Devonport High School for Boys
Plymouth, PL1 5QP · Plymouth · Grammar school
Check the area around this school
2nd of 19 secondary schools in Plymouth we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 321 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.0/10 among them, against 8.7/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 88.7 · 96 | 30% | 2.88 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.3 · 73 | 25% | 1.82 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 65.1 · 95 | 10% | 0.95 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Devonport High School for Boys overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2023-12. In 2024/25, 94.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 69.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.3 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.1 out of 10 among them, against 8.8 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,300 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,160. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What support is available for pupils who need to close the gap between their attainment and the national median? How does the school maintain its Good rating following the 2023-12 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Devonport High School for Boys
Overview
Pupils are “overwhelmingly positive” about their school, enjoying a “good standard of education” within a culture that fosters “high aspirations.” The report highlights “exceptional” behaviour and personal development, noting that pupils are “polite, respectful and welcoming” with bullying being “extremely rare.”
Strengths
- The curriculum is “well-structured” in many subjects, allowing pupils to build on prior knowledge to tackle “complex concepts.”
- Sixth-form provision is “exceptional,” with students embracing learning and valuing the “well-considered programme about careers.”
- Pupils develop “exceptional knowledge and understanding about citizenship” through a “very well planned” PSHE programme.
- Support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs is “bespoke” and “personalised” to remove barriers to achievement.
- Staff feel “very well supported” by leadership, with strong provisions for their “emotional well-being and workload.”
Areas to improve
- The curriculum is “not consistently well planned in a few subjects,” meaning some pupils do not learn key knowledge well enough.
- The school must ensure curriculum structure in all subjects “builds progressively on what pupils have securely learned” to aid future complex learning.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 68.9 |
| 2024/25 | 69.3 |
| 2025/26 | 65.1 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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