Humphry Davy School is a thriving and successful secondary school in Penzance, Cornwall. The school has a long standing well deserved reputation for its high standard of education, caring approach and an ethos which encourages, supports and develops students of all abilities to fulfil their potential – from those with specific learning difficulties right through to the most Able, Gifted and Talented. Students only get one chance in these vital school years and we are determined to ensure every student who attends Humphry Davy School has the very best start in life.

"Music can change the World" - Beethoven

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the World - Nelson Mandela

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? Ambitious, confident and high achieving learners? A caring, engaging and responsible student community? Exceptionally strong relationships between staff and students built upon mutual trust and respect? At Humphry Davy School I would say “All of the above and more!”

The school has a long-standing well-deserved reputation for its caring approach and an ethos which encourages, supports and develops students of all abilities – from those with specific learning difficulties right through to the most Able, Gifted and Talented. I believe that under my leadership, we have ensured the standard of care has never fallen, whilst the standard of achievement has continued rising to the consistently high levels seen today. I do not believe the two are mutually exclusive; indeed my personal philosophy is that by focusing upon each and every individual’s needs to enable them to flourish, the climate for learning will be enhanced, the whole school community will grow and the outcomes will only ever continue upwards.

We are a Co-operative Trust School and a member of the Penwith Educational Trust (PET). Our Vision statement encapsulates for me what our school is about and sets out the beliefs and values of both myself and the rest of our Governing Body. It provides a clear direction for the school whilst reminding us of our core values when decision-making. Success comes from never lowering our high expectations and ensuring everyone shares our core values in each and every moment of every day. This is only achievable by working in partnership with our parents as it is together that we enable our students to flourish into what they each have the potential to be.

The contribution of the local community is very important to us all and as a school, we are always interested in the views of our parents and the local community. The Governing Body and I remain committed to ensuring our school is a valued part of the Penzance community and continues to provide the highest educational standards of which we can all be proud.

As Headteacher of Humphry Davy School I am proud of our students, staff and their current, past and future achievements. I hope that our website gives you an insight into why that is and what sets us apart from any other school. Please take the time to read the School Vision through, especially if you are considering sending your child to the school as it captures our essence.

All the information here I hope you will find useful but do not hesitate to contact us at the school if you have further questions; I would encourage you to visit us to see just what a vibrant, successful learning community we are.

Together I truly believe we can create the inspirational learning environment to enable our young people to flourish and become the influential world leaders of tomorrow and I look forward to working with you.

Bill Marshall 
Headteacher

Thank you for expressing an interest in working at Humphry Davy School, ‘An inspiring and vibrant place for learning which enriches, and is a valued part of, the Penzance community'. We are described as a ‘Good’ school with many ‘Outstanding’ areas (OfSTED, November 2011).

We value our long-standing and well deserved reputation for a caring ethos which encourages, supports and develops students of all abilities. Our staff are recognized as sharing this strong commitment to raising standards, and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved beyond the core curriculum if you so choose. Join our School Talent Pool to get alerted on our latest vacancies.