Devonport High School for Boys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Devonport High School for Boys |
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 School badge  Devonport High School for Boys from Stonehouse Creek |
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| Address | |
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Paradise Road
Devonport, Plymouth
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PL1 5QP
England
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| Coordinates | 50°22′27″N 4°09′44″W / 50.374071°N 4.162273°W |
| Information | |
| Type | 11–18 boys Grammar school Academy |
| Motto | Latin: Prorsum Semper Honeste (Forward always honest/proud) |
| Established | 1896 |
| Founder | Alonzo Rider |
| Department for Education URN | 136496 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Head teacher | Dan Roberts |
| Staff | Over 100 |
| Gender | Boys (Mixed sixth form) |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 1,150 (2011) |
| Houses | Campbell Edison Newton Priestley Smeaton Winstanley |
| Colour(s) | |
| Former pupils | DHSB Old Boys |
| Website | Devonport High School for Boys |
Devonport High School for Boys is a school for boys aged 11 to 18. It is a grammar school and an academy located in Plymouth, Devon, England. About 1,150 boys attend the school. Students come from Plymouth, southwest Devon, and southeast Cornwall. Boys are accepted based on their academic ability.
Contents
A Look Back: School History
When was the school founded?
The school was started by Alonzo Rider on January 16, 1896. It was built in Stoke, Devonport. The goal was to educate boys who wanted to work for the Royal Navy or in the government.
How did the school grow?
In 1906, the Devonport Borough Council took over the school. For the next 30 years, it taught boys from the city and nearby areas. Many students went on to work locally or nationally, especially for the Ministry of Defence.
What happened during World War II?
During World War II, in 1941, the school had to move to Penzance for safety. It returned in 1945 to its current location on Paradise Road. This building used to be the Stoke Military Hospital, built in 1797. A book called A Torch in Flame tells the school's story up to 1974. Since 1904, students have also made an annual magazine. This magazine shares news and updates with students, parents, and former students.
What special status does the school have?
Since 2002, the school has been known for its strong engineering programs. In 2007, it also gained a special status for languages. In 2009, it added "Applied Learning," which connects school subjects to real-world jobs.
School Life and Achievements
How well do students perform?
In 2002, the school became one of the first four specialist engineering colleges in England. In 2007, it added languages as a second specialism. Later, it added "Applied Learning" in 2009. This helped students see how their lessons connect to jobs.
In 2011, school inspectors (OFSTED) called the school "Outstanding." This meant it was doing a fantastic job. This rating helped the school become a "Type Two" Academy. The inspectors noted that students' achievements were "consistently high." They also said that all students, including those with special needs, enjoyed learning. Students in the Sixth Form (older students) achieved "outstanding results."
What are the school houses?
The school has different "houses" that students belong to. These houses compete in sports and other activities. Before 2009, the houses were Drake, Raleigh, Gilbert, and Grenville. Since 2009, there have been six houses:
- Campbell
- Edison
- Newton
- Priestley
- Smeaton
- Winstanley
The school is planning to add a seventh house soon! The houses compete each year for the St Levan's Shield.
What are the school buildings named after?
The school buildings were once part of the Stoke Military Hospital. Today, they are named after important people connected to Plymouth. The names are often shortened to their first letter for classroom numbers. Blocks A–E are connected by an arched walkway called a colonnade. Blocks A and F are connected by a bridge.
| Block Name | What it's used for | Who it's named after |
|---|---|---|
| Astor | Biology, Engineering, Media Studies & ICT | Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor, the first woman to be a Member of Parliament (MP) in the UK. |
| Astor Annexe | Extra Maths & Engineering classrooms | |
| Brunel | Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages & English | Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a famous engineer who designed railways and bridges. |
| Burrows' Art Studio | Art Studio & classroom | Clive Burrows, a former English and Drama teacher at the school. |
| Cookworthy | Classics, History & Geography | William Cookworthy, who discovered china-clay in Cornwall and started a porcelain factory. |
| Drake | Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy | Sir Francis Drake, a famous naval officer and former Mayor of Plymouth. |
| Edgcumbe | Offices, Learning Commons (library), Changing Rooms & Gym | The Earls of Mount Edgcumbe, whose family home is Mount Edgcumbe House. |
| Edgcumbe Theatre | A hall with 234 seats for performances. | |
| Foulston | Sixth Form Centre & ICT suite | John Foulston, a well-known architect who designed many buildings in Plymouth. |
| Foulston Gym | Sports Hall & Changing Rooms | |
| Gibbons | Refectory (dining hall), and Food Technology | Edward Stanley Gibbons, a stamp collector from Plymouth who started the Stanley Gibbons Group. |
| Hansom Sports Hall | A large hall for sports, assemblies, and exams. | Joseph Hansom and Charles Francis Hansom, two brothers who designed Plymouth Cathedral. |
| Ingle 1 & 2 | Classrooms used by the Air Training Corps. | Wing commander Michael Roscoe Ingle-Finch, a fighter pilot from World War II. |
| Jervis | Music Suite & Rehearsal rooms | Admiral of the Fleet John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent, who ordered the building of the Plymouth Breakwater. |
| Kingsley Cottages | Student Support Centre | Reverend Charles Kingsley, a novelist famous for The Water Babies. |
What about Uzel House in France?
The school used to have a special house in the French town of Uzel in Brittany. This house gave students a chance to work with local companies. They could also improve their French and try activities like horse riding and canoeing. The school bought the house for a very small amount (1 Franc) in 1991. From 1992 to 2009, over 250 boys visited the house each year. The "Friday Choir" also took students from other Plymouth schools to Uzel to sing for the local people. The school no longer owns Uzel House.
Who have been the Head Teachers?
- 1896–1906: AJ Rider
- 1906–1932: AF Treseder
- 1933–1941: HAT Simmonds
- 1942–1948: WH Buckley
- 1949–1953: SB Barker
- 1953–1974: JL Cresswell
- 1975–1993: JGW Peck
- 1993–2008: NM Pettit (Nic Pettit)
- 2008–2015: KJ Earley
- 2015–present: DJJ Roberts
Famous Former Students
Many notable people have attended Devonport High School for Boys, including:
- Ben Cross, an actor known for Chariots of Fire
- Roger Davies, a former chairman of travel companies like Going Places and Thomson Holidays.
- John Dyson, a former Ambassador to Montenegro.
- Alfred Eddy, a Professor of Biochemistry.
- David Felwick CBE, a former Deputy Chairman of John Lewis Partnership.
- Richard Foster CBE, a former Chief Executive of the CPS.
- Donald Hamley, a diplomat.
- Sir Martin Harris CBE, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester.
- Stephen Hiscock, a former High Commissioner to Guyana and Ambassador to Suriname.
- Rear-Adm Terence Loughran CB, a former Commander of HMS Ark Royal.
- Christopher Murphy, a former Conservative Member of Parliament (MP).
- Sir Austin Pearce CBE (1921–2004), a former chairman of British Aerospace. He also captained the school's athletics and rugby teams.
- Tim Thornton, a Church of England bishop.
- Ian Trigger, a film and stage actor.
