Head: Dan Roberts
An accessible boys' grammar school in Plymouth with a Good Ofsted rating.
0
Year 7 Places
0.0:1
Applicants/Place
0
Pupils
Max Score
141
Applications
258
Offers Made
208
Score, then Distance
Places by test score. Equal scores broken by distance.
Sibling Priority
Pupil Premium
Appeals Deadline
2026-04-30
Process
Plymouth City Council will act on DHSB's behalf to hear appeals. On time appeal submissions to be heard within 40 school days of the deadline.
1. Register
1 May 2026
2. Take Test
Devon/Torbay
3. Results
19 Oct 2026
4. Offer Day
1 Mar 2027
A shared 11+ entrance exam used by 7 grammar schools, testing English, Mathematics, Reasoning. Each school runs its own test. No common consortium exam. Students have entered DHSB on individual merit since 1896. School provides free online learning and 11+ exam preparation through Atom Learning for Pupil Premium eligible students. Testing takes place on two Saturdays in September with familiarisation sessions offered in June. Assessment is provided by Quest Assessments with focus on Year 5 National Curriculum content only.
Registration Opens
Registration opens for the 11+ exam
1 May 2026
Open Evening
Open Evening - Tuesday 7 July 2026 at 4:30pm
7 Jul 2026
4:30pm
Registration Deadline
Final day to register for the 11+ exam
15 Jul 2026
Exam Date
11+ entrance exam
19 Sep 2026
9:00am
Results Released
11+ results released to parents
19 Oct 2026
CAF Deadline
Common Application Form deadline (all LAs)
31 Oct 2026
National Offer Day
National Offer Day — places confirmed
1 Mar 2027
69.2
Attainment 8
94.4%
Grade 5+ Eng & Maths
The school's 2025 results at a glance — GCSE (Key Stage 4) and A-Level (sixth form) shown separately. Each tile shows the latest figure and how it moved on the year before.
69.2
Attainment 8
Average achievement across 8 qualifications
94%
English + Maths 5+
Grade 5 or above in both
98%
English + Maths 4+
Grade 4 or above in both
25%
EBacc Entry
Entered the English Baccalaureate suite
5.82
EBacc APS
Average points across EBacc subjects
B-
Avg A-Level Grade
Average grade achieved across all A-Level entries
37.6
A-Level avg points
Average point score per entry (A* = 60, A = 50, B = 40)
24.8%
AAB+ at A-Level
Achieved AAB or better in their best three A-Levels — a key benchmark for Russell Group entry
The same numbers in context — against the England state-funded average, the typical grammar school, and grammars with a similar intake.
Bar shows this school. Ticks mark the England state-funded average (grey) and the typical grammar-school average (indigo).
Grammar median computed from up to 163 grammars.
Strong averages can hide gaps. These tiles split the same cohort by disadvantage and by sex — a small gap means the school delivers for everyone, not just the strongest intake.
| Metric | Disadv. | Non-dis. | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 | 60.9 | 69.9 | +9 |
| E+M grade 5+ | 93% | 95% | +2pp |
| EBacc entry | 21% | 26% | +4pp |
Disadvantaged = pupils eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years, looked-after, or adopted from care. A small or zero gap is the goal — it means the school helps every pupil reach the same outcomes.
Whether pupils choose to stay on after GCSEs, and which way the headline results have been moving over recent years.
92%
continued to sixth form
% of pupils who stayed on after GCSEs
High retention is a positive sign — pupils choose to stay and the sixth form supports them through. Low retention can indicate weaker post-16 provision or curriculum mismatch.
The end of the journey — what leavers do after sixth form, and how this school's university record compares.
52%
Continued in education
HE + FE + other
49%
Higher Education
−19pp vs grammar avg
Cohort destination breakdown
Destinations trend
Zooming in from whole-school figures to individual subjects — where entries concentrate, and which departments stand out in either direction.
Bar = entries · chip = grade 4+ pass rate
Bar = entries · chip = A*–E pass rate
Strongest at
Physical Education
42 entries
100%
+5.4pp vs school
Food Preparation & Nutrition
40 entries
100%
+5.4pp vs school
Art and Design
19 entries
100%
+5.4pp vs school
Watch list
Classical Civilisation
35 entries
77%
-17.5pp vs school
Spanish
22 entries
86%
-8.2pp vs school
Strongest at
Economics
38 entries
100%
+1.1pp vs school
English literature
23 entries
100%
+1.1pp vs school
Geography
22 entries
100%
+1.1pp vs school
Watch list
Psychology
44 entries
95%
-3.4pp vs school
Maths
74 entries
96%
-2.9pp vs school
Entry Requirements
Minimum of 6 GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English and Mathematics. Grade 6 or above required in subjects to be studied at A-level. Some subjects may have additional specific requirements.
Subjects Offered
Largest group: White British (69.2%)
Pupils of White British heritage
Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese and other Asian heritage
More than one heritage — e.g. White & Asian, White & Black Caribbean
A single heritage outside the groups above — e.g. Arab, White non-British
Black Caribbean, Black African and other Black heritage
England avg ≈ 24%
≈ 17 pts below the England average — proportion of pupils whose family qualifies for free school meals (a measure of catchment affluence).
England avg ≈ 18%
≈ 8 pts below the England average — proportion of pupils whose first language is not English.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form
Outstanding
Scale: Inadequate → Requires Improvement → Good → Outstanding
Per-pupil funding
2025/26≈ £335 (-5%) below the English average
Share of total spend going on staff
Typical English secondary: 75–80% on staff.
Spend per pupil per year
Most English state secondaries spend 75–80% of their budget on staff. Higher figures usually mean smaller class sizes; lower figures mean more spent on premises, supplies, or capital projects.
£4,468
Teaching Staff / pupil
£608
Educational Supplies / pupil
£457
Premises / pupil
Revenue reserve / pupil
£290
The school holds a surplus per pupil — money set aside that can absorb unexpected costs or fund future projects without affecting day-to-day teaching.
Total grant: £6,251,373 · 934 pupils funded
How the 2025/26 allocation broke down. Each stream is a signal about the school's intake — bigger deprivation / EAL / SEN top-ups indicate a school serving a more challenging cohort.
Basic entitlement
£5,338,085
The school's core allocation — pupil numbers × the basic per-pupil rate — before any top-ups.
Pupil Premium
£81,700
Targeted funding for 76 disadvantaged pupils.
Deprivation top-up
£317,685
Aggregates FSM, FSM6 and IDACI deprivation bands.
EAL top-up
£10,123
English-as-additional-language premium — paid for pupils whose first language isn't English.
Prior attainment top-up
£8,440
Funding for pupils arriving below age-related expectations.
Notional SEN
£712,547
Earmarked SEN budget inside the schools block.
Lump sum
£145,100
Fixed per-school grant — size-independent.
Schools budget support grant
£57,350
Government pay-and-pension support grant.
National Insurance grant
£74,013
Compensation for the increase in employer NI contributions.
1,268 / 1,160(109%)
Subjects Offered
Entry Requirements
Minimum of 6 GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English and Mathematics. Grade 6 or above required in subjects to be studied at A-level. Some subjects may have additional specific requirements.
1:17.9
Staff:Pupil Ratio
100%
Qualified Teachers
3.9%
Absence Rate
6.88%
Persistent Absence
well-resourced, vibrant learning environment
Sports
Sports Hall
STEM
{"science labs":6,"IT suites":8,"technology workshops":2}
Arts
{"drama theatre":1,"music rooms":3,"art studios":2}
Library
Well-resourced library with books, periodicals, computers and quiet study areas. Open during school hours and some after-school periods.
Capital Projects
Recent improvements to science laboratories and IT facilities. Ongoing maintenance and refurbishment of historic buildings.
well established house system creates opportunities to compete and to have achievements celebrated
Sports
Football, Rugby, Cricket, Basketball, Tennis
Music & Performing Arts
music groups ×4, orchestras, choirs ×2, drama productions ×3
Clubs & Societies
Debating Society, Robotics Club, Chess Club
Duke of Edinburgh
Offered
Trips & Exchanges
school trips, foreign exchanges
Community Service
Students participate in various community service activities including charity fundraising, local community projects, and volunteer work as part of their personal development programme.
Uniform
The school uniform consists of a navy blue blazer, white shirt, black trousers, and tie. Suppliers: Schoolwear Shop, Uniform Direct.
School Meals
The school offers a hot meal service, with a choice of main courses, desserts, and drinks.
Homework Policy
All students complete their maths independent learning with Sparx Maths
Behaviour Policy
Students have a very clear sense of right and wrong and are eager to contribute to school and wider community life.
Mobile Phone Policy
Mobile phones are not allowed in lessons or during school hours, except for emergencies.
SEND Provision
The school has a dedicated SEND department providing support for students with special educational needs and disabilities. Support includes individual learning plans, small group interventions, and access arrangements for examinations.
Devonport (Boys) location. See the catchment description for its priority area.
Enter your postcode to see directions to Devonport (Boys)
First Devon & Cornwall bus routes, including Route 21 and Route 22
Nearest Station: Plymouth City Centre (approx. 1 mile)
Transport Info
Very limited parking at the school; please park offsite if possible. Parking will be available at Plymouth City College (a small charge will apply).
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