A selective girls grammar school in Plymouth, Devon, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 916 pupils on roll.
Devonport High School for Girls
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At a glance
Devonport High School for Girls is a selective girls' grammar school in Peverell, Plymouth, founded in 1908. The school describes itself as a 21st-century grammar school that keeps the best of its academic traditions, and it builds its identity around "Nurturing Excellence". With about 916 pupils and a mixed sixth form presence in the data, DHSG has a smaller scale than many urban grammars, which makes its seven-year academic and pastoral model especially important.
The curriculum is presented as a seven-year journey rather than a set of disconnected key stages. DHSG names its phases Lower Years: Knowledge Seekers, Middle Years: Subject Masters and Upper Years: Critical Scholars. The stated curriculum vision is challenging and scholarly, with intellectual curiosity, creativity and preparation for a global society running through the subject offer. In the sixth form, the Scholars Baccalaureate combines three or four A levels with the EPQ, employability competencies through Unifrog, enrichment, super-curricular activity and work-experience opportunities.
Student leadership is a distinctive part of school life. DHSG publishes a detailed leadership structure, from student council and house roles through to the sixth-form Student Executive, House Captains, Academic Mentors, Peer Mentors and Subject Ambassadors. Music, choir, orchestra, sport and house activity also appear in the school material, and the sixth-form pages point to a high level of student involvement in leadership. The school-published 2025 GCSE results add academic context, including 69.7% of grades at 7 to 9 and 98% strong passes in English and mathematics.
Year 7 admission has a published admission number of 158 and no catchment area. The 2027 entry process uses Quest Assessments in English and mathematics across two September test dates, and candidates are considered only if they reach the required standard. The school then sits within Plymouth's wider selective admissions timetable, with the local-authority application still needed for a place. Published measures show a Good Ofsted judgement from November 2019, +0.78 Progress 8, 99.2% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 23.1% AAB or better at A level.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Plymouth and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Plymouth and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Plymouth and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 916 pupils; 906 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 69.8% | White | 639 |
| Any other White background | 5.7% | White | 52 |
| Chinese | 3.8% | Asian | 35 |
| White and Asian | 3.7% | Mixed | 34 |
| Any other ethnic group | 3.5% | Other | 32 |
| Indian | 2.8% | Asian | 26 |
| African | 2.3% | Black | 21 |
| Any other Asian background | 2.2% | Asian | 20 |
| Bangladeshi | 1.1% | Asian | 10 |
| Unclassified | 1.1% | Unclassified | 10 |
| Any other mixed background | 1% | Mixed | 9 |
| White and Black African | 0.8% | Mixed | 7 |
| Any other Black background | 0.5% | Black | 5 |
| Pakistani | 0.5% | Asian | 5 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.5% | Mixed | 5 |
| Irish | 0.4% | White | 4 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.2% | White | 2 |
There is no catchment area for Year 7. Girls are considered for admission only if they reach the required standard in the 11-plus, and the 2027/28 PAN is 158.
There is no catchment area for Year 7 entry under the 2027/28 policy.
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Quest Assessments papers are used for Year 7 entry, with English and mathematics testing across two September test dates.
Shared exam route
Devonport High School for Girls uses the shared Plymouth and Devon route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Plymouth and Devon practice papersEnglish and Maths are included in the published format.
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
Mock-test registration opens
20 April 2026
PastRegistration opens for the optional 11+ practice session.
11+ registration opens
27 April 2026
PastRegistration opens for the real tests required for Year 7 admission.
Mock-test registration closes
22 May 2026
PastPlaces for the optional practice session may fill before this date.
11+ practice session
4 July 2026
Optional mock examination covering maths and English.
Mock results sent
17 July 2026
Practice-session results are sent by email.
11+ registration closes
31 August 2026
11+ test date 1
12 September 2026
Quest Assessment English paper.
11+ test date 2
19 September 2026
Quest Assessment Maths paper.
11+ results sent
15 October 2026
Results are sent by email.
School place application deadline
31 October 2026
Submit the school place application via Plymouth City Council.
School place allocations
1 March 2027
Allocation information is sent by Plymouth City Council.
Read the Year 7 process
Check the school's Year 7 application process and admissions arrangements before registering for the 11+.
Open the process pageRegister for the 11+
Register on the school website between 27 April 2026 and 31 August 2026 so your child can sit the DHSG tests.
Check registration datesSit the Quest tests
Candidates sit the published Quest English and maths papers across the September 2026 test dates.
View test datesSubmit the school place application
List Devonport High School for Girls on your home local authority application by 31 October 2026.
Apply through PlymouthLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 77.8 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 73.4 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 75.4 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 73.8 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | B+ average (42.6 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B average (40.4 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (41.5 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B average (38.8 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 100% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 100% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 98% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 2% |
Latest inspection: 20 November 2019
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Plymouth area and similar girls' selective route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Devonport High School for Girls currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the Year 7 process: Check the school's Year 7 application process and admissions arrangements before registering for the 11+. 2. Register for the 11+: Register on the school website between 27 April 2026 and 31 August 2026 so your child can sit the DHSG tests. 3. Sit the Quest tests: Candidates sit the published Quest English and maths papers across the September 2026 test dates. 4. Submit the school place application: List Devonport High School for Girls on your home local authority application by 31 October 2026.
Mock-test registration opens: 20 April 2026. 11+ registration opens: 27 April 2026. Mock-test registration closes: 22 May 2026. 11+ practice session: 4 July 2026. Mock results sent: 17 July 2026. 11+ registration closes: 31 August 2026. 11+ test date 1: 12 September 2026. 11+ test date 2: 19 September 2026. 11+ results sent: 15 October 2026. School place application deadline: 31 October 2026. School place allocations: 1 March 2027
Devonport High School for Girls is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 20 November 2019.