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Devonport High School for Girls

History

All photos can be viewed in our gallery

The History Dissertation on "Devonport High School for Girls: How did education for girls change between 1930 and 1950?" was researched and written by Amber Moss  in her final year studying BA Hons in History at Bath Spa University, graduating in 2008.  A former student of DHSG, she spent considerable time in her final year looking through the archives, talking to staff and contacting former students.  We are fortunate that she has agreed to share her dissertation with us and have it included in the school archives.  Amber is now happily teaching in a primary school in Bath. 

  • St Michael's Lodge

    1875 - 1912

    St Michael's Lodge

    A Day and Boarding School at St Michael's Lodge, Devonport Road, Stoke was the first school to be called Devonport High School for Girls. Records show that Miss M Raymond was the Head Mistress in 1905 with 71 students on roll of which 11 were boarders.

  • Devonport Municipal Secondary School for Girls

    1909-37

    Devonport Municipal Secondary School for Girls

    Devonport Municipal Secondary School for Girls receives formal recognition as a girls’ secondary school by Plymouth City Council -10 girls on the roll (Sept 1908) For the first 27 years the school is accommodated within Devonport Technical School on Paradise Road

  • Mrs A Hill M.A.

    1911

    Mrs A Hill M.A.

    First Headmistress of Devonport Municipal Secondary School for Girls 1911-1918

  • School House System

    1916

    School House System

    The school is divided into 4 houses: St. Joan, St. Ursula, St. Monica and St Margaret

  • First annual Sports Day

    1919

    First annual Sports Day

    First annual Sports Day is held (1919) Girls entered for Higher examinations in Arts & Sciences, including university examinations (from 1919)

  • Employment during depression

    1932-33

    Employment during depression

    Platform furniture in Assembly Hall is made by skilled craftsmen, providing them with employment during the Depression (1932-33)

  • Building of New School

    1936

    Building of New School

    New school building opens in Outland Road on Sep. 10th 1937, built in the new Art Deco style

  • The New School

    1937

    The New School

    Devonport High School for Girls in the early 1940s

  • The War Years

    1940's

    The War Years

    During the Blitz many girls were evacuated to Tiverton. The school is occupied by MOD for training of dockyard apprentices.

  • Trip to Stratford upon Avon

    1950's

    Trip to Stratford upon Avon

    School trip to celebrate the birth/death of William Shakespeare . Students paraded through the streets, laid flowers on his grave and watched a performance of Coriolanus at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

  • Excursion to the Festival of Britain in London.

    1951

    Excursion to the Festival of Britain in London.

    240 teachers and students from Devonport High School for Girls left North road station Plymouth, on a 24-hour excursion to the Festival of Britain in London.

  • Speech Day Booklet 1951

    1951

    Speech Day Booklet 1951

    Speech day in 1951 was held at the Central Hall, Plymouth. Distribution of awards and address was made by guest speaker Lady Hillingdon, D.B.E.

  • Honours Boards

    1953

    Honours Boards

    Money which every pupil in the country receives to mark the Coronation in (1953), is used by DHSG to purchase the Honours Boards (now in the Assembly Hall and Reception)

  • School Choir

    1954

    School Choir

    School Choir taken in 1954 in the School Hall Conducted by Mrs Pamela Verrall

  • DHSG Student among the first intake of girls to Trinity Hall

    1977

    DHSG Student among the first intake of girls to Trinity Hall

    A DHSG student, Jane Anson, is in the first intake of girls to Trinity Hall, Cambridge to read Maths (1977) and where she is also the first female member of the university chess team, winning a Chess Blue. (1979)

  • The Learning Centre

    2005

    The Learning Centre

    On 19th October 2005 the Learning Centre was opened housing a brand new library and two new computer suites.

  • Specialist Languages College

    2005

    Specialist Languages College

    The school is accorded Specialist Languages College status—a Languages Lab is created. (2005) A new state of the art Learning Centre is opened in Oct 2005 in the West Quad housing a Library and two well equipped computer rooms

  • International activities & Partnerships

    2014

    International activities & Partnerships

    The Secretary of State at Dept. of International Development, Justine Greening, visits DHSG to learn about range of international activities & partnerships at DHSG and enjoys presentations by the pupils

  • Best Practice ISA School

    2018

    Best Practice ISA School

    International School Award 2018 - The school receives the International School Award for the 5th time since 2006 and enjoys links with 17 countries globally.

  • Best state funded school

    2017-2019

    Best state funded school

    Devonport High School for Girls named the Best State Funded Secondary School in the Greater Plymouth Area 2017 and 2018 by the Real Schools Guide.