Plymouth High School for Girls

The teachers are always shouting at us and they give me detentions every day. So don't come to Plymouth high school for girls

This is the best school ever!! DEFO RECOMEND

Something I've not seen mentioned: the attendance officer is so horrible! Last year I really suffered with my mental health to the point where I couldn't get out of bed. I think I only missed 10 days of school (spread across various weeks, not all in one go) so my parents were contacted by the attendance officer and my head of year telling them that I needed to come in school, which, is fair enough though the way they went about it was vulgar. They never once asked why I wasn't in school so my mother explained to them that I was feeling really depressed and they said that I should come in and go to the support base if I was feeling like that. That made me feel so horrible because it just felt like I was just a bit of data on an excel spread sheet rather than a student who mattered. The school really value attendance over anything and have no care for students when they give reasons as to why you're off. If you've got period pains then you need doctors proof to be off, a cold isn't good enough to be off. Not even a fever. You should go in, get registered and sit in class until you can't take it anymore and go to the support base to call your parents to pick you up. I mean it feels a little like a prison when you're not feeling great. They never asked me why I was feeling so depressed. It was mainly due to exam stress and I was having friendship problems. It would have been nice to be at least recognised in some way, but no. They said I needed to come in and start mentoring again which put me off school even more. Mental health should be a valid reason to miss school, given you never know the extent of what people are going through. I felt safe at home, especially seeing as I could eat freely. The school rules about eating is ridiculous. I think there needs to be a lot more care given to unwell students and there is simply not enough support for student who are school-avoiders. The school is very cold and indifferent to the mental health of students in many ways - and mindful colouring does not help! My parents got several rude emails off the attendance officer afterwards to the point where they gave a formal complaint which was ignored, so decided to go in and speak to her directly. To be honest, it was quite nice to have them put her in her place. She's forever giving dirty looks to students who've been off - it feels quite threatening. She's straight up rude to all my friends when they come in late - one didn't hear her alarm go off so woke up late and when she explained when she first came in, the attendance officer told her that she needed to sort her life out, something which can be so damaging to anyone in a place of mental turmoil. I hope they replace her soon or at least pretend to care about the students when they are off sick. They only care that the school looks good!

PHSG was absolutely the place to be before underdown got a hold of it. Miss Utton and Mr Willis were absolutely amazing head teachers and they genuinely cared about the students but this new head is genuinely god awful. He does NOT care about the children or their mental health and only cares about the schools appearance and the grades the students get. He HATES the creatives and the sports. Something must have happened in his life to make him so miserable. Not enough money is put into things that aren’t as academic as the sciences. They really do not care about mental health apart from the well-being teacher. All the good staff are leaving from teachers to caretakers to caterers and it is because of the academy and because of underdown.

You can tell many teachers are trying their best, but some are fundamentally unqualified and should not be allowed to teach. The school is physically falling apart (some classrooms are unfit and unsafe for teaching) and the leadership is condescending. Unfortunatley, for the moment, this is one of the best schools plymouth has to offer - but that isn't saying much. They parade the high achievers around as a badge of honour for them (even though students accolades are almost entirely thier own) and neglect those children who actually need help. Also, when high achievers are struggling (mentally or with work) they insist the student just needs to 'work harder'. The school does not effectivley deal with allegations and has a very 'brush it under the carpet' mentality. Send your kid outside of the city for school.

There are some serious things wrong with this school. As someone who has spent a lot of time in this school, I can tell you it's better than some schools in the area but that's only if you look from the outside in. This school is falling apart and no one in any form of power is willing to do anything about it, only the students. I have witnessed many students contemplate sending emails or talking directly to HOYS or the SLT but eventually get turned away with the thought of getting into trouble for speaking up or just not getting their opinions heard at all. The history department is in a state of disrepair. Drama, music and art are slowly being wiped off of the curriculum. The science and PE departments equipment are outdated. The funding we have recently gotten from the Trust should've been spared equally throughout the whole school, not just in maths. The support for students could be considered laughable. 3 people aren't enough to deal with the problems of the majority of the school, and they are mostly first aiders anyways. Mindfulness colouring does not help the rise of anxiety and depression amongst us. They also call home and tell them anything you say to them, I have also heard of students who have asked to have their names changed (without their parents knowing) being outed in phone calls home. They don't even care if it could be considered a safeguarding risk. Most teachers are understanding of the problems that many of us go through; however, a few are just blindly ignorant and some even refuse to accept the problems they push onto their students. Bullying and isolation is also handled very poorly here with lack of communication between teachers "sorting it" and students involved. This school has some of the most wonderful teachers I've ever met and I have definitely been challenged throughout my time here. The food used to be some of the best I've ever had. Most of the teachers have a great relationship with students, yet those in command are trying to stop that, and you could tell that most teachers genuinely liked working there. It is sad to watch a beautiful school break down from the inside but the first few years I spent here were lovely. Nothing is being done to help or discipline students and major cracks have begun to break our school. The sense of community is always there however it is but a small flame in a crumbling building. I would say send your children to Plymouth High but I wouldn't want anyone to go through what I and many others have here. It's your decision as a parent or child anyways.

Compared to other schools in the area this school is very good. The learning environment in great as there is no disruption in classes like is common in my friends classes from other schools. 90% of the teachers are lovely and make a huge effort with teaching and 90% of the students are eager to learn. If you pay attention in lessons you will definitely do very well in your exams as the school gives you lots of opportunities to learn and have catch up lessons if you do not understand. The house system is also really good as there is the music, drama , dance festivals which is unique to the school and fun. However yes the school has gotten worse over the years after the new head came. He asks for input and then ignores it just so he can say he has asked. He is not open minded and is unwilling to take on new ideas. He also treats both staff and student like they are below him and are 5 years old The trusts influence on the school has definitely triggered a downward spiral. However no matter what he does the school will still remain good because of the type of students in it (as it is a grammar school) but more could be done in terms of refurbishment, less strict uniform codes and treatment of the older years.

As a former employee at Plymouth High School For Girls i was at shocked at the lack of motivation and support given to students. The way communication between senior leaders and everyone else is non existent with many confusing messages and incorrect information being inflicted upon the girls. With the headteacher unable to show basic respect for his employees and his patronizing attitude affecting the relationship between students and teachers. The students have been very vocal about their opinions with some even addressing emails to TSAT as they have been unable to talk to senior members of staff like head of year due to fear that they would be reprimanded or their opinion's rebuked. with parents sending in emails unable to even have the respect of a response with his private sectary dealing with all complaints despite the number of time people may have wished to contact him directly. With his main priority being making the outside of the school look good rather than fixing the many issues on the inside not only with staff and students but with the facility its self. The appalling state of the toilets and the mold growing in many places, the school itself is falling apart. however the money seems to be getting spent of fixing his office and reception rather than places like history and drama whom are in dire need of repair. With teachers themselves unable to express their thoughts o the many faults in the way the school is run and Underdown showing everyone students and teacher alike that he looks upon the school as business giving all teachers different levels of respect regarding his own thoughts on their level of importance. If that doesn't highlight the level of complete arrogance and egotistical nature that the school is faced with maybe the whole forest he seems to be hoarding in his office will absolute disgrace.

Honestly i think the schools biggest problem is the lack of respect and care for the students, if it somehow doesn’t affect them they could not care less about what’s going on with the students. self-harm and suicidal thoughts/tendencies is a common theme throughout the school, staff is aware and does absolutely nothing to help it, the school has a “mental health team” who are not trained in anything to do with mental health, psychology anything like that they are just first aiders but the school is willing to spend thousands on new high tech whiteboards that nobody likes. I’ve been faced with many mental health issues, at home issues and in school issues that have not been addressed helped or even listened to because the staff do not care the only thing they were concerned about when i was sobbing in their office was the fact that i was wearing eyeliner, we have no freedom and respect. Some teacher has even been reported as creeping on students and the school is aware of this but somehow keep him around??? There is also a problem with vaping but again with the self-harm this could be prevented if they actually gave a crap about us as individuals instead of their reputation which they need to realise is a bad one. Instead of complaining my grades “aren’t as good as they could be” start by giving a crap about us start by not telling me to have a bath and drink tea when i tell you i want to kms start by checking if we’re okay, start by being decent human beings and acting like you care instead of tarnishing your perfect little reputation. You can tell that some members of staff enjoy the company of students and actually see us as individuals not as a job and i really do thank those teachers for being the reason i turn up, but if i could move schools right now, trust me i would.

THEY DONT CARE ABOUT YOU. (apart from the food tech teacher she is amazing and lovely)

Worst school ever, teachers are extremely rude. And don’t care about mental health at all. Grades are the most important thing ever.

This school is just fantastic, such a positive environment. Couldn’t recommend it enough.

The wallpaper is literally peeling off the walls. Also, the sanitary products have been removed from the toilets which is awful because you have to bring your whole bag to the toilets or shuffle around for it in your bag and shove it into your pocket before you go. You have to literally pray you don't get a bad teacher bc if you do, bye bye GCSEs? I was getting 80% in maths and then I got a new teacher and i failed my end of year exams. I'm actually worried about my GCSEs because if I get a bad teacher I won't get into sixth form or anything. Not to mention the dress codes. I saw a girl get a break detention for wearing grey socks in pe instead of black or white ones in not even kidding. One time I nudged a chair against a wall and the whole wall caved in. The buildings old and some of the teachers are older and refuse to change their teaching methods to the point where every single person in their class will get below 30% and the students will get blamed. I'm only giving it 3 stars because some teachers are really good and we got new computers so yeah.

the schools falling apart. the wallpaper peeling off the walls. way too many pe and science teachers and not many of the rest. they do not care about your wellbeing at all

this is a good school, personally my grades aren’t amazing being in year 11 but the smart kids are all 9’s. most of the teachers are decent. hate one of the math and history teachers i have but ohwell. they’re not awful with mental health, better then the devonport for girls and year 11 get cool benefits. there is also some favouritism with teachers that is very noticeable

well its ok. they only acknoledge you if you get 8s and 9s at gcses.