Humphry Davy School, Penzance

In its own words: "Humphry Davy School seeks to unlock the talent and enterprise of all our young people. We promote high achievement and learning for life by working with every individual to: We are committed to justice and equality for all and will carry this through in school life by:"

From the headteacher's welcome: ""Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the World" Two of my favourite all time quotes and from world leaders whose influence did indeed change the world! So what do you get if you combine the two; Music and Education combined to form a school that has a musical heartbeat? High aspirations?"

Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 27 October 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Humphry Davy School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.7 in Cornwall and 47 across England.

39% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Cornwall and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 41.5.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.27: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 31.1, against 46.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Art and Design, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 164 families put Humphry Davy School as their first choice and 293 named it as one of their preferences, for 166 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Humphry Davy School is one of 5 schools run by The Penwith Education Trust (PET), an academy trust.

Of the 198 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 86% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

37% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 227 pupils (30.7%) received SEN support and 25 (3.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

Humphry Davy School had 61 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Penzance Rail Station, about 680 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

21 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Humphry Davy School (n-bound), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Humphry Davy School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 173 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Humphry Davy School issued 222 suspensions, 28.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Humphry Davy School are St Mary's Catholic School, Penzance (0.2 miles); Pensans Community Primary School (0.3 miles); St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance (0.8 miles); and Heamoor Community Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.