DHSB tops the charts in Sparx Maths and Sparx Reader.
As regular readers of the Head's Blog will be aware, each week we celebrate the highest performing students in two of our core home learning platforms - Sparx Reader and Sparx Maths.
As we near the end of this half term it seems appropriate to look a little more widely and acknowledge the tremendous effort that both students and subject staff have invested.
We are proud to report that we have been ranked in the top 2% of schools nationally for our outstanding performance in Sparx Maths and Sparx Reader. Our students' dedication to independent learning and their commitment to using these platforms have been instrumental in achieving this remarkable success.
Sparx Maths
Over 95% of our students consistently complete their Sparx Maths tasks on time, placing us in the top 2% of schools nationwide.
This dedication has directly contributed to our exceptional GCSE Maths results.
Sparx Reader
Our students have logged an impressive 5000+ hours of reading time this year alone.
Over 1000 books have been read, with students in Years 7-10 averaging 50 minutes of reading per week.
This commitment to reading has also secured us a place in the top 2% of schools nationally, with a 93% completion rate.
Need help with Sparx?
If students are having trouble accessing or completing their Sparx tasks, they may attend one of our weekly drop-in sessions before the hand-in day each week:-
Sparx Maths drop-in: Tuesday lunchtime in B04
Sparx Reader drop-in: Thursday lunchtime in B27
We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work and dedication. Their achievements demonstrate the values of Intellectual Rigour and Resilience that are at the heart of our school.
We also do not underestimate the huge role that families play in supporting students so thank you for all your ongoing support.
These are the students who deserve a special mention this week.
Congratulations!
Mr Winstone
House News
The House spirit is rich at DHSB this term.
Excellent Work
House Captains completed their house noticeboard displays this week and this inspired Filip Juganaru 7W to produce a fabulous poster displaying some key monarchs from the House of Windsor and other prominent monarchs too.
Miss Cunningham said, "The care and attention that has gone into this work is obvious and the time taken to research each monarch is also impressive. Perhaps Filip is a Windsor House Captain of the future?"
House Boards
C block was a hive of activity this week as our newly appointed House Captains designed and created their first house noticeboards. There were plenty of imaginative additions to the boards, all drawing on associations with their house figurehead.
I had the very enjoyable task of judging the displays this morning; here are the third, second and first placed houses.
Third place - Turing
Second place - Attenborough
First place - Leslie
I think this has been the highest standard across all the boards for a very long time. I was really impressed and it was extremely difficult to rank the boards in overall achievement.
All seven boards are pictured below.
Miss Cunningham added, "It was clear to see was how engaged the captaincy teams and other prefects were in this process. There was a real sense of competition in the air this week and this bodes well for a dynamic and fruitful fundraising year with the team. I can't wait".
House Communications Captains
Our social media team has now been assembled and Miss Cunningham is very proud to introduce the very first team of Communications Captains at DHSB.
The house captaincy team has been expanded to include this vital new role in the current world which will see our young leaders take charge of the online presence for their house.
This will include monitoring and posting on X on behalf of their house and developing our Instagram presence this coming year. It's a hugely creative role with links to some very exciting and prominent careers in the working world.
Our Communications Captains are Isaac Davey, Elsie Maguire, Kalista Senaratne-Niland, Tom Jane, Evie Faith, Beau Harrison and Morgan Martin.
Please follow our houses on X if you don't already.
DHSBAttenborough, DHSBFleming, DHSBJohnson, DHSBLeslie, DHSBScott, DHSBTuring, DHSBWindsor.
Excellent Work
Thank you to Mrs Wardle who has shared some examples of Excellent Work from her Year 7 RS class.
Year 7 groups spent an hour looking at the sanctity of life, understanding the concept and how it features in all six of the major world religions.
Students had two creative tasks to complete as part of their work; making a respect chain and writing a haiku poem.
Mrs Wardle said, “ It was so lovely to see the students enjoying these tasks”.
Respect chain
Featured in the picture of their respect chain are Aidan Jessop and Jacob Evans both from 7L.
Haiku poems
Corey Shaw 7S did a fantastic job of pulling out and accurately applying sophisticated religious key terms from the different religions, many of which were newly introduced to him.
Are we enlightened?
Is everyone unique?
We may never know.
Is our end karmic?
Are we God's Imago Dei?
If they're your beliefs!
Are we all stewards?
Is everyone sacred?
Well we soon find out?
Performing and Creative Arts
Well done to GCSE music students in Year 10 for an outstanding effort in their solo instrumental performance exam last night.
The students were mutually supportive of each other and delivered a very high standard of solo performances with a diverse variety of genre and instrument.
‘Who’s the Boss’
A student-led production by George Shaw, William Yarwood and Alvaro Acevedo has held auditions and will begin production after half term.
This a complex and witty play written by the Year 10 students with music and we are proud to see Arts students taking independence at such a young age! The play will be performed in March.
Dates for the diary
Our singing group VPXG (Vocal Performance Christmas Group) will start rehearsals after half term on Tuesdays and already have ten concerts confirmed following the success of last year, including performing at The Ivy, Winter Wonderland, St Luke's Hospice Light up a Life and many others.
The singing group is open to any students who love singing and will be held on Tuesdays from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.
Rock School Christmas Concert - Edgcumbe Theatre - Thursday 12 December at 6.30pm.
Christmas Carol Service - St Andrew's Church, Royal Parade - Monday 16 December at 7.00pm.
Christmas Concert - Stoke Damerel - Thursday 19 December from 7.00pm to 8.00pm.
Into the Woods - School Musical 12,13 and 14 February.
Devonport 200 - live performances 27 Feb to 2 March.
Mrs Luing-Holmes
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Update
Safe Space LGBTQ Group
This group takes place every Monday during break two in A14.
This a social space for young people in our LGBTQ community, students who may be questioning gender or identity and for allies or friends to attend to support.
Each Monday after half term we have speakers and visitors booked to aid discussion and information. Please do let your child know about this space.
Plymouth Racial Equality Council
The PREC youth workers will be in school every Thursday to talk to students and begin a lunchtime working group on racial equality and awareness in school.
Hannah and Kadus will be with us on a regular basis to strengthen support, awareness and community in school following an introductory forum with parents earlier this term.
Mrs Luing-Holmes
Sixth Form Enrichment and Tutorial
Students from Year 12 and Year 13 have focused heavily on transition points at this time of year.
Year 12 have concentrated on study skills and Independent study as well as how to relax, revive and self manage whilst for Year 13 their emphasis has been on UCAS applications and using Unifrog to their best advantage.
Tutors have been able to support those students who have logged a whole plethora of activities, skills and reflections with strong references whether for university or degree apprenticeship applications. Underpinning these pathways, they have also spent three weeks exploring the format and skills they need for Interviews so several should be confident in taking these next steps. Our enrichment has also included health and testicular cancer awareness.
What's coming up?
For Year 12 next term, students will be on form group rotations undergoing training with the University Hospital Partnership. A team from the emergency department will be delivering two hour practical workshops for students looking at CPR training, defibrillator training, basic 999 concepts and the 'Stop the Bleed' campaign.
Year 12 students will also be gaining insight into the practical approach to developing a strong growth mindset through VESPA tools (vision, effort, strategy, practice, attitude) and also adaptability and resourcefulness with tutors.
In enrichment next term, students will be offered insight into the challenges to peace in the middle east and the historical context of this humanitarian problem.
Year 13 students next half term will be focusing on financial awareness including credit and debt, tax, savings, budgeting, fraud awareness and mortgages. They'll also learn more about about gambling and gaming harm prevention.
Ms Davidson
Sports Update
Table Tennis
Brilliant news this week from the Devon Secondary Schools Table Tennis Competition.
Mr Callicott said, "It was a clean sweep for the U13s, U16s and U19s with excellent table tennis from all the students. The teams go through to the next stage".
Basketball
Mr Anderson says it was a good game against Coombe Dean School yesterday.
It was the first game of the season for the Year 10/11 team which resulted in a loss but with lots learned.
Football
Mr Callicott reports, “ It was a disappointing evening for the Year 8 football team on Monday when they were knocked out of the national cup. Superb effort in the second half to try and come back but it just wasn’t enough on the day”.
Mr Orkney says the 2nd XI lost their match against Lipson Community College 5 - 2.
The 1st XI also took a defeat this week in their Devon Wednesday League match against HMS Drake Naval Base.
Thanks to Mr Macleod for this photo of the game.
Rugby
The U16 rugby team overcame a very competitive Saltash School on Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Orkney said, “ The game was played in an excellent spirit and the players were a credit to both schools”.
The team also beat Ivybridge Community College U16 2nd XV by 31 points to 5 in an excellent encounter yesterday. Some good rugby was played by both sides.
In a thrilling after-school clash on Thursday, the Year 9 Rugby team took on Ivybridge Community College in a game that had spectators on the edge of their seats.
The lead swung back and forth in an intense first half, with Ivybridge edging ahead at the break, thanks to some powerful running that put the DHSB defence under pressure.
However, in the second half, DHSB turned the tide. They switched to a more direct style of play and tightened up defensively, gradually taking control of the match. Their efforts paid off as they pulled away to secure a hard-fought 37 - 24 victory.
Mr Strang said, "The standout performer was Leo Bryan 9W who earned Man of the Match honours with his fantastic defensive work and dazzling footwork in attack. Congratulations to the entire team for a fantastic performance".