Schools by area › Cornwall › Humphry Davy School
Humphry Davy School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Foundation school
Coombe Road, Penzance TR18 2TG · humphry-davy.cornwall.sch.uk · 01736 363559
On the mapSearch near TR18 2TG
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected May 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 41.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Cornwall 45.2, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 740
- 80% of 926 places
- Local authority
- Cornwall
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 37%
- First language not English
- 2.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 164 families put the school first and 166 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 166 | 164 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 127 | 127 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 153 | 150 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 160 | 159 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 126 | 126 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41.5, and 36.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Cornwall it was 45.2, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼41.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼36.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼55.5% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼21.9% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.45 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Further education | 86.4 | +3.3 |
| Other education | 1 | +0.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 2 | +0.9 |
| Employment | 2.5 | −2.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.6 | −2.3 |
| Activity not captured | 2.5 | +1.9 |
Ofsted
Humphry Davy School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 4 May 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 4 May 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2011
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Nov 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jun 2009Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
83% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (177 replies, to 1 April 2024).
- Recommend
- 83%
- Replies
- 177
- 22% · 1 Apr 2024
based on the 82% who raised concerns
based on the 42% who had a child bullied
based on 41 parents (23%) with SEND