Devonport High School for Boys

Devonport High School for Boys
Devonport High School for Boys
Dhsblogo.png
Motto Prorsum Semper Honeste — Forward always proud
Established 1896
Type Type 2 Academy
Headteacher Mr K J Earley
Founder Alonzo Rider
Specialisms Engineering, languages and applied learning
Location Paradise Road
Stoke, Plymouth
Devon
PL1 5QP
England
Local authority Plymouth City Council
DfE URN 136496
Ofsted Reports
Staff over 75
Students ca 1100
Gender Boys (Mixed sixth form)
Ages 11–18
Houses      Campbell
     Edison
     Newton
     Priestly
     Smeaton
     Winstanley
Colours Green and white         
Former pupils Old DHSians
Website www.dhsb.org

Coordinates: 50°22′27″N 4°09′44″W / 50.374071°N 4.162273°W / 50.374071; -4.162273

Devonport High School for Boys is a Grammar School and Type 2 Academy, for boys aged 11 to 18, in Plymouth, Devon, England. It has around 1100 pupils. Its catchment area includes southwest Devon and southeast Cornwall as well as Plymouth. Pupils are accepted on the basis of academic aptitude.

Contents

School history

The school was founded by Alonzo Rider on Albert Road, Devonport in January 1896 to meet the needs of boys in Plymouth and district seeking a career in the Navy, as engineers and civil servants.

In 1906 the Devonport Borough Council took over the school and over the next thirty years it continued to teach boys who came from the city or in by train from the Tamar Valley and Cornwall. Old Boys went on to careers both locally and nationally – and especially in the MoD. In 1939 the school was evacuated to Penzance because of World War Two and in 1945 returned to the present site, the former Stoke Military Hospital on Paradise Road, which had been built in 1797.[citation needed] A book by former student and teacher Henry Whitfield called A Torch in Flame, chronicles the history of the school from its founding to the death of headmaster Dr Cresswell in 1974. Since 1904, there has also been an annual School Magazine made by pupils with the purpose of keeping both; student, parents and Old Boys informed about developments and information concerning the school.

Academic standards

In 2002, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) designated the school as one of the first four specialist engineering colleges of the UK. In 2006 it was judged to be a High Performing Specialist School (HPSS) and has rebid successfully for a second 4 year period of Engineering Specialism. In April 2007, it took up a second specialism in languages. After the OFSTED inspection in October 2007, the school successfully gained redesignation for Engineering and, with its HPSS status re-affirmed, successfully applied a third specialism "Applied Learning" which commenced during 2009. This specialism encourages subject teaching to make reference to relevance in the world of work.

The school was recently inspected again in February 2011, and was designated as an "Outstanding" school, paving the way for the school's conversion to "Type Two" Academy Status in early March 2011, under the Coalition Government's Academy scheme.

The school's academic performance can be assessed on the UK government's Department for Education and Skills (DfES) website.[1]

F1 in Schools

Pupils' technical achievements include building the fastest CO2-powered model formula one car in the South West England heats of the F1 In Schools competition 2004-2005. Cars in this competition are designed with Computer Aided Design software and built from balsa wood using Computer Aided Manufacture. DHSB's "Team Odyssey" entered the lower 11-14 age group. Their vehicle traveled 20 metres in 1.187 seconds, averaging over 60 kilometres per hour. Despite being the fastest in both age groups they did not qualify for the national finals, losing marks in the presentation section. This competition was re-entered in 2005-2006, with Black Future and Next Generation. At the regional finals in Yeovil, Black Future got a time of 1.107 seconds with Next Generation being slightly slower. Both teams went through to the national finals held in the NEC, Birmingham, where Black Future won the trophy for the fastest car nationally and Next Generation again being slightly slower, but with the second fastest car in United Kingdom. This year they again entered two teams: Fusion and Pulse. Fusion had the second fastest car in the south-west, but unfortunately did not qualify for the national finals. Pulse however, entered into a more complex class and beat the world record with a time of 1.069 seconds, scooping four prizes and a cheque for £500, going on to complete in the national finals. The school also is entering in 2011 with Team Vitesse in the same class as Pulse.

F1 in Schools English Champions

At the January 2007 national finals in Birmingham, the Pulse car beat the world record twice more, setting the UK National record at 1.056 seconds. In a further test for the car they arranged to race the Honda car, which had beaten all the other cars at Indianapolis last year and since then had undergone improvements. Using non-competition canisters Pulse achieved a time of 1.020 seconds, one millisecond faster than the Honda car. Overall, Pulse won the fastest R-type car, the Innovative Thinking award, the best 14-16 presentation and the 14-16 age group. As a result of their achievements they went on to represent England at the International Finals in 2008, which were held in Malaysia during the Sepang Grand Prix.

F1 in Schools World Champions

The Pulse F1 Team succeeded in becoming World Champions in the International Finals in Malaysia in March 2008. The team beat off competition from around the world in a knockout style event winning the Bernie Ecclestone Trophy and also university sponsorship, as well as the privilege of being VIP guests at the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix.

The school is a designated Arkwright Scholarship School. As of 2005 there had been 4 Arkwright Scholars.

School song

This is a copy of the original school song. Though the use of the song ceased during the 1990s, it is still remembered by generations of former students:

First Verse

"Tis of our school the High we sing,
For her we'll spend both strength and brain,
For her our finest gifts we'll bring,
We'll give our all and count it gain,
So that her praises far may ring,
With records proud, devoid of stain,"

Chorus

"High in Name, in fame in aim,
High in heart and strong endeavour,
High to answer honour's claim,
We will fail our own school never,
Semper Prorsum Honeste,
Thus our motto, Play the game,
Semper Prorsum Honeste,
The High for ever,"

Second Verse

"And when in our last race of all,
We round the bend with torch in flame,
We'll hand it on and sound the call,
We've run our race, in us no shame,
Ne'er did we falter, fail or fall,
We've played the game, do ye the same."

Chorus

High in name etc.

"The first verse to be sung by trebles only."
"The Second verse to be sung by basses only."
"Both choruses to be sung in full."

DHSB Headteachers

Looking west along the Arcade
  • 1896—1906 AJ Rider FCS
  • 1906—1932 AF Treseder MA
  • 1933—1941 HAT Simmonds MA
  • 1942—1948 WH Buckley BA BSc FREconS
  • 1949—1953 SB Barker MA LLB
  • 1953—1974 JL Cresswell MA DPhil
  • 1975—1993 JGW Peck MA JP
  • 1993—2008 NM Pettit BSc PhD
  • 2008—Pres: KJ Earley BA MA

School houses

The school's pupils are currently split equally between 6 houses, which compete each year for the St. Levan's Shield, the houses are Campbell, Edison, Newton, Priestley, Smeaton and Winstanley.

School buildings

The school buildings are named after famous Plymouthians:

  • Astor; the Art, Technology, Media Studies and ICT block.
  • Astor Annexe; the building joined with Astor. This features an Art classroom on the bottom floor, and a Technology room at the top.
  • Brunel; the Mathematics, MFL (Modern Foreign Languages) and English block.
  • Burrows' Drama Studio; named after late English and Drama teacher Clive Burrows. A drama studio.
  • Cookworthy; The Classics and Humanities block.
  • Drake; the Sciences block.
  • Edgcumbe; the building that has the main Reception, senior staff offices, the LRC (Learning Resource Centre and Library), changing rooms, the Fitness Suite (a Gym) and the Edgcumbe Theatre, converted in 2008 from a traditional school hall into a 234-seat auditorium with the old under-stage Green Room/Stage as a drama and rehearsal studio.
  • Foulston; this block has the Sixth Form Centre (opened in November 2006), as well as a PE Studies hall. The block is connected with Astor. John Foulston was a prominent architect in the city.
  • Gibbons; the Refectory (Canteen) and new cookery block, part named after Stanley Gibbons, the stamp collector.
  • Hansom; the sports hall that is connected with Edgcumbe. Hansom was the architect for Plymouth RC Cathedral.
  • Ingle; the ATC (Air Training Corps) hut, named after the heroic second world war fighter pilot. An extension to this building is nearly completed in construction.
  • Jervis; the Music Suite with rehearsal rooms - named after Admiral Jervis.
  • Kingsley, the student support centre. (Charles Kingsley wrote Water Babies whilst living in Devon).

Uzel House

The school has a residential centre in the French town of Uzel in Brittany. This offers pupils the opportunity for work experience with local companies as well as the chance to improve their French and enjoy activities like horseriding and canoeing. The house was bought for the token amount of 1 Franc in 1991, from the Mayor of Uzel. Since its opening in 1992, annually over 250 boys visit the house. The Friday Choir has also brought pupils from two other Plymouth grammar schools, Plymouth High School for Girls and Devonport High School for Girls, to Uzel for an opportunity to sing to the locals. These, and many other Friday Choir tours, were organised by music teacher Trefor K Farrow. Mr Farrow joined DHSB in 1965 and completed his fortieth and final year in 2006. In 2010 there were concerns about the Houses' long term sustainability as a result of the recession. The situation over its future is still undecided.

Annual trips

The school organises annual trips ranging from Snowdonia, Wales to Uzel, France and beyond. The school offers a large range of educational trips abroad some regular and also usually a selection of other non-regular trips each year including:

Regular Trips:

  • France - Year Seven and Eight Residential trips, an A level Media trip and a Year Nine Holocaust remembrance trip.
  • France - French Exchange with Lycée Notre-Dame, Guingamp.
  • France / Austria - Skiing trips.
  • Germany - Trips to the Black Forest and Aachen Christmas market for the younger year groups.
  • Kenya - A bi-annual Geography trip.
  • Wales - A trip run to explore the Snowdonia region.
  • Chagford - An afternoon exploring the local moorland area.

Other trips have included:

  • China - A Geography / History trip to this fascinating country. A return trip took place on 17/7/2009.
  • Egypt - A Geography / History trip to the land of the Golden Pharaoh.
  • Greece - A Classics trip to view the wonders of Ancient Greece.
  • Holland - with the Swing Band.
  • Italy - There have now been several Classics trips to view the wonders of Ancient Rome.
  • Mexico - A Geography / History trip to view this remarkable country.
  • New York - An Art trip.
  • Paris - An Art trip.
  • Peru - A Geography trip
  • Russia - with the Friday Choir.
  • Spain - with Friday Choir.

The future

Devonport High School for Boys has been rapidly expanding over the past few years. This expansion includes the refurbishment of the 6th Form centre as well as the complete refurbishment of the old Edgcumbe Hall to create the Edgcumbe Theatre and Studio, a theatre facility both for performance and sound and light engineering.

Under the new government scheme in which every school has to teach cookery, a new cookery and home economics building has been built.

From March 1st 2011 the school converted to academy status, a highly controversial and bitterly divisive change among staff and pupils alike at the school, with several believing that the change has happened far too quickly.

Notable former pupils

Notable alumni include:

DHSB has a group of alumni called the "Old Boys Association", it was relaunched in 1996, on the school's centenary. There are more than 600 Old Boys registered on the DHS Old Boys Online web site. DHS Old Boys Online has no direct affiliation with the Old Boys Association, although it does provide some information on the Association and a form to apply for membership..

There was mild controversy in the school and the DHSOBA when the information that an Old Boy from the school had been detained in the now infamous "fake rock" case emerged. According to the BBC, Russia's intelligence agency, the FSB, accused British agents of storing and exchanging classified information using a fake rock on a Russian street. [1]

Notes

  1. ^ DfES DHSB, Accessed December 2, 2006
  2. ^ 'BRIDGES, Stephen John', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 24 September 2011).
  3. ^ 'DAVIES, Roger Oliver', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 24 September 2011).
  4. ^ 'DYSON, John Alva', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 24 September 2011).
  5. ^ 'EDDY, Prof. Alfred Alan', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 24 September 2011).
  6. ^ 'FELWICK, Wing Comdr David Leonard', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 24 September 2011).
  7. ^ 'FOSTER, Richard Scot', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 24 September 2011).
  8. ^ 'HAMLEY, Donald Alfred', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 24 September 2011).
  9. ^ 'HARRIS, Prof. Sir Martin (Best)', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 24 September 2011).
  10. ^ 'HISCOCK Stephen John', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 24 September 2011).

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Devonport High School for Girls — Motto Sine Labe Decus Established 1911 Type Grammar Headmistress Mrs Hemsi Specialism Languages Location …   Wikipedia

  • Devonport High School — Not to be confused with Devonport High School for Boys or Devonport High School for Girls. Devonport High School Location Devonport, Tasmania, Tasmania …   Wikipedia

  • Churston Ferrers Grammar School — Established 1957 Type Academy Headteacher Robert Owers Specialism Humanities College Location Greenway Road Brixham …   Wikipedia

  • Notre Dame Catholic School — Notre Dame RC School Type Voluntary aided school Religion Roman Catholic Headteacher Miss F Hutchings Founder St Julie Billiart (Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur) Specialism Humanities …   Wikipedia

  • Plymstock School — Established 1911 Headteacher Mr David Farmer Specialism Sports College Location Church Road Plymouth Devon PL9 9AZ …   Wikipedia

  • Colyton Grammar School — File:Essequamvideri.jpg Motto Esse Quam Videri Be rather than seem to be Established 1546 Type foundation, selective Headteacher Mr. P. Evans M.Ed.(Reading) …   Wikipedia

  • Coombe Dean School — Motto Achieving their full potential. Established 1976 Headteacher Pattrick Frean Specialisms A Specialist Maths an …   Wikipedia

  • Dartington Primary School — Established 1800 Type Voluntary Primary Religion Church of England Head Teacher Mrs Jill Mahon Chair Mary Stidston Location …   Wikipedia

  • Saltash.net Community School — Infobox UK school name = Saltash net Community School size = latitude = 50.40212 longitude = 4.22038 dms = dms motto = motto pl = established = approx = closed = c approx = type = religion = president = head label = Headteacher head = Mrs Isabell …   Wikipedia

  • Martin Harris (linguist) — For other people of the same name, see Martin Harris (disambiguation). Professor Sir Martin Best Harris CBE (1992), MA PhD LLD (b. 28 June 1944) is a British academic and Professor of Linguistics. He was born at Ruabon, Wales, the son of William… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”