Devonport High School for Girls
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| Devonport High School for Girls | |
| Motto | Sine Labe Decus (Honour Without Dishonour) |
| Established | 1911 |
| Type | community grammar |
| Headmistress | Mrs Hemsi |
| Specialism | Languages |
| Location | Lyndhurst Road Peverell, Plymouth Devon PL2 3DL England  |
| LEA | Plymouth City Council |
| Ofsted number | 113531 |
| Students | 820 |
| Gender | Girls |
| Ages | 11 to 18 |
| Website | www.devonportgirls.plymouth.sch.uk |
| Coordinates: | |
Devonport High School for Girls is a traditional state selective girls' secondary school (ages 11-18) in Plymouth, England. Its catchment area covers Plymouth, South-West Devon and South-East Cornwall.
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[edit] History
It was established in 1911, 15 years after its sibling Devonport High School for Boys. The school moved to its current location which overlooks Central Park in 1937.
During World War II the girls were evacuated to a Tiverton girls school, whilst the DHSG building was used as a machine shop for the dockyard. According to accounts at the time, an attempt to bomb the building was made, however it failed and instead destroyed Argyle football ground and several houses in surrounding streets.
[edit] Academics
It is a grammar school, and therefore caters for students at the top end of the academic ability range. These students are selected by means of the 11-plus exam, which tests potential students on verbal and non-verbal reasoning. The school has a Planned Admission Number of 120 pupils at age 11, reflecting the current school capacity.
As of 2006 it has some 820 pupils, of whom around 200 are sixth form students. It is maintained by the Department for Lifelong Learning of Plymouth City Council. The school has now obtained Specialist Language College status, and has introduced Chinese into the curriculum from Sept 06'.
Each school year from 7-11 is split into four tutor groups. These tutor groups originally formed the school 'houses', these were originally named after saints but have since been changed to Falcon, Kestrel, Hawk and Eagle. In modern times these names have been reduced simply to their first letter, eg. 7H or 10E. At the end of Year 9 as of September 2007, the forms undergo a change in which their forms are split up and re-established.
[edit] Uniform
School uniform is a brown sweater bearing the school emblem, a brown v-neck jumper or brown cardigan; a short sleeved open collar shirt; a knee-length brown skirt either pleated or A line with no splits; brown or black shoes (no high heels) and white socks or black/brown/beige tights. However, from this September, pupils are not allowed to wear a school tie, pupils from years 7-11 just a white shirt with a brown v-neck jumper or brown cardigan. Which many of the pupils choose as an option
Coats should be dark in colour, scarves may be a plain dark colour or the school scarf, but are not allowed to be worn in lessons.
There is no longer a tie in the uniform.
The Sixth form do not have a uniform, but do have limitations on what can be worn.
[edit] General Information
The previous three Headteachers were, Mrs Clayton, Mrs M Smith, Mrs E B Dunball and Ms D Hill (currently suspended from the school, due to unknown reasons - Mrs A Hemsi, previously deputy head, is currently the acting headteacher) Mrs J Nash is the deputy head.Nevertheless, the other teachers are possibly some of the best.(Mr Sunderland, for example, won the National Teachers Award).
Every year on the last day of term before Christmas, the Lower Sixth (Year 12) put on a 'Sixth Form Entertainment' for the rest of the school. This usually involves as many of the teaching staff as possible, singing, dancing, dressing up and making fools of themselves for the enjoyment of the pupils.
The school has its own song, which the girls are required to learn and sing on special occasions - such as the annual Speech Day - but usually during assemblies.
The school motto is, 'Sine. Labe. Decvs.(Decus)' which is often said to translate from Latin as 'honour without dishonour', but actually translates as 'honour without stain' and was Sir Francis Drake's former motto.
Every year the year 9 pupils are taken on a school trip to Bude for a week. The feedback is highly positive, with some girls wishing they could go back again the next year/the next day. In fact, some girls choose to work there for Year 11 work experience as they enjoyed it so much.
This April 40 girls from the Sixth Form, and 5 teachers, will be going on a School trip to India.
The Governing Body have no current plans to seek accreditation for or introduce the International Baccalaureate as an alternative to A levels, although this is becoming available elsewhere locally in the city and county (eg Plymouth College and Plymouth High School for Girls, Exeter School etc)
[edit] External links
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