Our school

Plymouth College is an outstanding co-educational day and boarding school situated in the heart of Plymouth.

We have been providing an excellent education to pupils from Plymouth, all over the UK and around the world since we were founded in 1877. Throughout our history, we have retained our reputation for excellence in education and we are proud of the standards, the values and the aspirations suggested by this history. Our motto, Dat Deus Incrementum (God Gives The Increase), is the same as that of Westminster School, Marlborough College and Tonbridge School. However we are also a school that is forward-looking and progressive; combining the very best of old and new. Our contemporary interpretation of our motto is ‘Plymouth College: Where everything is possible’.

We are acutely aware that all our pupils will need the skills and attributes to thrive in an ever more competitive world. Our pupils exceed their potential and achieve impressive exam results gaining them places at Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell group and world-leading universities. But academic results alone do not prepare young people for life beyond school. Our pupils, with our support and guidance, develop strong communication skills, the ability to lead and work with others and above all, they develop self-confidence - feeling that, with hard work and determination, anything can be achieved.

The emphasis of Plymouth College is very much on what our pupils can do well and ensuring that they emerge as happy, confident, grounded and well-balanced young people. In addition, they will take with them the lifelong friendships developed in our safe environment that values their emotional wellbeing as much as their personal development and academic performance.

“New pupils are encouraged not only by the staff but also by their peers, which creates a really strong sense of community. ”