Devonport High School for Girls
109%
Capacity
916
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Devonport High School for Girls
Devonport High School for Girls is a state secondary in Plymouth that is clearly in high demand. The school has 916 pupils on roll, which already exceeds its official capacity of 840, and for the 2025/26 intake it received 356 applications for just 157 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.27. Of those, 237 families put it as their first preference, and all 157 first-preference offers were taken up. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 9.5%, which is below the national average for secondary schools, suggesting a relatively advantaged intake compared with the wider Plymouth area. The school is selective in practice, though not by formal academic entry test — it is a girls' grammar school, and its popularity reflects a strong local reputation. The headteacher is Lee Sargeant, and the school has no religious character.
Academically, this is one of the strongest schools in the South West. Its Progress 8 score of 0.78 is rated 'well above average' nationally, placing it 1st out of 18 schools in Plymouth and 12th out of 306 in the region. That score means pupils here achieve nearly four-fifths of a grade more per subject than similar pupils nationally. The Attainment 8 score is 75.4, and 100% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 86.8%, and 86% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, the average A-level points per entry is 41.52, equivalent to a B grade, and 38.1% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The sixth form value-added score is -0.17, which is below average, though the school's overall progress at KS4 is exceptional. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding marks for personal development and behaviour and attitudes.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, sports hall, and a sixth form centre. Clubs and activities are extensive, with options like Model UN, orchestra, choir, Duke of Edinburgh, and Young Enterprise. Sports include netball, cricket, gymnastics, and martial arts. The school has a range of SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. Parent feedback is very strong: 93% of respondents would recommend the school, and 98% said their child is happy, with 99% saying they feel safe. The school suits families who want a high-achieving, oversubscribed girls' grammar with strong academic outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer, but it is worth noting that the sixth form value-added is below average, so it may not suit every student at A-level.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Lyndhurst Road, Plymouth, Plymouth, PL2 3DL |
| Headteacher | Lee Sargeant |
| Local Authority | Plymouth |
| Number of Pupils | 916 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 9.5% |
| School Capacity | 916 / 840 (109% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Feb 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (12 Feb 2025): Improved significantly
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Dec 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.78)
203rd of 3,141
Nationally
12th of 306
In South West
1st of 18
In Plymouth
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
42.6
'22/23
40.4
'23/24
41.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2362%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 100 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
38%
Russell Group
39%
Top-third HE
1%
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)62%
- Employment21%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Other education3%
- Further education2%
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.
Ofsted Parent View
104 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed157
356
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
237 families put this school as their 1st choice (67% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British69.8%
- Asian10.4%
- Mixed6.0%
- White (other)5.7%
- Black0.5%
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 half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
12
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
7
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 Girls
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
Lyndhurst Road, Plymouth
Plymouth, PL2 3DL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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