Devonport High School for Boys
109%
Capacity
1,268
Pupils
1.2x
Demand
About Devonport High School for Boys
Devonport High School for Boys stands out sharply against the Plymouth local authority average when it comes to academic progress. Its Progress 8 score of 0.3 is significantly above the LA average of -0.04, meaning pupils here make around a third of a grade more progress per subject than their peers across the city. That places the school 4th out of 18 secondary schools in Plymouth, comfortably in the top quarter locally and in the top 27% nationally. The school is also oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry it received 258 applications for 208 places, with 207 of those going to first-preference families. That level of demand suggests local parents see the value in what’s on offer. The school is a selective boys’ grammar in all but name — it’s a state-funded secondary with a strong academic bent, and its results reflect that.
Digging into the exam data, the picture is consistently strong. At GCSE, the Attainment 8 score sits at 68.9, and 98.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths — a near-perfect basics pass rate. The EBacc average point score of 5.88 is well above the national average, and 29.1% of pupils entered the full EBacc. Progress in maths is particularly impressive, with a Progress 8 score of 0.52, while English progress is more modest at 0.02. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the school’s value-added score of -0.24 is rated ‘below average’, and the average points per entry of 36.98 equates to a B- grade. That said, 26.9% of entries achieved AAB or higher, and the sixth form provision was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. The school’s most recent overall Ofsted rating is Good, with Outstanding marks for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth form.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, art studios, a sixth form centre, and an ICT suite. Sports on offer range from rugby and cricket to martial arts and gymnastics, while clubs include Debate, Model UN, Chess, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, hearing and visual impairments, and speech and language needs. With 7.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals — below the national average — the school serves a relatively advantaged intake, but its strong progress scores show it adds real value. This is a school for academically able boys who want a challenging, structured environment with a clear focus on GCSE and A-level success. Families should be aware that it is oversubscribed and selective in practice, so early registration and strong primary school performance are essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Paradise Road, Plymouth, Plymouth, PL1 5QP |
| Headteacher | Dan Roberts |
| Local Authority | Plymouth |
| Number of Pupils | 1,268 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 7.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,268 / 1,160 (109% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Oct 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Dec 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.30)
836th of 3,141
Nationally
67th of 306
In South West
4th of 18
In Plymouth
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
41.9
'22/23
38.5
'23/24
37.0
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2387%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 178 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)87%
- FE college7%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Sixth form college1%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2349%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 166 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
41%
Russell Group
40%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)49%
- Employment33%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Not sustained7%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Chemistry84
- Biology73
- Mathematics68
- Psychology42
- Business Studies:Single39
- Physics37
- Economics23
- Geography23
- History23
- English Literature22
- Computer Studies / Computing20
- Ancient History17
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed208
258
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
226 families put this school as their 1st choice (88% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British69.2%
- Asian7.8%
- Mixed6.6%
- White (other)6.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
20
Total schools
18
Oversubscribed
14
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Devonport High School for Boys
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Paradise Road, Plymouth
Plymouth, PL1 5QP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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