Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics

We recognise that STEM education plays a vital role in equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to society and solve tomorrow’s global problems. Nationally women continue to be under-represented in STEM occupations. However, as a school, we are proud of the fact that many of our girls study STEM subjects with us and continue this trend into Higher Education. Our students are provided with many opportunities outside the curriculum to extend their involvement in STEM. We regularly welcome speakers from both academics and those employed in the STEM sector. We draw upon a large network of support from Education and Industry sometimes calling upon parents or alumnae.



We encourage participation in local and national STEM competitions such as ‘The Big Bang Competition’ and run STEM-related activities during lunch and through enrichment days working with, for example, The Engineering Development Trust, The Royal Air Force and Babcock International. Many students take part in projects and work placements with STEM employers run alongside their curriculum or during the holidays.

We are extremely proud of the fact that one of our students won the Broadcom Masters UK STEM Competition in 2017.

Sports clubs

There is an extensive sports programme catering for all abilities. Clubs take place during lunch with many of the activities organised by our student sports leaders with staff supervision. To ensure that clubs are available to all students they take place during the hour-long lunch break. A termly school clubs timetable is published and emailed to all students, parents and carers. We are committed to competitive sports and organise many fixtures against Plymouth schools with our students regularly gaining regional and national honours.

The Sports Leadership Award is a national initiative run in school by our PE staff and administered by the British Sports Trust. The award is a nationally recognised award that helps young people over the age of 14 develop their leadership skills. We have a healthy number participating in JSLA (Junior) and CSLA (Community. Students organise clubs and fixtures as well as visiting local primary schools to coach younger children.

Ten Tors

The Ten Tors Challenge is an annual weekend hike organised and run in early May for 2,400 young people by the British Army on Dartmoor. There are three different distances that participants can tackle; 35 miles, 45 miles and 55 miles. We enter teams at all 3 distances.

Bude activities week

During the summer term, Year 9 students have the opportunity to attend an outdoor education week based at Bude on the north coast of Cornwall. The focus for the week is on challenge, teamwork and fun with girls tackling a range of activities including surfing, canoeing, climbing, abseiling and potholing. The week is always very popular with most of the year group attending. For those who decide not to attend, they will take part in school or Plymouth-based activities.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

DHSG engages students with a popular and successful Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme, with students regularly completing Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards each year. We are a self-certificating Duke of Edinburgh Centre, awarding certificates for completion of the Bronze & Silver Awards (Gold Awards are made by the DofE Charity).

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is open to all students in year 9 and above at DHSG. Students will usually complete the Bronze Award in Year 9, progressing to Silver in Year 10, before focusing on their academics in Year 11. Students will have the opportunity to complete the Gold Award in our Sixth Form.

While many students include their participation in the DofE in personal statements, we feel that it is important to remember the ethos of the award; “… to celebrate and champion every young person. To provide a safe environment of support and challenge that grows as they do.” (DofE Website, October 2024).

In all three tiers students complete a personalised programme of activities in four sections:

• Volunteering - helping someone, your local community or the environment 
• Physical - becoming fitter through sport, dance or a fitness activity
• Skills - developing an existing talent or, perhaps, trying something new
• Expedition - planning, training for and completing an adventurous journey

Gold Award students also complete a fifth section:

• Residential – an oversea residential experience, organised independently  

To provide the expedition element of the award, we work with an external provider, H5 Adventure (https://h5adventure.com). The expedition is in two parts, practice and qualifier, and H5 Adventure’s training and profession team will guide your child through every aspect of the expedition, alongside DHSG staff.

• Bronze Expedition – two days and one night, typically on Dartmoor
• Silver Expedition – two/three days and two nights, typically on Dartmoor
• Gold Expedition – Practice: three days and two nights, typically on Dartmoor, and Qualifier: five days and four nights, typically in the Breacon Beacons. We have previously run a canoeing expedition, and are currently looking at the potential for an overseas Gold Expedition in 2025 – 2026.

If you have any further questions regarding the DofE Award at DHSG, please contact the DofE Manager at dofe@dhsg.co.uk

 

Enterprise Days

Students have the opportunity to take part in Enterprise Days when local business people visit school to set challenges and judge outcomes. Students gain experience in designing business models, managing budgets and meeting strict deadlines.

Young Enterprise

Sixth Form students can enter business competitions where they have to set up their own company, design and market a product with the aim of producing a profit.

Work experience

GCSE students complete a week-long work experience placement at the start of Year 11. This opportunity provides students with a valuable taste of the world of work and helps them make decisions regarding future career paths.

Young Chef Team Challenge

Our Food Technology department prepare teams of Yr9 students to participate in this annual challenge. The event is held at Plymouth City College and is open to schools across Devon and Cornwall. Working in teams of 3 students have to prepare a three-course meal using a set range of ingredients with prizes awarded for the best starter, main course, dessert and overall menu.

Music

Students have the opportunity to have instrumental lessons via one to one tuition with our peripatetic teachers. We run choirs and a school orchestra. School concerts are organised at various points throughout the year with the highlight being our School carol service at St Andrews Church in Plymouth.

Drama

There is an annual school production which is open to all students and is very popular.

Our students are provided with a wide range of opportunities to take part in educational visits. These range from day visits in the local area to residential trips abroad.