Devonport High School for Girls

Despite the many mental health problems that have likely been exacerbated by attending this school, I am happy with the education I have received, so much so that I decided to return for sixth form. There are definitely some absolutely outstanding teachers in this school and I feel incredibly privileged to have had the opportunity been taught by them. However, it is not an uncommon criticism that this school has great room for improvement when it comes to student support, especially around mental health. This is obviously a problem. Especially considering the immense pressure I have never seen to shake about academic success and grades. Both my older sister and I have attendeded this school (six years apart) and she also suffered immensely with her mental health, as well as bullying (which this school also has a slight problem with) and it was heartbreaking to watch - I can’t imagine what it’s like for my parents watching the same thing happen to two children. If you really want to know how much of a problem this is, my teachers ignored my extremely obvious cries for help (I understand that I should be able to ask for help but I didn’t feel safe/comfortable doing so and it’s not easy), as well as my obvious self h/rm. No one ever talked to me and the only support I had was my incredible friends who I am still close to today. I also have a very warped perception of success as this school made me believe that anything below a grade 8/9 or A/A* was basically a fail. I don’t say any of this to put anyone off, I just want to portray the reality. For me, this is a great school for many in terms of academics but just be aware of the pressure there is to succeed and be prepared to talk to and support your children / have a good support system around you before you make this decision.

My daughter has thrived at DHSG. It is a very good school.

My daughter joined the school as the only child from her primary which was daunting but she soon found a range of clubs and opportunities that appeal to all interests - not just academic - have been steadily growing The latest school production was amazing and included a number of sixth form boys and there are some shared social opportunities with DHSB which is a positive. Yes there are high academic expectations - that’s why we chose it - but there’s also been good support from the house system and specialist staff when we’ve hit bumps in the road as teenagers do. Finally the custard biscuits are legendary.

poor dealing with mental health, the staff really only care about grades.

everyday i go to school hating my life. i feel nervous around teachers and constantly feel like im rubbish because the tests are way too hard especially after covid. activities week was not great either. we were given hardly any options including calligraphy with no ink and driftwood art with normal wood. one of the only positives is the food which is pretty good but the canteen is tiny and if its raining you have nowhere to eat. the teachers are really struct and most don't know what they are teaching. i've been at the school for two years and only enjoyed the lessons of two teachers. the uniform is horrible and you can'tfind alternative brown girls clothes anywhere. above all in the heatwave this summer we were told to wear leggings or joggers to school before your pe lesson and after your pe lesson. behaviour marks and sanctions were given out if you were wearing shorts. do not recommend and have considered several times moving. - year 8 student

my grades are okay i guess. there’s so much pressure from teachers and other girls to do better but i’ve never been given actual help just harder work, was once told i was being sly and trying to get out of work when i told this to a teacher. i cried more in year 10 than i have ever, if i was ever down just got told to read a book or something, had a few detentions and that for jewellery nails phone, once for fighting because someone threw a book at me. teachers have strong favourites they always back up even when she literally called me fat and ugly in year 7 so that’s nice <3

If you want to send your child to a school that pressures students constantly and doesn't care about bullying then this is the place for your child. Some teachers are nice but mostly don't trust them. Constantly reminding students about exams/tests. All they want is good grades. If you ask for help the teachers look you up and down like you are an irrelevant human being. The fact that if you are a victim of bullying they tell you off for reporting it and according to the school it's wasting their time. Like the victim gets in trouble for something that isn't their fault. The phone system is messed up and so is the behaviour system. Forgetting a ruler, behaviour mark. Forgetting your book for the first time (oops no exception) you get a behaviour mark.

Come here if u want to leave with mental health problems <3 intense and unnecessary pressure to succeed in exams, not for your own good but just so the school can look good in league tables. Ofc there are a select few good teachers, but the school tend to just employ pedophiles who get uncomfortable seeing a students bra strap:/

I’ve been attending the school for a good few years, and one thing I’ve noticed is that in terms of mental health, there is room for quite a lot of improvement for supporting students in that area. As many other reviews have stated, they (the school) also puts a lot of pressure on the students.

I would recommend this school if you are looking for high grades but be prepared for the intense pressure placed on you. Most of the teachers are nice and you feel you can talk to them but there are a few that aren’t kind. They all care more about grades than the mental health and well-being of their students. They say that they care but when you go to them in times of need eg if you’re being bullied they don’t really care. They desperately want to preserve their precious reputation even if it means the students are mentally suffering. If you are able to put up with that then good on you and I’m sure you will do well.

Good for grades. Relationships with teachers generally are very good and the food there is a really good too (shout-out to the canteen man). Mental health support is really bad, but honestly it’s the same at every school. SLT is shockingly unsupportive and unsympathetic. I will say though, it gets easier in the terms of support as you go up the school and teachers tend to be nicer/more understanding, especially in lessons like PE and tutor. I would recommend this school, just make sure that you have enough support at home and are willing to pay for therapy for your child. Oh, and there are a lot of obnoxiously rich and posh people there who will make the lives of not rich people a living hell.

Some teachers are awful but there’s at least one good one in a subject so it becomes a lucky dip. Mobile phone policy is over the top so good luck finding anything to do over lunch/break etc. Lot of homework and the school will do anything to keep a good reputation in the city and wider area so take anything they say with a pinch of salt.

mental health support isn’t great, lots of pressure to do well, most teachers are nice, food is amazing, classrooms are a bit boring

I like the school. There’s a lot of pressure but it’s manageable. The teachers are nice but all they’re really worried about is the mobile phone policy. The food is 10/10 incredible. Overall the school is great

School is good overall and has good teachers but aren’t as good when it comes to mental health. They put so much pressure on the pupils and care more about attendance and mobile phones than the welfare of the students. Many cases of bullying have been sort of shrugged off but when it comes to phones they sort it out immediately.- Parent of ex-student

Yeah very acedmically driven however aren’t interested in your welfare and mental health. They apply a lot of pressure and make everything very competitive with your peers. Everyone is miserable. However good relations with the teachers.

not bad, teachers are awful