This time of year for our students in Year 11 and Year 13 is a time to explore their progression routes.

Thank you to our dedicated staff who invest the time in supporting and preparing students to make the right plans and choices. Many of Year 13 have already received offers from universities for their chosen courses.

Nine students with Oxbridge offers

We are absolutely delighted that three students with an offer to read Natural Sciences at Cambridge University are among nine students at Devonport High School for Boys with Oxbridge offers this year.

Sharon Davidson, Assistant Head Post-16, said, “Being at a top university gives a unique opportunity to study subjects taught by world renowned experts. Receiving an offer from Oxbridge is testament to students’ intellectual abilities and reflects on nearly seven years of consistent study and hard work.”

Many congratulations to these students.Baker ThurstonEmilyCambridgeFitzwilliam CollegePolitical and Social ScienceBooker ManozLucasCambridgeTrinity CollegeNatural SciencesCollingwoodMichaelCambridgeTrinity CollegeEngineeringLeeMaddyCambridgeJesus CollegeVet ScienceSherrellCallumCambridgeRobinson CollegeHistoryStaszewskiLukeCambridgeKing’s CollegeNatural SciencesWaddyRobertCambridgeSt John’s CollegeNatural SciencesBlytheIssyOxfordJesus CollegeLinguisticsWeeksJoeOxfordTrinity CollegeLaw

In addition to these offers, James Vickery has had a pool interview at Cambridge and is waiting to hear the outcome.

Ms Moreton, our Information, Advice and Guidance Co-ordinator, writes a comprehensive blog each week. You can read her latest post here.

We will be profiling the work of our student Digital Leaders on the Plymouth Employability Passport in the next couple of weeks.

Excellent Work

Year 7 RS – Making Sense of the Environment

The task set to Year 7 students was an independent project lasting eight weeks (four hours) and Mrs Weaver has selected Arthur Law’s work to share in the Head’s Blog.

She said, “Arthur chose the option to create a business plan and his project was detailed, professional and original showing great research and ingenuity”.

You can read Arthur’s business plan here.

Mrs Anstee added, “Students in 7E, 7C and 7W have just completed their work on ‘making sense of the environment’. These images capture the effort and passion the students show for their studies. I’m delighted by their original ideas and the extent they will go to in producing such captivating designs. They make C16 a bright and engaging place to teach in”.

Patrick Acharya

Addison Mee

Will Dyson

Building the next generation of entrepreneurs

We’re pleased to feature on some American news websites today.

Mr Forte, Director of the Learning Commons, said “When I joined Devonport Boys High School, I believed that by creating open spaces and giving students the technology and tools they need to think like entrepreneurs, they’d learn far more than in a rule-bound, confined environment. To support this idea, we created the Learning Commons: a dedicated space including a big room with an artificial lawn and bean bags, a separate room with whiteboard-ready desks, and small meeting rooms, custom built for collaboration and group discussions”.

You can read the full article here.

A level Politics

Last Friday we welcomed Ben Bradshaw, the Labour MP for Exeter, to the school for a question and answer session with A level Politics students.

Mr Macleod said, “Ben was able to bring a unique insight into a range of contemporary political issues, not least amongst them Brexit and Trump and the ‘new’ politics, largely due to his wealth of experience and it was fascinating to hear his views. The evening was an enjoyable success and thanks must go to Isabel Ingham-Trigo for arranging the event. I hope we will have many more of our elected representatives from a variety of political positions coming in over the coming months to be held to account and scrutinised by our always well informed and questioning students”.

Sports Update

Badminton

Well done to our school team who came first at the Plymouth Schools U14 Badminton Competition. The next stage is the Devon finals.

Basketball

Mr Orkney said, “Another good win for the DHSB U15 Basketball team beating Plymstock School 51 – 21 to make it three wins out of three in the league.”

Table Tennis

Mr Carpenter reports that the U19 school Table Tennis team (already Devon Champions) won the zone final on Sunday to qualify for the regional finals to be held in Bristol in March.

The team beat Taunton School 7 – 1.

Rugby

Congratulations to Harry Richardson, Callum Preece and Harry Edwards for representing Devon U15s v Bristol Schools. Mr Burt reports “Good win for A & B”.

Football

This result came in too late for us to publish last week. The Year 8 football team beat Holsworthy 11 – 3 and the boys are through to the next round of the Devon Cup.

Unfortunately we have to report two defeats in the Devon Wednesday League this week as the A team lost 3 – 2 to Plymouth University, and the B team lost 4 -1 to 29 Commando.

Future Events

24 January

Year 10 Parents Information Evening (GCSE Maths and English)

25 January

PTFA Meeting

1 – 3 February

School Production – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Tickets available from the box office 01752 208787.

Monday 6 February

Year 10 Parents Evening

Friday 10 February

Final day of Spring term one