Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The DofE was designed to challenge young people between the ages of 14 - 24 to attain standards of achievement and endeavour in a wide variety of active interests – to serve their communities, experience adventure and to develop and learn outside the classroom.
Here at DofE HDS we believe in young people, in their innate value and infinite potential. We help young people build life-long belief in themselves, supporting them to take on their own challenges, follow their passions, and discover talents they never knew they had.
Year 9 and Year 10 DofE Enrolling now!
We are running Year 9 Bronze and Year 10 Silver awards this year.
Documents
| Duke of Edinburgh's Award | Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Parent Information Booklet | 21st Sep 2023 | Download |
| HDS Expedition Guide | 21st Jan 2025 | Download |
Connect with us
Humphry Davy School
21 Nov 2025
Save the Date!
Rehearsals are well underway for our upcoming musical, Bugsy Malone! Lines are being learned, stage positioning perfected, and musical arrangements mastered. We are thrilled to announce that this year’s production will be hosted at The Ritz — the perfect setting for this 1920s New York story. Make sure you mark the dates in your calendars now and keep an eye out for ticket details coming soon.
It’s sure to be a night to remember, and we can’t wait!!
Humphry Davy School
20 Nov 2025
We are delighted to share with you a very special gift that has found a new home at our school.
Penzance local, Mrs Ashley, has generously donated her beautiful baby grand piano, an instrument filled with nearly 50 years of family history. Originally a gift from her late husband, this piano has travelled through decades of music making - from concerts to quiet practice moments - and has played almost every style imaginable. Now, it’s settling in wonderfully here at school with students already testing out melodies and discovering its rich, warm sound.
In the letter we received with the piano, Mrs Ashley wrote, “If it encourages one student to pursue a musical career, it will smile to itself for a task well done.”
We can already feel that reality coming to life and love the thought that this piano, with all its stories and memories, will continue its musical journey with the next generation of young pianists. It feels incredibly special to know that new memories will be created on keys that have meant so much to one family.
Mrs Ashley also kindly donated a large box of piano music — which one excited young pianist has already had a good rummage through!
Thank you, Mrs Ashley, for passing on such an inspiring legacy.
Humphry Davy School
19 Nov 2025
Calling all 2025 leavers!
Please remember to RSVP as soon as possible with your name and the number of seats you require (maximum 4 guests per student).
We look forward to celebrating your 5 years at HDS! See you then.
Humphry Davy School
19 Nov 2025
Our Year 7 students enjoyed an action packed two days on camp! They kicked things off with a full day of exciting activities, including bowling and laser tag, before heading to Plymouth Aquarium for a truly unforgettable experience — spending the night inside the aquarium!
The next day, the adventure continued with a visit to the incredible Eden Project, where students explored the biomes and learned all about the world’s ecosystems.
A trip packed with big memories — well done, Year 7!
Humphry Davy School
18 Nov 2025
Over half term, students spent an unforgettable week in Mirleft, a stunning coastal town in southern Morocco. Our annual surfing trip to this fabulous location offers superb waves and an abundance of culture for our students to enjoy.
With perfect conditions throughout the trip, students of all abilities made remarkable progress. Beginners gained confidence in the white water, mastering balance and learning to ride their first waves. Improvers took their skills to the next level, catching some of the best green waves of their lives! Every student demonstrated resilience and enthusiasm, and the instructors were full of praise for their positive attitudes and teamwork.
Our students also enjoyed a delicious range of locally sourced, traditional Moroccan dishes, prepared fresh each day by local cooks. Meals included; Msemen - warm, layered Moroccan pancakes, Merguez - sausages and kefta, as well as slow-cooked beef tagines and beautifully seasoned whole baked fish. Many students were adventurous with their food choices and were excited to try new flavours.
A highlight of the week was their visit to Tiznit, famous for its silver jewellery and traditional craftsmanship. Students met a local jewellery maker, observed intricate silversmithing techniques, and learned about the cultural importance of these designs. They then put their bartering skills into practice in the local markets - an activity filled with laughter, learning, and some impressive negotiating!
Throughout the trip, our students embraced every opportunity to explore the local area, interact respectfully with residents, and learn about Moroccan traditions and daily life. Their curiosity, engagement, and excellent behaviour were a credit to our school.
This trip offered a wonderful blend of adventure, culture, and personal growth. Students returned home with new skills, stronger friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Humphry Davy School
12 Nov 2025
Our school fell silent at 11am yesterday in remembrance of those who have served, and who continue to serve, our country.
The two minutes' silence was brilliantly observed, ending with the Last Post echoing around our school grounds for all to hear. Students then laid a wreath at our memorial, followed by a short service in the gallery.
A big thank you to the students who honoured their uniforms by wearing them proudly today, and to Mr Street for performing this poignant song so beautifully, the strong wind conditions certainly helped carry the song around the school!
We will remember them.
Humphry Davy School
10 Nov 2025
Our thanks go to the senior students from Humphry Davy School and Mounts Bay Academy who came together to lay wreaths and pay their respects on Remembrance Sunday.
Humphry Davy School
6 Nov 2025
Good luck to our girls hockey team who have arrived at location to compete in the U13 tournament today. Go smash it!
Humphry Davy School
5 Nov 2025
It’s been an absolute pleasure hosting the Pearl of Africa Children’s Choir today. Such incredible talent and energy!
Don’t forget to join us this evening at 6:30pm for the full concert. See you there!
Humphry Davy School
4 Nov 2025
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Humphry Davy School
2 Nov 2025
Day 4: Morocco
Kicked off with a morning surf, refuelled with lunch on the beach, then headed to Legzira for a group adventure—complete with a camel ride. Another fantastic day for team HDS in Morocco. 🌊
Humphry Davy School
1 Nov 2025
Day 3: Morocco
☀️🌊 HDS students are soaking up the sunshine, catching waves, and diving into the local culture🏄♀️
Humphry Davy School
31 Oct 2025
Day 2: Morocco
The Humphry Davy surf crew hit the waves once again under perfect blue skies!
Humphry Davy School
30 Oct 2025
Once again, our Time2Move holiday programme was hugely popular. With over 60 children from reception class upwards in attendance, the school site was buzzing.
With football, archery, laser tag, nerf games, basketball, dodge ball, badminton, cycling, karaoke, arts and crafts and table tennis to choose from, everyone had a lot of fun!
It was wonderful to see so many happy, smiling faces! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, and we look forward to seeing you at our next holiday programme in February.
Thanks go to Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, DT Coaching, Bikeability and our amazing HDS staff for making this week such a success!
Enjoy the rest of the half term break!
Humphry Davy School
21 Oct 2025
Our latest newsletter is now available to view on our website. Have a great half term everyone! See you all on Monday 3rd November.
https://humphrydavy.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/document/October-2025.pdf?t=1761061762?ts=1761069869
Humphry Davy School
21 Oct 2025
Our new Year 7 cohort has settled in wonderfully during their first half term with us! They’ve truly embraced life at HDS — joining clubs, diving into their learning with enthusiasm, and even performing in their very first concert on our stage. Next on their list is camp, taking place after half term, and we can’t wait to see the many adventures that await them.
Well done, Year 7, for settling in so smoothly and for being an inspiration to Year 6 students currently choosing their secondary school. Don’t forget — the deadline for applications is Friday 31st October. Be sure to secure your child’s place at HDS today!
Humphry Davy School
21 Oct 2025
A big well done to student, Charlie, who had an incredible evening at the Penzance Sailing Club prize giving last weekend!
Charlie was awarded three trophies for the Thursday Series, Combined Series, and the prestigious Youth Sailor of the Year Award — recognising not only his impressive sailing achievements, but also his commitment to helping at the club and supporting new trainees throughout the season. He also collected several further trophies in the cruiser sailing events — an outstanding accomplishment!
Well done, Charlie. We are incredibly proud of your achievements and you should be too!
Humphry Davy School
21 Oct 2025
We are thrilled to be welcoming back the Pearl of Africa Children's Choir after half term! Join us on the evening of Wednesday 5th November, and experience their incredible sound for yourself!
Humphry Davy School
20 Oct 2025
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Humphry Davy School
20 Oct 2025
Secure your place on our half term activities programme today!
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Contact Us
Headteacher William Marshall
Humphry Davy School, Coombe Road, Penzance,Cornwall, TR18 2TG
- 01736 363 559
- Email Us

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