Humphry Davy School

20/08/2026

Congratulations to the amazing 2026 Humphry Davy School Year 11 students!

It is one of the great privileges of being headteacher to share in the magical moment of opening GCSE result envelopes and watching anxious expressions morph into smiles and joy and again this year there is much to celebrate!

We are proud to be an inclusive community school and I want to congratulate all involved as the hard work, positive attitudes and dedication of students and staff has been rewarded with many, many excellent grades.

We continue to nurture the unique talents of every individual student at HDS with over 37% of all students achieving a top grade 7-9 (old grade A/A*) in at least one subject and 45% of all passes were DfE ‘strong’ GCSE passes.

There were some tremendous individual student achievements with special mention to Scarlett, Poppy, Ben, Meghan, Raffy, Will, Henry, Kit and Lila who all achieved a multitude of grades 7 to 9 across a wide range of subjects. Just reward for their hard work and maintaining a positive attitude!

At Humphry Davy we all know that success is not just measured by the number of top grades achieved. Alongside tremendous academic success, we are equally proud of the wonderful young adults our students have become. During their HDS journey, Year 11 students achieved local and national recognition and success in music and the arts, debating, science, technology, engineering and mathematics competitions, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and a wide range of sports. They are superb role models for our younger students and the wider Penzance community.

HDS is a truly fantastic place with a strong sense of community. Our focus now is firmly on ensuring the success of future year groups. My message to new Year 7 students and to any prospective parents, is that you can be confident and reassured from GCSE results over the years that hard work, determination and the support of our fantastic, dedicated and talented team of staff here at HDS will ensure children of all abilities are well placed to achieve their dreams and fulfil their future ambitions.

Mr Marshall, Headteacher

23/07/2026

The latest Newsletter is now available to view on our website. Have a great summer everyone! See you on Thursday 3rd September.

https://humphrydavy.reactfiles.co.uk/uploads/document/July-2026.pdf?t=1784813431?ts=1784813592

23/07/2026

We are delighted to announce our new team of Senior Students and Prefects for the 2026-27 academic year.

The Senior Student selection process was highly competitive, with students completing a formal application and interview process. We were incredibly impressed by the professionalism, maturity and integrity demonstrated throughout. In particular, our prospective Senior Students took part in interviews with the Headteacher, Miss Kleiman (RSL for Year 10) and Mrs Shipman, representing the governors. The candidates showcased outstanding communication skills, thoughtful responses and a genuine commitment to supporting both their peers and the wider school community.

Our new Senior Students and Prefects have been appointed to the Student Leadership Team for their enthusiasm, confidence and desire to make a positive difference to school life. They are passionate about representing the student body, contributing to school improvement and helping to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all.

We are incredibly proud of all the students who applied and would like to congratulate those who have been appointed as Senior Students and Prefects. We look forward to seeing them develop in their roles and make a valuable contribution to the school over the coming year.

Well done to all involved and we wish our new student leadership team every success as they embark on this exciting opportunity.

23/07/2026

There could not have been a better way to round off another fantastic year at HDS than with three days of fun-filled activities! The wonderful weather continued and students made the most of everything on offer while enjoying time with their friends and creating lasting memories.

With such a wide range of activities available, there really was something for everyone. From the excitement of coasteering and skateboarding to horse riding, fishing and football, students embraced every opportunity to challenge themselves and try something new. Others enjoyed swimming, exploring our local area and spending time at the beach, making the most of Cornwall’s stunning coastline in the summer sunshine.

Our Activity Days are always a highlight of the school calendar, giving students the chance to step outside of the classroom, discover new interests and develop confidence and independence in a fun and supportive environment. It has been wonderful to see so many smiling faces throughout and students should be incredibly proud of the enthusiasm they have shown.

What a fantastic way to end the Summer Term!

22/07/2026

21/07/2026

Over the past month, students have been putting their cycling skills to the test as part of a series of Bikeability Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 courses.

Throughout the programmes, they have demonstrated significant progress in developing their cycling skills, road awareness and confidence when riding on local roads.

All participants worked diligently to build their understanding of safe cycling practices, navigating a variety of local road environments. In addition to improving their practical cycling abilities, students developed their knowledge of road safety and learnt how to carry out essential pre-ride safety checks on their bicycles.

The commitment, enthusiasm and achievements shown by all participants has been commendable and they should be congratulated on their success. Well done to everyone who took part!

Further Bikeability courses will be available in September. Parents and carers who would like their child to take part are encouraged to register their interest by contacting Mrs Corin via email at [email protected].

21/07/2026

Students gathered on the plinth during lunchtime last week to watch six Year 9 pop and rock bands battle it out! With relaxed school uniform helping to keep everyone cool, there was an incredible atmosphere as students performed their chosen songs.

Each band (or soloist!) took to the stage with confidence and was met with thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd. Well done to everyone who took part!

20/07/2026

Our Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students produced some incredible dishes for their mock practical exams!

Their menus included Cajun sticky honey chicken accompanied with coleslaw, homemade mayonnaise and chips. This was followed by a choice of meringue kisses, set cheesecake and reduced sugar mini gateaux. They all rose to the challenge and we are incredibly proud of them. Well done!

17/07/2026

Summer Term is a wonderfully busy time for the HDS Music Department. Fresh off the back of their recital evening, the Music Scholars have embarked upon a three-day tour of local primary schools, inspiring the next generation of musicians and spreading joy throughout the community.

A great breadth of styles and genres were on display, from heavy metal to trumpet fanfare. Our Music Scholars have done a fantastic job and have definitely benefitted from the experience of a professional music tour.

With singing and dancing from students and teachers alike, it has been a lovely way to end the term.