At a Glance
Assessment: GL 11 Plus
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Boys Only
Places per year: 180
Introduction
Devonport High School For Boys is a selective academy for boys’ serving Plymouth and the surrounding area. Academic prowess is at the heart of the school’s values, priding itself to “inspire confidence so that all achieve the highest possible standard of academic success”. The school attributes not only its academic success, but output of good students and leaders to its six core values: ‘intellectual rigour’, ‘leadership’, ‘collaboration’, ‘confidence with humility’, ‘resilience’, ‘creativity’.
As aforementioned, academia is an important factor of the school, evidenced by consistently high GCSE results. Of the 2019 cohort of GCSE students, 93% achieved at least a grade 5 (equivalent to a high C under the previous GCSE marking criteria); this is high compared to a local authority average of 38%.. Further, 99% of all students continued their education or went into full time employment. Many of the students sitting their GCSEs choose to continue their education at Devonport’s adjoining Sixth Form. Equally academic, the 2019 exams saw over a 97% pass rate, with over 57% of all grades at A*-B.
Applying to a grammar school is a competitive process and understanding how to prepare for selective testing is difficult. Devonport High School For Boys, in conjunction with all grammar schools under Plymouth Council, require children to sit an entrance test, under the exam board GL 11 Plus. Our resources with 11 Plus Hero help prepare your child for the Plymouth grammar schools entrance test, providing them with a toolkit to have the best chance to succeed. We also provide information to help guide yourself and your child through the admissions process, so that you and your child can confidently and competently apply to your chosen schools.
Devonport High School For Boys Key Information
Below, we list key information regarding Devonport High School For Boys direct contact details, parking information and relevant statistics for prospective students.
School Address
Full Address:
Devonport High School For Boys, Paradise Road, StokePlymouth
Devon
PL1 5QP
Contact Information
Parking in the school
Parking is available on site at the school.
Additional parking off site
If you need to find alternative parking, please use adjoining road or the car parks listed below:
- Martin Street, PLymouth, PL1 3NE (Opening Times: Mon-Sun All Day)
- Stuart Road, Plymouth, PL3 4EB (Opening Times: Mon-Sun All Day)
- Western Approach, 8 Western Approach, Plymouth PL1 1AJ (Opening Times: Mon-Sun 06:00-00:00)
Additional parking off site
If you need to find alternative parking, please use adjoining road or the car parks listed below:
- Martin Street, PLymouth, PL1 3NE (Opening Times: Mon-Sun All Day)
- Stuart Road, Plymouth, PL3 4EB (Opening Times: Mon-Sun All Day)
- Western Approach, 8 Western Approach, Plymouth PL1 1AJ (Opening Times: Mon-Sun 06:00-00:00)
Key Information for Devonport High School For Boys
PAN for Year 7 intake (2023)
Total Student Capacity Years 7 to 13 (2022)
Total Students Years 7 to 13 (2022)
Percentage Capacity (2022)
Latest Ofsted Rating (2011)
Selection Test
Devonport High School For Boys Key Dates and Application Information
Dates and deadlines which relate to grammar school entry in Plymouth including Devonport High School For Boys, are vital to meet. 11 Plus Hero understands the necessity of this and is here to help. Listed below are key dates which prospective parents need to keep to to give their child the best chance of entry.
Test registration for 2023 entry
Deadline for registration to mock examination
Open Day
Reasonable Adjustments Deadline - deadline for requesting reasonable adjustments to allow your child to access the paper, for example if they have a disability. Requests should be submitted along with all relevant evidence.
Information regarding the test sent out to parents
Entrance Test Date
Entrance Test Results Date
Common Application Form Deadline
School Offer
Parents to respond to offer/allocation
Application Documents for Devonport High School For Boys
Below, we list links which contain specific information to Devonport’s admission process, in addition to links containing information and tools regarding the process of the Plymouth Grammar Schools whole application process. These websites are essential to enlist your child for the Plymouth Grammar Schools Entrance Test and apply to Devonport High School For Boys itself.
Plymouth Grammar Schools Entrance Test Format
Mutual to all the grammar schools in Plymouth, Devonport High School For Boys uses the GL 11 Plus Test to test prospective students. Although the GL 11 Plus is daunting, we understand and are accustomed to the content of the test, its methodology and method of marking. The 11 Plus Hero is here to help; we can provide a toolkit to your child, familiarising them with the test format and ensuring they have the best chance to succeed.
The Plymouth Grammar Schools Entrance Test: Overview
There are 2 key components to the Plymouth GL 11 Plus Test, it tests candidates in Maths and English. The school understands these components as vital. Both Maths and English are taught at primary school, which is why Plymouth have chosen to only test these components. The questions will be similar to a primary level but sometimes push them beyond what they have previously learned. The Maths and English Comprehension papers will all be multiple choice, with answers marked on a separate answer sheet. For an in depth breakdown of the GL 11 Plus content and format, please visit our Article ‘Selective Tests in Plymouth – The GL 11 Plus Test’.
Paper 1
Maths (approximately 60 minutes)
Paper 2
English (with an additional writing component) – approximately 60 minutes.
Paper 3
Composition task
The Plymouth Grammar Schools Entrance Test - GL 11 Plus Assessment Criteria
| English | Maths | Verbal Reasoning | Non-Verbal Reasoning | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔✔ | ✔✔ | XX | XX | WritingWriting |
Pass Mark
Test scores are received by October for the following year of entry. For example, for entry in 2023, test scores will be received in October 2022. It is notable that younger children are not penalised for their age, the results are statistically standardised to compare any child’s score average to the average score of their school year. Further, there is no ‘pass mark’, for the entrance test to Plymouth grammar schools; instead, admission is based on a ‘qualifying mark’, calculated by examining the marks of students who sat the test that year. This means that the ‘qualifying mark’ varies from year to year. Although the qualifying mark cannot be predicted, it is estimated that the top 25% of students will achieve the qualifying mark. For more information please see our article ‘Selective Test in Plymouth – GL 11 Plus”.
Pass Mark
Test scores are received by October for the following year of entry. For example, for entry in 2023, test scores will be received in October 2022. It is notable that younger children are not penalised for their age, the results are statistically standardised to compare any child’s score average to the average score of their school year. Further, there is no ‘pass mark’, for the entrance test to Plymouth grammar schools; instead, admission is based on a ‘qualifying mark’, calculated by examining the marks of students who sat the test that year. This means that the ‘qualifying mark’ varies from year to year. Although the qualifying mark cannot be predicted, it is estimated that the top 25% of students will achieve the qualifying mark. For more information please see our article ‘Selective Test in Plymouth – GL 11 Plus”.
Catchment Area
As aforementioned, boys must achieve a ‘qualifying mark’ to be considered for admission to Devonport High School For Boys. However, there is no ‘catchment area’ unlike some other schools. Instead, in some situations, boys who live closest to the school will be prioritised for admission. Further detail is listed below.
Additional Eligibility
Boys achieving the highest mark will take priority. To resolve any tied positions within this ranked list the following criteria will be used:
- Looked After and Previously Looked After Children*;
- Children who appear to have been instate care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted;
- Students in receipt of the Pupil Premium at the date of testing;
- Children of a member of staff who has been employed at DHSB for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission was made;
- The mark for the English Paper;
- If there is still a tie then distance from the school will be used to prioritise those living nearer to DHSB;
- Finally, a random number generator will be used, supervised by a member of the Local Authority.
*A child who is (or has been) in state provided social care.
**A child who has been registered for free school meals at any point in the 6 years prior to the closing date for test registration.
Devonport High School For Boys FAQs
There is no official ‘pass mark’ for Devonport. Instead, a ‘qualifying mark’ is used to compare all candidates’ results against. This is the minimum standardised mark which makes a candidate eligible for admission. However, children are prioritised for admission by rank order of their marks, meaning not all children will receive an offer for admission.
Students are selected based on their performance in the entrance test to Plymouth grammar schools. This entrance test is sat under the GL 11 Plus exam board; GL 11 Plus exam papers are multiple choice, and tests a child’s competence in English and Maths, with an additional writing segment.
The school hosts familiarisation materials on their website.
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