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What it's like

Founded in 1877 as a boys' school, becoming co-educational in 1995 and merging in 2004 with St Dunstan's Abbey School. The new school is concentrated on the main Plymouth College site at Ford Park, in the middle of Plymouth. The junior department is on the St Dunstan's site at Millfields, close to the city centre, and substantially rebuilt to provide an up-to-date junior school. Strong in art, music and drama. A very good range of sports and games is played to high standards. There is a wide range of activities, including adventure training, CCF and a very successful Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. A number of overseas expeditions organised.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Age range 11-18; 613 pupils, 518 day (308 boys, 210 girls), 95 boarding (45 boys, 50 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 13 and 16. Common Entrance and own entrance exam, although pupils who have successfully attended its own junior school are automatically accepted. For sixth-form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B in sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements.

Scholarships & bursaries

Scholarships at age 11, academic (up to 50% fees), art, music and sport (30% of fees) and sixth-form (33% of fees). Also some bursaries.

Head & staff

Headmaster: Dr Simon Wormleighton, in post from 2006. Educated at Rendcombe and at Southampton University (English). Previously Headmaster at Grenville College and Housemaster at Cheltenham College. Teaching staff: 58 full-time, 4 part-time.

Exam results

GCSE: 89 in Year 11: 81% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects, 15% in 5-7 subjects. Average GCSE score 61. A-levels: 94 in upper sixth. 21% passed in 4+ subjects, 69% in 3 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 323.

Sports & activities

Sport: Archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, climbing, cricket, fencing, football, golf, hockey, netball, rugby, sailing, swimming, tennis. BAGA and RYA exams may be taken. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Awards (some 120 pupils involved). CCF optional from Year 10. Up to 15 clubs, eg dry-slope skiing, sailing, walking, glass painting, pottery, chess, debating, electronics, climbing, caving, , science, astronomy, Christian Union, Young Enterprise.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, headboy/girl, heads of house and house prefects appointed by the Headmaster. School Council. Religion: Attendance at relgious worship not compulsory. Social: Young Enterprise, music festivals, sports leadership scheme etc with other local schools. Organised trips abroad include annual French and German exchanges; biannual rugby, cricket, hockey tours; skiing trip; classics trip. Pupils not allowed to bring bikes/cars to school. Meals self-service. School shop.