Devonport High School for Girls 11+ Guide

About Devonport High School for Girls

Devonport High School for Girls is a selective secondary school in Devon. For children to get into Devonport High School for Girls they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Devonport High School for Girls is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the vibrant city of Plymouth, Devonport High School for Girls (DHSG) is a beacon of academic excellence, nurturing the minds of over 800 young women aged 11 to 18. As a selective state grammar school, DHSG has earned a reputation for its outstanding educational provision and the remarkable progress its students make throughout their academic journey.

The school's Specialist Language College status has enabled it to invest in state-of-the-art facilities, including cutting-edge computer rooms, language laboratories, and a modern library. These resources provide students with an optimal learning environment, fostering their intellectual growth and supporting their academic pursuits. DHSG's commitment to language education is further exemplified by its offering of Mandarin Chinese and its international connections with 20 countries worldwide.

DHSG's dedication to its students extends beyond academic achievement, as evidenced by the school's four-time recipient of the International School Award. The school's ethos prioritizes the well-being and personal development of each individual, with staff providing an exceptional level of care and support. Ofsted has recognized the school's outstanding performance in fostering positive behaviours and attitudes, as well as its unwavering commitment to the mental well-being of its pupils.

Year after year, the students of Devonport High School for Girls consistently achieve impressive exam results, a testament to the school's rigorous academic standards and the diligence of its pupils. The school's success is not only measured by grades but also by the confident, well-rounded young women who emerge from its halls, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to thrive in an ever-changing world.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Devonport High School for Girls together with their admissions contact details.

Devonport High School for Girls is a girls only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 823 pupils attend Devonport High School for Girls and it's led by the Head Teacher, Mr Lee Sargeant.

Devonport High School for Girls Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Devonport High School for Girls for the 2022-23 academic year.

Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Information

In order to get into Devonport High School for Girls, children need to pass the Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Subjects & Structure

The Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English
• Maths

The 11+ exam for admission to Devonport High School for Girls and Plymouth High School for Girls consists of two multiple-choice papers supplied by GL Assessment. These papers assess the candidates' proficiency in English and Maths, with each paper lasting approximately 45 minutes to one hour.

The English paper evaluates the students' comprehension skills through reading passages and answering related questions. It also tests their knowledge of spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation. The Maths paper, on the other hand, assesses the students' understanding of key mathematical concepts, including times tables, mental maths, shapes, space and measures, the four basic operations, and interpreting graphs.

While the content of the papers is based on the Year 5 national curriculum, the questions in the Maths paper may be more challenging than what the students are accustomed to. Some advanced questions will require the students to apply their skills to solve novel problems.

Other Schools using Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+

As well as Devonport High School for Girls, several other schools also use Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+. These are:

• Plymouth High School for Girls

Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Devonport High School for Girls is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Devonport High School for Girls, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ tests (to get into Devonport High School for Girls) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Devonport High School for Girls as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Devonport High School for Girls was last inspected by Ofsted on 19/11/2019 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 16/12/2019, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

Devonport High School for Girls was inspected by Ofsted on 19 November 2019 and received an overall outcome of Good. The school demonstrated Good quality of education, Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, and Outstanding personal development. The leadership and management of the school were also rated as Good.

The sixth form provision at Devonport High School for Girls was found to be Good during the inspection. This indicates that the school provides a high-quality education for students in their post-16 studies, preparing them well for their future academic and professional endeavors.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Devonport High School for Girls per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, Devonport High School for Girls has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Ensure you double-check with Devonport High School for Girls which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.