind them and Ben Casson had also come off the bench. The 2013 leavers were struggling and did not get another chance on goal with the staff finishing as 11-5 winners.

Goals: Mr Earley (4), Mr Thomas (3), Tom Scott (2) and Ben Casson (2).

Man of the match was Mr Thomas.

and finally…Happy Christmas from all at DHSB!