What it’s like
Founded in 1877 as a boys’ school, becoming co-educational in 1995. In 2004 it merged with St Dunstan’s Abbey School (a girls’ school founded 1867 by Anglican Sisters). The new school is concentrated on the main Plymouth College site at Ford Park, in the middle of Plymouth. From September 2005, the junior departments will merge to form a new junior school, St Dunstan’s Abbey School – the Plymouth College Junior School. This will be 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. A number of overseas expeditions organised.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Age range 11–18; 640 pupils, 560 day (335 boys, 225 girls), 80 boarding (40 boys, 40 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, 5 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B in sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements.

Scholarships, bursaries & extras 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: Alan Morsley, in post from 1992. Educated at Imperial College, London (maths).
Teaching staff: 58 full-time, 4 part-time.

Sport & 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 (very successful), debating, electronics, climbing, caving, , science, astronomy, Christian Union.