Over the half-term break, fifteen of our Year 12 students travelled to the Chamonix region of the Alps to undertake their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition. 

A bleary-eyed 1am start on Sunday was the start of a real adventure, following the challenging Mont Blanc Tour du Midi route from May 25th to May 28th, the group completed an exceptional 90km in mountainous terrain—well exceeding the typical 70 to 80km standard for a Gold expedition. The week was characterized by extreme weather, with daytime temperatures regularly soaring above 30°C and dropping only to 16°C at night.

These intense conditions, combined with gruelling inclines such as a 1,200m ascent in a single day, presented significant physical challenges and resulted in numerous blisters. However, the students demonstrated outstanding teamwork and adaptability. To mitigate the daytime heat, they independently elected to alter their strategy by the final day, departing at 4:00 AM on their own volition and successfully avoiding the worst of the sun while enjoying the alpine sunrise.

Beyond the physical demands, the trip offered some lighter moments and rewards. Upon reaching the summit of the Col de Balme at 2,191m, the students celebrated by sliding down the remaining snow slopes together. They also used their language skills to interact with local residents in Martigny, Switzerland, and Chamonix, France. Following the successful completion of the trek, the group enjoyed well-deserved rest activities, including a visit to a local spa and a day immersing themselves in the culture of Chamonix.

Every student was exceptionally well-prepared and supported their peers throughout the journey. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to DHSB staff members Mr Watling and Mr Veale, alongside Paul Mitchell and Maya Levi from Dynamic Adventures, whose excellent leadership and support made this successful and memorable adventure possible.

"Our Gold DofE expedition on the Tour de Mont Blanc was an unforgettable experience, filled with breathtaking mountain views and shared moments with the closest of friends. The best part of the trip was when we got to slide down the snow as this was after a long day of climbing uphill... a memory that will stay with me for years to come." - Harshil

"Although we encountered challenges, like walking in a boiling valley in the 32C heat, we overcame it by waking up at 4 the next day! I guess that wasn't all too bad though, as we got to see the beautiful sunrise for 2 mornings. Our endurance was ultimately rewarded... Overall a 10/10 experience!"  - Agsheyan

Mr Guy-Fierens

Duke of Edinburgh Award Manager

Huge Congratulations to Claire: Our Very Own Google Certified Innovator!

While most of us were enjoying the much needed sunshine over the half-term break, Claire was jetting off to Stockholm for an incredible professional milestone. We are absolutely thrilled to announce that she has successfully completed the rigorous training to become an official Google Certified Innovator.

For those unfamiliar with the title, this is a massive deal in the world of educational technology. It isn't just a standard certificate or a simple webinar—it is a highly prestigious, globally recognised program for teachers who are passionate about driving positive change in education.  Applications are submitted globally for this highly selective programme, but only a small cohort is chosen based on their leadership potential and vision for the future of education.

Claire spent an intensive few days in Sweden collaborating with tech experts and creative educators from across the globe, designing solutions to complex classroom challenges.

Claire’s achievement is a brilliant win for our entire school community. As part of the program, every Google Innovator designs and launches a unique Innovation Project over the next year to tackle a real-world educational issue.

We are incredibly excited to see how Claire’s fresh insights, global networking, and cutting-edge tech strategies will filter back into our classrooms and inspire our own T&L practices.

We are so proud of you, Claire, and we can't wait to see your project come to life.

Mr Winstone

Deputy Headteacher - Teaching & Learning

Celebrating DofE volunteers

This Volunteers’ Week (1–7 June), we are celebrating the incredible impact our students are making right in their communities.

The school has received its official Social Value Certificate, recognising the dedication and hard work of our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants in the past year. To put their efforts into perspective, DofE participants across the UK clocked up a staggering 6 million hours of volunteering last year, contributing an estimated £45.4m in social value!

Behind these massive national numbers are our own fantastic students. Through their volunteering, they’ve been out in the local area—developing vital life skills, building their confidence, and making a tangible difference to those around them. This is in addition to the time spent on their physical, skills and expedition sections.

This achievement wouldn't be possible without our wider school community. An enormous thank you goes out to our dedicated staff writing assessor’s reports, the parents and families supporting from home, and the local organisations hosting our volunteers.

We are incredibly proud of our young people and the role everyone plays in helping them succeed. Thank you for making a difference!

Some of the feedback received regarding our volunteers is:

• E is a very polite young man with good customer service skills and proved very reliable. He is a credit to both himself and his family and am sure he has a bright future before him. T was very reliable and took his commitment to volunteering seriously. Although quiet at first T soon settled in. He always worked hard and followed instruction well but was also able to use his own initiative. T was a great asset. - St Luke’s charity shop

  
  

• We have enjoyed having H in our group, having a young person who can join in and help and be part of a team is an asset. His attendance has been exemplary and so has his punctuality. He has been a great asset to our group, the Beavers love him. - Scout leader

  
  

• R is very welcome to continue volunteering at Central parkrun, Plymouth. His mature attitude and sense of responsibility as well as his ability to work as part of a team make him a valued member of the parkrun community of volunteers. - Parkrun

  
  

• The children in the squad really grew to admire J; they very much look-up to him and he has become a real role-model for them. They always listened when he spoke and were grateful for the training, encouragement and confidence that J gave them. - Sports Leadership

  
  

• O is a friendly and committed student, who always gives his all to whatever he is involved in. He has been a tremendous asset to the club and the school, setting a new bar for student leadership. - History and Classics Club

  
  

• T has engaged heartily in volunteering. I think the added focus of the trip to India has really given T the motivation to be successful. Well done T, you have shown excellence in your approach. - Helping a charity or community organisation

  
  

• M’s commitment to the school has been evident in his regular participation in Mentoring initiatives, extracurricular events and his willingness to help wherever needed. His positive attitude and enthusiasm have had a motivating effect on those around him. - School senior prefect

  
  

• E is a fabulous volunteer and she works incredibly hard. She is punctual, polite and very kind. - St Matts church

Mr Guy-Fierens

Duke of Edinburgh Award Manager

KS3 Work Experience - Tamar Crossings Project

This week marked the culmination of an exciting new Year 8 Digital Enterprise project at Devonport High School for Boys in partnership with Tamar Crossings.

Working as consultants for a real employer, our students were challenged to develop 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 and increase engagement with its tours and activities. Throughout the project, students took on roles including Event Manager, Marketing Executive and Lead Presenter, developing enterprise, teamwork, creativity and presentation skills whilst tackling a genuine business challenge.

Importantly, this project counts as one of the new Work Experience Activities that students will complete as part of their careers education journey, giving them valuable experience of working on a real-world brief set by an employer.

Following weeks of research, planning and preparation, the strongest teams from each House progressed to today's Dragon's Den-style final. We were delighted to welcome Jane Cooper, Coral Jonas CMgr MCMI and Katherine Peberdy from Tamar Crossings, who generously gave their time to act as our Dragons, listening to pitches, asking challenging questions and providing valuable professional feedback.

The standard of presentations was exceptionally high, with students demonstrating impressive creativity, commercial awareness and confidence.

Congratulations to Leslie House, who were crowned overall winners, and to Johnson House, who finished as worthy runners-up.

As a reward for their success, students will enjoy a special visit to the Tamar Bridge, including:

- A tour of the Anchorage Chamber

- Time in the Visitor & Learning Centre

- Afternoon tea on the balcony overlooking the iconic Tamar Bridge and Royal Albert Bridge

A huge thank you to Tamar Crossings for embracing this exciting new annual project and for providing our students with such an authentic and inspiring learning experience.  Partnerships like these help bring learning to life and show young people how the skills they develop in school can be applied in the workplace.

Mr Scott

Leader of Careers & PSHE

Staff Visit to Devonport Naval Heritage Centre

This week, Mrs Mintoft and I had the pleasure of visiting the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre to explore how this fantastic local resource could support our History and Citizenship/PSHE curriculum in 2026/27 at Devonport High School for Boys.

We were given a fascinating tour by the centre's dedicated team of volunteers, who shared the rich history of Devonport Dockyard, the Royal Navy and Plymouth's significant role in Britain's maritime heritage.  Their passion, knowledge and commitment to preserving these stories was truly inspiring.

The visit sparked lots of exciting ideas about how we can bring learning to life for our students through local history, citizenship, community engagement and the exploration of Britain's naval heritage.  There is enormous potential to create meaningful learning experiences that help students connect classroom learning with the world around them.

This is a great example of Gatsby Benchmark 4 - Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers, helping students understand how subjects such as History and Citizenship can connect to a wide range of careers in heritage, museums, education, conservation, public service and the armed forces.

A huge thank you to everyone at the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre for their warm welcome and for sharing their expertise. We are looking forward to developing this relationship and exploring opportunities for our students in the future.

Mr Scott

Leader of Careers & PSHE

Careers Networking

A fantastic afternoon at Newton Abbot Races Limited Racecourse today attending a Careers Leaders networking event hosted by the National Horseracing College.

The event provided a fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into the horseracing industry, showcasing the wide range of career pathways available beyond the track, including apprenticeships, training programmes, marketing, equine care, coaching, racecourse operations and professional riding opportunities.

It was inspiring to hear about the journeys of National Horseracing College graduates including jockeys, trainers and industry professionals currently working within the sport.  Seeing successful alumni such as Lewis Stones, Harry Ryall, Alice Stevens, Ellis Collier and Joshua Thompson in action really highlighted the impact that high-quality technical education and apprenticeships can have on young people's careers.

Most importantly, the afternoon created opportunities to build new employer contacts, explore potential partnerships and identify exciting opportunities that could benefit students at Devonport High School for Boys in the future.

The event strongly reflected several of the Gatsby Benchmarks, particularly:

• Benchmark 2 - Learning from Career and Labour Market Information

• Benchmark 4 - Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers

• Benchmark 5 - Encounters with Employers and Employees

• Benchmark 7 - Encounters with Further and Higher Education

A huge thank you to Jade Taylor and the team at the National Horseracing College for their warm welcome and for showcasing an industry that offers so many rewarding career opportunities for young people.

I left with plenty of new ideas, valuable contacts and exciting possibilities to explore for our students.

Mr Scott

Leader of Careers & PSHE

Students Compete in DHSB Educake eSports Challenge 2026

During the final week of March, students across Years 7-11 took part in the inaugural DHSB Educake eSports Challenge, a week-long competition that combined academic achievement with the excitement of competitive gaming.

The challenge encouraged students to answer as many questions as possible on Educake while maintaining an impressive accuracy rate of at least 80%. Students could compete across a range of subjects including Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, French, Geography, Physics and Spanish.

Much like an eSports tournament, students battled their way up the leaderboard through a combination of knowledge, consistency and strategy.  Success depended not only on answering a high volume of questions but also on maintaining excellent accuracy throughout the week.

Separate leaderboards were created for each year group, alongside an overall DHSB leaderboard that crowned the school's top Educake competitors.

This week, winners and runners-up were recognised during year group assemblies and presented with certificates to celebrate their achievements.  Thanks to the fantastic support of Educake, prize winners also received a selection of goodies including stationery, badges and sweets.

The competition saw hundreds of questions answered throughout the week, with students demonstrating impressive dedication by completing regular daily sessions and challenging themselves across a variety of subjects.

A huge congratulations to all students who took part. Whether they were aiming for the top of the leaderboard or simply using the challenge as an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge, every participant contributed to making the event a success.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Lucy at Educake for supporting the challenge and generously providing prizes for our winners.

With such an enthusiastic response from students, we look forward to seeing the DHSB Educake eSports Challenge return in the future.

Well done to all competitors!

Mr Scott

Head of Computer Science

Bronze DofE Success

Certificates were presented the ten of the Year 10 students who have recently been awarded their Bronze D of E Award.

Well done!

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!

Tennis Success

During the last month, Year 7 student Edward, who has been playing tennis for four years and plays for the Devonshire (Nuffield), South Devon Tennis Centre and Tavistock, has been busy playing tennis and has had a few successes...

He won the local 'Play your Way to Wimbledon' event in Singles and Doubles so is heading to the local finals event, being held at the end of the month, to play for a place to play at Wimbledon later in the year!

Edward and his friend Robin, of Ilfracombe Academy School, took part in a regional tournament held at Heron Tennis Centre in Newquay over the half term and they won a 12U Grade 3 Doubles event and in Taunton last Saturday, Edward came runner up in the 14U grade 5 tournament!

Well done Edward, and good luck for the final at the end of the month!

Swimming Success

Year 8 student Will, who swims with Caradon Swimming Club and has swum competitively since he was nine years old, has been having great success in swimming competitions and become Kernow Champion! He has made it to many regional finals, coming home with a Bronze medal in the 200 free and placing 4th many times. In a big move-on from last year, he has qualified for the English Nationals for the 200 Free and the Aquatics GB NextGen Championships for the 100 Backstroke.

The Aquatics GB NextGen Championships are very prestigious, as swimmers have a qualifying window of around eight weeks and only the 20 fastest swimmers in Great Britain, in an age group within that qualifying time, are invited to compete. The next 20 are then invited to their Home Nations Championships. Will's invite to the NextGen Championships was from a rather fabulous swim at the very start of the window and was probably more than he expected to achieve this year. Over the summer, he will travel to Sheffield to compete in these national championships.

Well done, Will, and good luck!

Tennis

On Monday six DHSB students took Hele’s on in a mini doubles and singles tennis tournament. Some great tennis was played, with DHSB coming away with a few wins and some losses but spirits remained high the whole time! 

Athletics

Two Year 7 DHSB teams entered the 'Super 8 Athletics Championships' at Foulston Park this week. One team joined with PHSG and the other with DHSG. Both teams performed really well with lots of great times, jumps and throws. The relays were exceptionally well done and very well supported by all. The final results are pending but all who took part were excellent!