Devonport High School for Girls

Success for A Level Students at Devonport High School for Girls

A Level students at Devonport High School for Girls are celebrating fantastic results this year. 67% of all grades achieved were A*, A, or B. It was impressive to see many of our students awarded A/A* grades across the board. Once again, these results mean that DHSG is one of the country’s top mixed-sex state Sixth Forms for outcomes and is the highest performing in Plymouth and surrounding areas.

The school continues its high-achieving record of top university places and courses, with students attending some of the top universities in the country, including Russell Group, and taking up places in employment.

Assistant Head Teacher and Head of Sixth Form Ed Lamb said, 'We are absolutely delighted once again this year with the results and our students, and they never cease to amaze us with the scope of their talent and academic potential. They have gone about all aspects of their academic life with us with a high degree of professionalism and diligence, and they will take their places in the world of work and academia with a similar approach. My thanks also go to their teachers whose knowledge, expertise and support have been essential in helping them get there.

Head Teacher Lee Sargeant said, ‘I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to our students on their excellent examination results this year. These outcomes are the culmination of their hard work, perseverance and commitment over the past two years, and they should take great pride in all that they have achieved. The success of our leavers is a testament to their dedication and determination throughout their time at Devonport High School for Girls. Their accomplishments reflect not only academic excellence but also the strength of character and resilience they have demonstrated during their studies. I would also like to express my gratitude to our staff, whose expertise, encouragement and unwavering support have played a vital role in guiding students throughout their A Level journey. I am immensely proud of what our students have accomplished and of the contribution they have made to the life of the school. I wish them every success and happiness as they move forward to the next stage of their education, training or careers.'

What a fantastic way to bring the academic year to a close! ☀️

Our final day of term began with what I think is a first for DHSG, a whole school celebration assembly on the school field, led by Mr Sargeant. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community, reflect on an incredible year and celebrate everything our students have achieved.

Students then spent time with their tutors before heading outside to enjoy some sporting action in the sunshine. The events featured 4x100m and 4x200m relay races, followed by very entertaining Staff v Sixth Form rounders matches.

With perfect summer weather and a fantastic atmosphere throughout the day, it was a fitting end to another successful year at DHSG.

We wish all of our students, families and staff a happy, restful and well deserved summer break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in September.

Today we say a fond farewell to Mrs Tribe as she retires after 21 years of dedicated service to Devonport High School for Girls.

Over more than two decades, Mrs Tribe has inspired generations of students as a talented and passionate Food Technology teacher, an exceptional tutor, Middle Leader, and a colleague who has been valued and respected by staff and students alike. Her warmth, kindness, encouragement and unwavering commitment to young people have left a lasting impact on our school community.

She has always encouraged students to extend their learning beyond the classroom encouraging them to enter STEM and Food competitions and has accompanied many trips abroad and in this country. In recent years, has been the facilitator for our DHSG SWAT Challenge team with great enthusiasm and success, making it especially fitting that the team were crowned winners this year in her final year at the helm. There is so much she has achieved and given to our school community that this post only touches the surface.

Pictured here receiving a heartfelt reception from students and staff at the Headteacher’s final assembly, and alongside her last for group who will miss her very much, Mrs Tribe leaves behind a remarkable legacy and countless happy memories.

Thank you, Mrs Tribe, for 21 years of dedication, care and inspiration. We wish you every happiness and success in your retirement, it is richly deserved.

Cambridge Chemistry Challenge 2026 – DHSG Success!
In June some Year 12 students tackled university-style chemistry problems designed to stretch them well beyond the A-level syllabus. The Cambridge Chemistry Challenge 2026 included advanced topics such as IR spectroscopy, potassium ozonide and superoxides, requiring strong problem-solving, analytical thinking and synthesis skills.
We are delighted to celebrate outstanding results, with our students achieving 6 Silver and 5 Copper certificates.
Congratulations to all who took part for demonstrating such impressive resilience, curiosity and determination. Certificates are still on their way, but we couldn't wait to share this fantastic achievement!

Speech Day 2026

What a wonderful evening celebrating the achievements of our students at this year's Speech Day.

The evening began on our beautiful school site, bathed in warm summer sunshine, as families, students, staff and guests gathered for drinks and canapés. The atmosphere was made even more special by a selection of our talented student pianists, whose performances provided the perfect accompaniment to the occasion.

The celebrations then moved into the Main Hall, where students were recognised for their achievements through the presentation of certificates, prizes and trophies. Alongside inspiring speeches from our Head Teacher and Chair of Trustees, the evening was filled with pride, reflection and celebration of all that our students have accomplished this year.

A particular highlight was an outstanding address from our guest of honour , former student and Cambridge graduate, Rachel Adkins. With warmth, humour and remarkable honesty, Rachel shared her journey of stepping outside her comfort zone to take up ice hockey at university, eventually representing both Cambridge and Leeds in national competition. Her witty and spontaneous speech was truly captivating and carried a powerful message for our students: embrace new challenges, take opportunities when they arise and never be afraid to try something new.

The evening concluded with our much-loved school song, led beautifully by our instrumentalists and choir, bringing together students, staff, families and alumni in a fitting celebration of the DHSG community.

We are incredibly grateful to Rachel for returning to share her experiences and wish her every success as she begins her career as a solicitor this September.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to such a memorable evening. It was a wonderful celebration of achievement, character and community, and a perfect way to recognise another successful year at DHSG.

A New Photography Club for DHSG

During Enrichment Week, I had the pleasure of co-leading a Photography Day with over 40 students. It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to learn, and it has inspired me to look at starting a Photography Club from the Autumn Term.

Photography has been a personal hobby of mine for many years, and it was wonderful to see so many students keen to develop their skills further. With the recent government guidance around mobile phone use in schools, the club would focus on traditional digital photography using bridge cameras or DSLR cameras where students can learn to control settings such as aperture, shutter speed and ISO to create more purposeful and creative images.

To help make this opportunity available to as many students as possible, I am hoping to build a small collection of cameras that students can borrow during club sessions. If you have a used digital DSLR with a lens or bridge camera sitting in a cupboard that you would be willing to donate to the school, I would be incredibly grateful.

If you are able to help, please contact me directly at [email protected]

Thank you for your support.

Mr Thomas
Deputy Headteacher

We are very proud of our A-Level Biology students who took part in the UK Biology Intermediate Olympiad, achieving outstanding results:
Gold: Fiacre C, Izzy C
Silver: Annabelle O, Oliver S, Abirak T, Bethany L
Bronze: Daisy G, Catrina B, Wren B, Ava B, Santhuli I, Esther W
A Gold Award is a remarkable achievement, earned by only the top 5% of students nationally. Silver places students in the top 15%, while Bronze recognises those in the top 30%.
With over 17,000 students taking part nationwide, this represents one of our strongest-ever performances in the competition. Congratulations to everyone who took part and rose to the challenge. We are incredibly proud of you all.

DHSG Debate Competition Finals 2026

Our talented student debaters took part in a parliamentary-style debate at the DHSG Debate Competition Finals, expertly adjudicated by South West Devon MP, Rebecca Smith.

The motion debated was:

"This House Would Mandate That Artificial Intelligence Developers Are Strictly Liable for Damages Caused by Their Algorithms."

Students demonstrated outstanding critical thinking, public speaking and teamwork as they tackled this challenging and highly relevant issue.

A huge thank you to Rebecca Smith MP for giving her time to adjudicate the competition, and to Year 9 student Isabella for her hard work and dedication in organising this year's finals. The event was a fantastic showcase of the talent, confidence and intellectual curiosity of DHSG students.

'When I started running Debate Society, I hoped it would give students a place to find their voice. Watching them grow in confidence, challenge one another respectfully, and defend complex ideas with maturity has been the most rewarding part of the journey. Debate is about far more than winning an argument; it teaches young people to think critically, listen carefully, and engage thoughtfully with different perspectives. The final was not only a showcase of outstanding speeches, but a celebration of months of dedication, resilience and personal growth from every competitor.'....... Isabella Y9

Our Year 12 Chemists had a fantastic day at the first A Level Chemistry Day at Plymouth University . Students synthesised the historic indigo dye used by Baeyer in 1887, purified their product and dyed fabric to take home.

The day also included a tour of the Chemistry Department, visits to the new Radioisotope and Advanced Materials Suite, demonstrations involving sensors, drones and robots, a spectacular combustion experiment, and an inspiring lecture, "Nitrogen – the wicked element!".

Delighted to share the DHSG school results for the 2026 RSC Schools Analysts Competition as awarded by the RSC Analytical Science Community and Northumbria University: Newcastle.

1st place: Alex, Joseph and Karl
2nd place: Fiacre, Shayla and Fatima
3rd place: Annabelle, Ava and Finn