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
4 May 2026
Italy 2026
Yesterday, students took part in a wonderful hands-on experience with a traditional Italian pizza chef. They learned authentic techniques before creating their own pizzas from scratch – a definite highlight and a great way to immerse themselves in local culture (and cuisine!). 🍕
Today, they packed up and travelled to Peschiera del Garda, where the group enjoyed a relaxed final day together. Students spent time browsing the local market, picking up souvenirs and gifts to bring home. 🎁
They then had lunch by the lake, making the most of the beautiful surroundings, before everyone had the chance to dip their toes in Lake Garda one last time – a lovely and memorable way to round off the trip.
Now for the long journey home…✈️
Humphry Davy School
3 May 2026
Italy Trip 2026
Today the HDS Italy group enjoyed a wonderful day at Lake Garda, visiting the beautiful town of Sirmione ❤️
The students had the opportunity to swim in the lake, making the most of the warm weather and scenic surroundings. Afterwards, they enjoyed lunch by the shore, taking in the stunning views of the lake.⛵️
They then spent some time exploring the local shops in Sirmione, where students were able to look around and pick up souvenirs. Of course, no visit would be complete without a treat - everyone enjoyed some delicious ice cream before heading back.🍦🇮🇹
Humphry Davy School
2 May 2026
Italy 2026
Living that Venetian dream! 🌊✨
From scenic water taxi rides to crossing iconic bridges (just a few of the 417 to choose from!).
The HDS Italy trip has once more packed so much into one day.
The students loved watching the gondolas and discovering the charm of Venice’s small, hidden streets. 🛶🚶♂️🇮🇹
Humphry Davy School
1 May 2026
What an amazing day for our Italy trip, who have been exploring the stunning city of Verona! They kicked things off with an engaging tour through its picturesque streets, followed by a visit to the impressive Verona Arena, a 1st-century Roman amphitheatre, and rounded it all off at the iconic ‘Juliet’s Balcony’ where our students placed their very own HDS ‘love lock’.
All students are happy, well and enjoying the sunshine!
Humphry Davy School
30 Apr 2026
Our Italy trip has arrived safely in Milan! Have an amazing time everyone!
Humphry Davy School
29 Apr 2026
Last Thursday, HDS students took part in the Penwith Schools Athletics Competition held at Carn Brea track. All competitors performed exceptionally well and showed great determination throughout the event. Despite a very strong headwind on the home straight for the track athletes, the team delivered outstanding performances and returned with an impressive haul of gold, silver, and bronze medals. We are incredibly proud of the effort and teamwork shown by everyone involved.
Humphry Davy School
28 Apr 2026
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.
Humphry Davy School
24 Apr 2026
Over the Easter break we hosted 60 children at our Time2Move holiday programme.
Lasting 3 days, and with activities including table tennis, laser tag, nerf guns, dodgeball, karaoke, gymnastics, football, kin ball and dancing, there was certainly something for everyone to get involved in.
Thank you to everyone who helped with the delivery of the programme, and thank you to everyone who attended…you were brilliant!
We’re looking forward to hosting our next holiday programme in the Summer. Watch this space.
Humphry Davy School
23 Apr 2026
Students visited Serre Chevalier in France this year for our annual Ski trip and what a truly memorable experience it was!
Over the course of the week, students made fantastic progress in their skiing and snowboarding. Beginners showed remarkable determination, progressing from their first steps on the slopes to confidently navigating blue runs by the end of the trip, while our advanced group rose to the challenge of tackling black slopes with skill and enthusiasm.
Beyond the slopes, students enjoyed a brilliant range of activities. Our hotel provided not only excellent breakfasts to set everyone up for the day, but also lively evening entertainment, including Just Dance, karaoke and swimming. We also ventured out to Briançon for an evening visit and enjoyed a fun-filled bowling trip, adding even more variety to the experience.
One of the most impressive aspects of the trip was the attitude of our students. They were consistently inclusive, supportive, and encouraging of one another, creating a positive and welcoming environment throughout. It was also fantastic to see them building friendships with students from other schools staying at the hotel.
A huge thank you goes to all the students for their enthusiasm and behaviour, to parents for their support, to staff for their dedication and to Elemental for organising such a smooth and enjoyable trip. It was a wonderful experience that will be remembered for years to come.
Humphry Davy School
22 Apr 2026
We are excited to be running three days of activities this year!
(For Years 7-10 on 20th, 21st and 22nd July).
For those parents/carers who haven’t already, be sure to check your Parentmail inbox for the email sent on 31st March and secure your child’s choices today.
Please complete the form by 24th April.
Thank you.
Humphry Davy School
22 Apr 2026
Our Year 10 students had a fantastic week just before Easter, completing their work experience placements.
Spending four days with local employers, they gained valuable insight into the world beyond the classroom and what working life can look like. This year’s placements were wonderfully varied, from veterinary practices and the railway to the postal service and local cafés.
Feedback from employers has been extremely positive and we are incredibly proud of how our students have represented the school. Many have even surprised themselves with how confidently they adapted their skills to new environments; with some students even receiving job offers!
Well done Year 10 and a big thank you to all the employers who have supported our students with their placements.
Humphry Davy School
20 Apr 2026
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.
Humphry Davy School
12 Apr 2026
Ski School 2026!
Message for parents/carers:
We managed to get on an earlier ferry and we are now due back at Humphry Davy School at around 17.15pm.
Please do keep in touch with your child for more accurate arrival times.
See you soon!
Humphry Davy School
10 Apr 2026
Day 5 of ‘Ski School 2026’! On the penultimate day of our trip, our skiers and boarders, now able to confidently navigate the mountain, began mastering jumps, tricks and more advanced techniques. Once off the slopes, students were presented with certificates from their instructors before travelling to the picturesque fortified town of Briançon for a spot of souvenir shopping!
Humphry Davy School
9 Apr 2026
Day 4 of ‘Ski School 2026’! Today our beginners explored more of the mountain, our intermediates mastered blues and reds, our boarders made it to the summit, and our advanced group pushed themselves to tackle the blacks!
Tonight, following a relaxing swim, the whole group took to the stage for some karaoke and ‘Just Dance’ (they were incredible!). Another amazing day!
Humphry Davy School
8 Apr 2026
Day 3 of ‘Ski School 2026’ saw our skiers and boarders moving to another level! Hard work, commitment and enthusiasm is definitely resulting in rapid progress! Well done everyone!
Tonight’s trip to the local bowling alley gave everyone an opportunity to relax and unwind before bed.
We’ll be back on the slopes bright and early tomorrow and we’re looking forward to seeing what new adventures are in store!
Humphry Davy School
7 Apr 2026
Day 2 of ‘Ski School 2026’! With the sun beating down, all of our skiers and boarders made incredible progress today and have started tackling more challenging runs. Skiing with style, yesterday’s ‘awards of the day’ winners proudly sported their novelty helmet covers and we look forward to seeing today’s winners on the slopes tomorrow.
Humphry Davy School
6 Apr 2026
Day one of ‘Ski School 2026’ was AMAZING! Under a cloudless blue sky our skiers and boarders took to the slopes, visibly improving in both style and confidence during the day. Back at our fantastic hotel this evening students had fun nominating their peers for three special ‘awards of the day’. Check back tomorrow to see if you can spot the winners!
Humphry Davy School
5 Apr 2026
Humphry Davy ‘Ski School 2026’ has safely arrived at Serre Chevalier in France. The conditions are perfect with beautiful sunshine! We’re looking forward to a fantastic week on the slopes!
Humphry Davy School
2 Apr 2026
Our latest newsletter is now available to view on our website. Have a great Easter break everyone!
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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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