DHSB students headed to the polls today to cast their vote in the 2026 Plymouth Youth Parliament elections.

Of the 11 candidates standing this year, two are from DHSB - Finbar and Logan. You can see and hear the 2026/27 Youth Parliament Candidates by following the link below.

The voting booths were set up by the A-level Politics students and manned by Sixth Form students and all students were invited to attend the Polling Station to cast their vote during tutorial, break time and lunchtime. They were able to vote for the two candidates they believe will best represent them locally, regionally and nationally on issues that matter to them. Voting will run throughout the spring term and the results will be announced on Wednesday 25 March 2026.

Year 10 student Bill Higginson, one of Plymouth’s current Members of Youth Parliament, said "My time at youth parliament has been a great experience. I’ve done lots of work trying to resolve homework issues by creating surveys and reports to send to schools. I’ve been on trips meeting other MYPs and discussing national problems and also spoke in the House of Commons. I wish my very best to the new MYPs and hope that they enjoy it as much as I have."

Good luck to all candidates!

Westminster Abbey Visit

Mrs Luing-Holmes and eight students from across the school are excited to be attending The Commonwealth Service which is taking place at Westminster Abbey on Monday 9 March which is Commonwealth Day. The multi-faith service celebrates the people and cultures of the Commonwealth nations, promotes the unity, diversity and shared values of the member counties.

The tickets were available by a public ballot which Miss Cunningham, Head of Houses and Community entered us into. And we won! The students attending the event were chosen for many reasons; Josh Daniel due to being the School Captain, Ed Pond and Barnaby Hunt as our Windsor House Captains, Evie Faith who has a keen interest in Media and has shone as a current member of our Year 13 cohort, Henry Gilmore, Alex Boghian, and Errol Cawaing for their contribution to the Holocaust Memorial Day Commemorations and Feranmi Olaoye to reframe positive experience with commonwealth values.

His Majesty The King, Head of the Commonwealth, and Her Majesty The Queen, along with Members of the Royal Family are expected to attend the multi-faith service along with UK and Commonwealth dignitaries, diplomatic representatives, members of the Commonwealth community and other students from UK schools.

Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration held on the second Monday of March and observed by people all over the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe. "This year's theme 'Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth,' highlights how the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth can rally together to face today’s challenges and unlock opportunities that can deliver shared and lasting prosperity for all who live in the Commonwealth — from the smallest, most remote communities to the biggest cities" - thecommonwealth.org

Preparing Students for a Changing World – National Careers Week 2026

This week, students across all year groups took part in assemblies marking National Careers Week. The week provides a national focus on careers education and encourages young people to think carefully about their future pathways, the opportunities available to them, and the skills they will need in a rapidly changing world. In this year’s assemblies, we explored a topic that is increasingly shaping the future of work: technology and generative AI.

One statistic that particularly resonated with students is that around 900,000 young people in the UK are currently not in work. To put that into perspective, that is roughly the equivalent of filling one of the UK’s largest cities. Behind that number are young people with potential, ambition and talent who have not yet found a pathway into meaningful employment. At the same time, employers consistently tell us that they are struggling to recruit people with the right skills. The challenge therefore is not simply about the number of jobs available - it is about preparing students with the skills the modern workforce demands.

Throughout the assemblies we explored the skills that employers are most frequently looking for. These include:

• Problem solving

• Communication

• Teamwork

• Attention to detail

• Digital skills such as coding

Technology is reshaping many industries, and generative AI is already beginning to change how people work in areas ranging from software development and engineering to healthcare, marketing and finance. Rather than viewing AI as something to fear, students were encouraged to see it as a tool that can enhance creativity, productivity and innovation. Learning how to ask effective questions, evaluate AI responses and use digital tools responsibly will be an increasingly valuable skill in the future workplace.

Another important focus of the assemblies was Labour Market Information (LMI) — understanding the types of jobs available locally, which industries are growing, and the skills employers are seeking. For students in Plymouth, key growth sectors include:

• Marine and maritime industries

• Engineering and advanced manufacturing

• Defence

• Digital and technology careers

• Health and social care

By understanding the local and national labour market, students can make more informed decisions about subjects, qualifications and future career pathways.

Students were also encouraged to reflect on their own interests, motivations and strengths. Careers are rarely a straight line, and the ability to recognise and develop personal skills is an important part of preparing for the future. To support this, students have access to tools that help them:

• Explore career pathways

• Identify their strengths and interests

• Understand which skills different careers require

• Consider how emerging technologies may affect different industries

  
  

We also introduced students to our DHSB Career Guidance Assistant AKA the CareerBot, a new AI-powered tool designed to help them explore careers, ask questions about subjects and pathways, and better understand the opportunities available to them. The back end has all the relevant information for our students to learn more about their next steps.

National Careers Week is a reminder that careers education is not just about choosing a job - it is about developing the skills, curiosity and resilience needed to thrive in a changing world. By combining strong academic foundations with skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, digital literacy and adaptability, our students will be well placed to navigate the opportunities and challenges of the future workplace.

As always, students are encouraged to speak to staff, explore resources on the careers platform, and continue asking questions about their future.

The world of work is evolving rapidly - and it is our responsibility to ensure our students are ready not just to enter it, but to shape it.

Mr Scott

Leader of Careers & PSHE

In physics, Year 9 students have been studying renewable and non-renewable energy resources this term. As part of this, pupils from Mr Guy-Fierens’ class produced a 1000 word report, advising the government on the various advantages and disadvantages of nine energy production options. As a follow up to these excellent reports, the class was asked what further questions they still had on this topic. These posters are the result of the students’ individual research and curiosity about ‘how things work’ and real world applications of the GCSE science content. This is very timely with the opening of the UK’s first geothermal power plant in Cornwall last month. 

Mr Guy-Fierens

Teacher of Physics

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!

A big thank you to everyone who came to our AGM Wednesday evening. It was a very successful meeting.  A big welcome to our new Chair Rachel and thanks go to Audrey, Melanie and Joanna for staying in their respective roles as Secretary, Treasurer and Catering Officer. Thank you too to our existing Committee members who have stayed on and our new Committee member Sarah. A big thank you to Josanne for being our acting Chair. Last but not least, the giantest of thanks to Computer Science teacher Paul Scott for coming to our rescue and quickly sorting out a fresh online meeting link when we had a technical issue with the original one.

We have our regular meeting next Wednesday (11th March) at 6.30pm in the Conference Room (directly behind the Visitor Reception). Please join us if you can - we’d love to meet you. Refreshments supplied. Please email ptfa@dhsb.org if you are considering coming so we have an idea of numbers. Last minute attendees welcome too. Top of the agenda will be our forthcoming Alton Towers fundraising trip!

Mrs Kinsella

PTFA Liaison

A reminder that we are celebrating our 130th Anniversary with a reunion event, for all former pupils and staff, at 12.30pm on the 28th March.

Please join us!  Tickets include a delicious buffet lunch, an opportunity to tour the school and a talk by former DHSB student and now DHSB History teacher, Dave Riggs. You can even buy our own locally brewed DHSB IPA ‘Colonnade!'  Full details and tickets here:

DHSB Alumni Shop

A big thank you to everyone who has already bought tickets. You are coming from the length and breadth of the country! I have an update on the oldest alumnus coming! He is 96 years young!  

Please spread the word too!  Any questions email alumni@dhsb.org

Mrs Kinsella

Alumni Engagement & Archives

Sports News and Updates

Badminton

A huge well done to DHSB U16 Badminton team who attended the South West Regional Finals at Bath Uni Sports Training Village on Monday as Devon Champions and finished a credible 4th in their age group. There was some great play on show and it was a great experience for those involved.

Football

Unfortunately our first XI are out of the Devon Wednesday Cup after losing 6-2 to Plymouth Parkway Wednesday.