Newsletters

Spring Half Term 2026

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Plymouth High
School for Girls

 

NEWSLETTER

 

Spring Half Term 2026


HEADTEACHER'S WELCOME

Dear Students, Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the February edition of our newsletter.  This one is packed with student achievement and information about what has been going on in school.

Our amazing young people have been performing well in regional competitions; of particular note, we celebrate the U14 hockey team, Tilly D for athletics, and Belle B for her drama success.

Year 11 are gearing up for transition to Year 12 and they enjoyed our new look Sixth Form taster days, whilst those in the Sixth Form found the Bath Universities trip really informative and helpful.  Read on to find out more about our vibrant and dynamic Sixth Form.

We enjoyed a surprise moment this term when our wonderful facilities team happened across some old school records dating back decades.  I think you will enjoy learning about what has been found; it is a fascinating spotlight on the history of our school, especially as we celebrated our 150th anniversary back in 2024.

We marked two key events this term, Holocaust Memorial Day and our Week of Thinking; well worth a read, especially the document put together by Ellen S and Ellen B for Holocaust Memorial Day.

I wish our whole school community a happy and restful break, and we look forward to seeing our students back in school on Monday 23rd February.

Very best wishes,

Simon Underdown


Student News

13 Feb 2026
U14 Hockey team success!
Our PHSG U14 hockey team are through to the regional finals! 
Read more
03 Feb 2026
Double success for dedicated students
Success both on the track and stage takes confidence, commitment, and determination – qualities that PHSG students take pride in demonstrating.
Read more
27 Jan 2026
Lessons from Auschwitz: Year 12 reflections
Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January) commemorates the 1945 liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. As the largest of the Nazi camps, the liberation marked a pivotal moment in ending the Holocaust and now serves as a global reminder to honour victims and stand agains...
Read more
19 Jan 2026
Announcing our Year 12 Prefect Leadership team
Welcome to our new team!
Read more
16 Jan 2026
Black and white brilliance
Fashion icons in the making
Read more

Department News

Design & Technology 

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Our Year 10 Food Preparation and Nutrition students have been showcasing some fantastic skills this term as they completed their unit on cereal grains. Alongside learning about the science behind different types of flour and their uses, students put their knowledge into practice with an impressive range of dishes.

They created fresh pasta, demonstrating excellent dough-making and shaping techniques; produced delicious scones while revisiting the rubbing-in method, raising agents, and the importance of forming and shaping a dough; and made beautifully delicate tuile biscuits.

As part of their food science investigation, the classes also explored which type of flour produces the best bread roll, comparing texture, rise, flavour and overall quality.

The unit culminated in students planning, preparing and presenting their own two-course meal, with each dish featuring cereal grains as a key ingredient. This final challenge gave them the opportunity to showcase their growing confidence, creativity and technical skills.

Their enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to experiment have been exceptional.  Well done Year 10, your hard work is really paying off, and we can’t wait to see what you create next!

Sixth Form

13 Feb 2026
Humanities and Science in one city
A day trip to Bath for our Sixth Form students
Read more
09 Jan 2026
Year 11 Sixth Form taster days
Your future starts here! 
Read more

A Level Science 

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Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre (PEMC) January 2026

Year 12 students studying A level Biology recently visited the new home of PEMC at Plymouth Science Park to learn about preparing samples and applications of electron microscopy, as well as the opportunity to use the microscopes, which have the ability to magnify specimens over 100,000x in high resolution. This visit helped to provide context for the A level Biology course, giving students unique insight into these valuable diagnostic tools.

Science and Engineering Showcase @ University of Plymouth - 6th February 2026

Students taking a range of A level sciences took part in the Science and Engineering showcase at Plymouth University, with an interactive STEM style fair, where they could learn about the diverse range of courses available at the university that relate to their current studies and interests.  Students were also given a tour of the campus and shown the impressive range of facilities, as well as student accommodation and other facilities available on campus.

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Library

National Year of Reading

Have you heard about our '26 in 26' Go All In challenge? You can find out more HERE!

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Blind date with a book

One of our favourite events in the library, encouraging students not to judge a book by its cover, has returned.  

Books are checked out wrapped, with their covers hidden.  Will it be funny, romantic, mysterious or entertaining?  There are no embarrassing moments or a need to dress up.  It might not be what you were expecting, but perhaps a chance to discover a new favourite - and earn House points! 

Library competitions 

Match the Selfie with the shelfie 

We had great fun trying to match pictures of staff with their bookshelves.  Some staff placed clues on their shelf, but others didn’t, so this proved to be one of our most tricky competitions!  Congratulations to Evie 7L, Sonia, Freya and Ellen 9K, and Daisy 10L who all won a £5 voucher to spend at our Scholastic Book Fair.

Congratulations also to Anthony for winning the most House points.

Shakespeare or Sheeran?

Do you know your William Shakespeare from your Ed Sheeran?  This was a very popular competition where students and staff needed to decide if a quote was written by William or Ed. 

We received 167 entries, and only 34 got them all correct, proving that modern songs can be more poetic than they perhaps get credit for. 

Well done to Kendall for getting the most House points - a total of 99! 

Reading Lists 

Safer Internet Day (10th February)

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LGBTQ+ history month (February) 

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Holocaust Memorial Day (January) 

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Whole School

Chinese New Year - 12th February 

Our students had a great time welcoming The Year of the Horse in our Refectory with a feast of flavours and colour! 

The choices on offer were absolutely delicious and everyone enjoyed the traditional decorations which added a real sense of occasion. 

You can see more photos of the celebrations here! 

Freshly prepared Chinese food for lunch on a Thursday - what a treat!

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05 Feb 2026
School history unearthed
Our site team have made a wonderful discovery this morning!
Read more
29 Jan 2026
Metacognition in Action!
We are nearly at the end of our ‘Week of Thinking’ which celebrates the metacognitive processes our students use every day in school – Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluating.
Read more
22 Jan 2026
PHSG on stage at the Barbican Theatre
Time to "bend and snap" up those tickets!
Read more

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The Refectory

We’ve partnered with Innovate, part of Impact Food Group, to bring modern, exciting dining experiences to your school.

Every day, students can enjoy freshly prepared food packed with flavour, variety, and choice - whether grabbing something quick or sitting down to enjoy a hot meal with friends.

You can find full details of our delicious menus on offer HERE. 

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Student & Class of the Week

13 Feb 2026
PHSG Student and Class of the week - 13/02/2026
Student of the week: Sarah K, Year 12 who scored 98% in her core mathematics midterm - dropping just one mark over all.  Nominated by Miss Roughton. Group of the week: U14 Hockey players who were amazing in the U14 Devon Schools tournament this week.  We had an U12 team and U14 team. Th...
Read more
10 Feb 2026
PHSG Student and Class of the week - 06/02/2026
Student of the Week: Ilayda A, Year 9 for working independently on her wonderful and highly creative 3D CAD.  Students in Year 9 have access to 3D CAD software and Ilayda worked on this at home producing an accurate file for 3D Printing.  Nominated by Mr Watson. Group of the W...
Read more
03 Feb 2026
PHSG Student and Class of the week - 30/01/2026
Student of the week: Alice C, Year 8 for always being extremely positive and engaged in Art, having an excellent sketchbook, and for producing a fantastic Cezanne painting study.  Nominated by Miss Walsh. Group of the week: Ellen S and Ellen B, Year 12 for their fantastic written piece to ma...
Read more
27 Jan 2026
PHSG Student and Class of the week - 23/01/2026
Student of the week: Rosie M, Year 7 for being super helpful in her textiles lesson this week and collecting up lots of pins when tidying up.  Nominated by Mrs Brown. Group of the week: Class 9A/Geography for discussing the 'One Child Policy' with respect of everyone's views and...
Read more
16 Jan 2026
PHSG Student and Class of the week - 16/01/2026
Student of the Week: Rosie L, Year 11 for showing great enthusiasm for learning.  She only had 1 hour for her lesson but made fish and chips entirely from scratch, including filleting a whole fish! Nominated by Mrs Brown. Group of the Week: New House Teams for hosting super assembl...
Read more
12 Jan 2026
PHSG Student and Class of the week - 09/01/2026
Student of the week: Ellie A, Year 9 for being mature and making sensible decisions that helped another student.  Nominated by Mrs Hatfield. Group of the week: Class 10C / Food and Nutrition for showing great teamwork, helping each other to make fresh pasta and sauce and cleaning up to a hig...
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School Notices


HOME SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

Students may contact staff if they have queries, firstly by visiting them in their department area, and only contacting them using school email system if they really can’t see them in person.

Parents may wish to contact staff. The following outlines what the Headteacher regards as important considerations regarding home/school communication, particularly by email:

¨ All communication must respect the dignity of the recipient.

¨ Within 48 hours: receipt of an email will be acknowledged by school either by the person contacted, or the most appropriate person able to deal with the issue (term time only, not after 5pm nor over a weekend).

¨ Within 5 working days: school will provide a response to the email by telephone or in writing, or e-mail.  This may include informing the sender that more time is required to provide a full response.  If this is the case, staff should indicate a time frame for a response.

¨ Staff will not be expected to monitor or respond to emails outside their normal working hours (nor at weekends and published school holidays).

Whilst this is extremely rare, if a member of staff receives an e-mail or call which is of an aggressive tone, sets unreasonable demands or could otherwise be interpreted as harassing, they will refer this to a senior line manager in the school, who will decide if consideration needs to be given to dealing with further communication under our Complaints Policy.

PARKING

Out of respect for our neighbours and for health and safety reasons there is NO PARKING on the school site or for collecting/dropping off  students on the double yellow lines outside our school gates. 

STUDENTS LEAVING SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

For safety reasons if your daughter has to leave school during the school day, and you are unable to collect her, she must have a note in her planner with clear instructions that you give permission for her to leave unaccompanied.  Without your express instructions to this effect we will not allow any students to leave school unless they are collected by an adult from reception.

NUT ALLERGY

Please be aware that we have students who are severely allergic to nuts and we would, therefore, appreciate where possible that you try to avoid putting nuts into packed lunches.

Although we are not going completely nut free, we have stopped selling packets of nuts as snacks in the canteen to try to reduce the risk to them and appreciate your support. 

SOCIAL MEDIA & ONLINE SAFETY

Our Children are spending more and more time on their mobile phones.  Making them aware of the dangers of social media, and protecting them from these dangers can be very challenging.  These are some of the better known sites that pose risks to children—are they on your child’s phone home screen? 

To help safeguard your child please regularly take the time to talk to them about the way they use their social media apps:

Do they always know who they are engaging with? 

Do they share their passwords?

Do they feel comfortable with what they are seeing and doing?

Do they feel pressure from “friends” to do/say things they don’t want to?

For more information please regarding online safety, please visit our website: www.phsg.org/


Next Term's Key Events

23rd February:  First day of Spring Term 

3rd - 6th March:  School production

5th March:  World Book Day - details to follow 

6th March:  Celebration of International Women's Day (8th March) 

12th March:  Year 12 online parents' evening (appointment only) 

19th & 26th March:  Year 8 online parents' evening (appointment only)

2nd April:  Gym & Dance Festival and last day of Spring Term 

6th - 17th April:  Easter Break (return to school Monday 20th April) 


Calendar Term Dates 2025-2026

Term
Starts
Ends

One

3rd September (Year 7 & 12 only)

4th September (All Year Groups)

16th October 

Autumn Half Term 20th October 31st October 

Two

4th November

19th December

Christmas Holidays 22nd December 2nd January

Three

5th January

13th February 

Spring Half term 16th February  20th February

Four

23rd February

2nd April

Easter Holidays 3rd April 17th April

Five

20th April

22nd May

Summer Half term 25th May  29th May

Six

1st June

17th July 

Summer Holidays 20th July 

2nd September (Year 7 & 12 only)

3rd September (All Year Groups)

 

Curriculum Enrichment Week

6th July - 10th July

 

Non Pupil Days 2025-2026

1st September

2nd September

17th October

3rd November

4th May 2026 (Bank Holiday)

20th July 2026

21st July 2026

Week B
All Day
from 09 Feb until 13 Feb
09
February