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7 September 2018

Welcome back to DHSB.

It’s been a busy start to the year but we’ve provided time this week for students and staff to celebrate and reflect on the successes and events of last year before planning for the next exciting chapter.

If you haven’t yet read the Head’s Blogs which were published on A level and GCSE exam results days then the links are available here.


180816 A level (6)

180823 A level (7)

This week we were pleased to welcome our new Year 7 and Year 12 students, and also our new members of staff.


180907 Year 7

180907 New Staff 2018

In my Head’s Blog next week I will update you on the key messages and plans for the year ahead but for now I’d like to share some news from the summer holidays.

Congratulations to Cameron Williams who was breaking more records at the British Summer Championships – three gold medals and three British records achieved.


180907 Cameron

Well done to The Native (Harry Young, Charlie Noordwier, Ben Andrew and Tom Booth) who opened the MTV Presents festival on Plymouth Hoe in July.

The Plymouth Herald said, “The Native may be a new name to some, but their rise to the Ocean City Sounds stage will not be a surprise to those in the know. The lads may still be schoolboys but have gone from strength to strength since forming two years ago.”

This must have been a tremendous experience for the band, surpassed only by their performance in our first whole school assembly yesterday!


180907 The Native

180907 The Native2

Congratulations to Samuel Wilcox, Dan Queally, and Robert Dorrington (who row for Rame Gig Club) pictured here with the the winners trophy at the Porthleven regatta.

It’s been a successful season for them despite their whole team being a year younger than the 16 year olds they’ve been racing against. Following on from winning the U14 championships last year, they competed at the Saltash U15 mixed championships narrowly finishing as runners up behind Fowey.

Rame Juniors also competed against over 30 crews from all over the South West in the U16 championships at Newquay this summer where they produced a remarkable performance to finish third behind Fowey and Ilfracombe. In doing so they beat last year’s champions Caradon.

Other notable successes were victories at Dartmouth and Looe with 4 second place finishes in other regattas. Next year this group of rowers can compete again in the same age group, hoping to surpass their fantastic achievements of this summer.


180907 Gig Rowing

I’d like to recognise the achievement of Tom Showell and Henry Morgan in being awarded the Olford Bequest this year.

The bequest came into being in 1963, when Mrs Olford died (her husband had died some years previously) and left a sum of money in memory of their only son, who was killed in flying accident during the Second World War. Both he and Mr Olford (who was a Tax Inspector) had been students at Devonport High School for Boys.

The grants are awarded in September after local interviews have taken place, normally in the Plymouth Council House, Armada Way. Grants are awarded to students who can demonstrate to the Trustees that they will spend the money effectively to “more fully enjoy their stay at University”.

The grant is currently £250 per year, for a period of three years.

Henry is pictured with the Lord Mayor, Cllr Sam Davey.


180907 Olford Bequest

Summer Works

We are delighted that, despite the severe financial challenges that all schools have faced in the last few years and continue to face, we have been able to invest in our site over the summer months.

After Easter we began fundraising for our Sport for All campaign which included an online Crowdfunder campaign.

Thanks are due to all who pledged a donation as we have managed to build a fantastic new all-weather pitch for our students to use (it’s very nearly finished).

This is also a resource which will lead to further sustainable income generation for the school that we can use in other areas.


180907 3G

During the summer we also worked on giving our blocks an external facelift.

We hope that when this is complete it will be seen to be a great improvement in the way the school looks.


180907 Blocks

Future Events

Wednesday 12 September – KS5 Tea Party at 16.30

Saturday 15 September – 11+ tests

Tuesday 18 September – Year 13 Parents Evening

Wednesday 19 September – PTFA Mtg at 18.00

Saturday 22 September – 11+ tests

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