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Equalities Objectives
Equality and Diversity is central to the ethos of Humphry Davy School. The School Vision makes direct reference to:
- Celebrating individuality.
- Maximising the life chances of all of our young people.
Humphry Davy School values and principals specifically state that they will work with every individual to:
- Embed Co-operative values in policies, activities and decision making and develop the co-operative character of the school – Self help, self responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.
- Identify and overcome barriers to learning or participation in school life;
- Instil an understanding of the world around us and local and wider cultures, underpinned by environmentally sustainable values and practices within the school’s operations;
The school is committed to justice and equality for all in its values and principles, and the school’s strategy document says that this will be seen in school life by:
- Providing engaging and inclusive core and extra-curricular activities, addressing barriers, and using Pupil Premium and other funding sources, to enable all groups of students to participate;
- Continuing to develop national and international links with a range of countries and cultures;
- Integrating the principles of caring for others into school life, including an awareness of issues such as poverty, the impact of climate change and the importance of Fair Trade on a local, national and global level;
Humphry Davy School Equality Objectives:
The school has adopted the following Equality Objectives which underpin this policy and specific actions taken.
- To raise, and maintain, a high level of awareness of Equality and Diversity expectations within the school community and include the whole school community in developing and reviewing the policy
- To ensure that any instances of discrimination or disrespectful behaviour are responded to promptly and effectively;
- To ensure that every student, irrespective of race, disability, gender, religion, belief or sexual orientation, has access to the support required to achieve their full potential;
- To provide a range and quality of learning opportunities that is relevant and accessible to all students, taking account of their differing needs and characteristics and equips them with the skills for employment, further learning, and wider social and community engagement
- To ensure that effective strategies are in place to tackle under–achievement and to address any gap between specific groups of students including those defined by the protected characteristics, SEND and disadvantage.
- To improve access to all areas of the school for students, staff and others irrespective of disability
- To ensure that the school’s procedures for managing behaviour and student discipline, as set out in the Behaviour for Learning Policy, are fair, effective and equitable.
- To ensure that the adults working or volunteering in the school include, as far as possible, a balanced gender mix and appropriate representation of ethnic groups, ages, faiths, and people with disabilities related to the local community.
- To ensure that all appointments are made on a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory basis
Connect with us
Humphry Davy School
9 Jul 2025
How was Mazey Day over a week ago already?! We loved this years theme and had great fun creating our beautiful Sea Dragon. Here's a little recap of all the fun we had to brighten up this grey Wednesday morning.
Golowan Festival Official Page
Humphry Davy School
8 Jul 2025
The HDS Music Scholars Tour was a big one this year! Nine primary schools in three days. Not only were the music scholars able to share their music, but they also learned a little of what it is like to be in a touring band. Task master Mr Bosworth had the students well drilled. By the end of the tour a full set up only took about 15 minutes to complete!
What was most impressive and lovely about each visit was the joy on all the children's faces. So much excitement for music with some wonderful collaborative performances as well. The finale of 'Unwritten' performed at each school had students and staff up on their feet dancing, clapping and singing along. This was a tour that will be remembered for years to come by all involved.
Humphry Davy School
7 Jul 2025
The HDS Kit Car Club had a taste of success this term when they competed in their first race since the club restarted this year.
Students have been working tirelessly after school to build an electric powered kit car to compete in the National Greenpower UK race series. The car was only completed the night before the race in the finest traditions of competitive motor sport!
A team of eight attended the race at Predannack Airfield, five drivers and a well drilled pit crew, to compete against schools from across the country. Many of the teams racing were veterans of many races, with us truly being the 'rookies'. This didn't faze our students though. They worked well as a team, and their hard work and preparation ensured the car completed practice in both races with no breakdowns. As some other cars fell by the wayside, our car (“The Roadrunner”) kept running, ending race one in a highly respectable eighteenth of twenty six teams. In race two we finished twentieth.
A creditable first year back racing and a great foundation for next year when we hope to enter more races and even enter a second car! All the students thoroughly enjoyed their day and were justifiably proud of their efforts over the year. Well done everyone!
Kit Car Club is open to everyone in school and meets every Thursday, 3:05pm.
Humphry Davy School
4 Jul 2025
For the Year 10 mock practical exams last week, students were given the task of making two dishes. These consisted of chicken goujons, chips and salad with mayonnaise made from scratch and a reduced sugar mini Gateau. How delicious do they look? If you weren’t hungry you certainly will be now!
Humphry Davy School
3 Jul 2025
Last Friday, four Year 10 students took part in a science Olympiad at Nexus. The team had to complete three challenges through the day (engineering, practical and theory) and compete against teams from schools across Cornwall. The students performed brilliantly, coming 2nd in the engineering challenge. Overall, the team came 6th and did HDS proud with their outstanding behaviour and attitude. Well done.
Humphry Davy School
3 Jul 2025
The annual Cornwall Schools Mining Games brought together students from across the county to celebrate Cornwall’s rich mining heritage and ignite interest in the region’s engineering future. This year, 14 teams of enthusiastic Year 8 students participated in the event, with Humphry Davy School proudly represented.
Held in the spirit of tradition and innovation, the event gave students the opportunity to step into the boots of historic Cornish miners whilst engaging with modern engineering practices. The young competitors took part in a series of challenging and educational disciplines, including surveying, mineral separation, hand steeling, and sawing. These hands-on activities offered a unique blend of historical techniques and practical STEM skills.
Our Year 8 demonstrated teamwork, skill, and determination throughout the competition. Well done!
Humphry Davy School
2 Jul 2025
We have just been awarded our RHS Level 1 Gardening Award for our Allotment! Well done to everyone who has been involved, a well deserved achievement for our green fingered students!
Humphry Davy School
2 Jul 2025
Huge congratulations to student Riley, who has undergone the incredible task of running 100k (62miles) during the month of June - raising money for Children’s Hospice Southwest.
Bit by bit, Riley has been clocking up the miles, tracking his progress using Strava and sharing his progress on a Facebook fundraising page. Completing his challenge on the 30th June Riley has smashed his fundraising total of £250.
Well done Riley on this fantastic achievement, you should be really proud! If you would like to make a donation please visit Riley’s fundraising page here:
https://www.facebook.com/donate/686278194315484/?fundraiser_source=external_ur
Humphry Davy School
1 Jul 2025
Mazey Day brought colour, creativity and community spirit to the streets of Penzance again this year – and HDS was right at the heart of it all!
Our stunning contribution to the Golowan Festival parade was a spectacular Sea Dragon, lovingly created by students and staff. Towering above the crowds and shimmering in the summer sun, our dragon was a real show-stopper and one of the largest pieces in the procession – it certainly turned heads as it made its way through the town.
Leading the way were our talented music students, performing a powerful piece from the film ‘How to Train Your Dragon’. Also heading up our school’s display were the amazing HDS Dance Company who beautifully twirled their way down the streets. Their performance really brought our creature to life and set a magical tone for the day.
The music department also took to the stage at our very own performance space, set up beside the Humphry Davy statue at the heart of Penzance. With the sun trying to make an appearance and the town buzzing, it was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the energy and talent of our students, who put on a confident performance for all those watching - drawing quite the crowd!
It was a day full of creativity, music, and community pride – one we won’t forget any time soon! Well done to all the organisers, performers, and parade participants - it wouldn’t be Mazey without all of you!
Here’s to next year!
@golowan_festival
Golowan Festival Official Page
Humphry Davy School
1 Jul 2025
Photos from Mike Newman Photographer's post
Humphry Davy School
28 Jun 2025
Did you see us this morning?! Mazey Day is a highlight in the HDS calendar and we have really enjoyed creating our Sea Dragon in response to this years theme ‘On the crest of a wave’. Our students and have staff really got stuck in and had so much fun getting creative. Here’s a short video of our parade structure coming to life.
If you missed us, don’t worry! We are in the 3pm parade too! See you then!
Humphry Davy School
27 Jun 2025
We are delighted to provide a 'Feel Good Fair' at HDS next Friday (4th July).
The fair will run all day for students. Parents/carers are welcome to pop along after school from 3:05pm to 4:00pm.
The fair will be in our Enys Centre, which is a dedicated space for health and wellbeing and normally hosts a variety of visiting professionals on a daily basis. This is also where our new outdoor gym is situated!
This event is all about promoting health and wellbeing – both physical and mental – and gives students and families the chance to meet a range of professionals who support positive health choices and services in our community.
Humphry Davy School
26 Jun 2025
Don't miss out! Secure your place on our Summer Activities programme today!
www.playwaze.com/humphry-davy-school/4r399obbm919xd/discover-result?item=PhysicalEventSeries%2F115908-B&type=Activities&communityids=4r399obbm919xd&fromCommunity=True
Humphry Davy School
26 Jun 2025
Good luck to all students taking part in the Greenpower Race today! Our Kit Car team have been busy working on their car all year and are finally ready for the big race. To watch all your hard work out there on track will certainly be a proud moment indeed - it is sure to be a very exciting day for everyone! We look forward to hearing all about it.
Humphry Davy School
25 Jun 2025
At HDS we believe that a students’ right to choose what they read is crucial for encouraging a love of reading, and so, our students play a key part in selecting what books we purchase for the library. On a couple of afternoons last week, our Reading Ambassadors walked down to our fantastic local bookshop, ‘The Edge of the World’, where each of them could choose a book to refresh our library stock.
The staff at Edge of the World were, as usual, extremely helpful and advised our students where to find the latest thriller or gothic romance, and the students all had plenty of time to browse their amazing selection of books.
Our students came away with a wide range of reading material and everyone is very excited to get stuck in. Well done to the Reading Ambassadors for choosing such an interesting and varied selection of books for our library!
Humphry Davy School
25 Jun 2025
Last Friday, ten enthusiastic Year 8 girls visited Truro High School for Girls to celebrate Women in Engineering Day. They took part in a variety of hands-on workshops and exciting activities led by companies such as Eliquo Hydrok, the Royal Navy, Tecker, and Pendennis Shipyard. From filtering water and chocolate welding to Lego robotics, the girls explored real-world engineering challenges in fun and creative ways. An inspiring keynote speech by Dr. Faryal Khalid highlighted the cutting-edge role of engineering in clean energy. The day aimed to empower young women and spark their interest in engineering careers of the future, helping to build a more inclusive, dynamic future in engineering.
Humphry Davy School
24 Jun 2025
On Thursday, the HDS Music department put on an incredible Summer Concert in Penlee Park. The setting was beautiful, and the weather provided a perfect evening for the event.
With students from Year 7 – 11 taking part (including alumni), the program included a good breadth of genres and styles.
There were some very special moments during the evening including Mr Chinn's expertly choreographed dance moves during the Year 11 band performance and Mr Bosworth's 'Yabba Dabba Do' entry into the Wind Band.
Impact choir's performance was an extra special celebration of their 5 year anniversary. It included Year 11 students who were there 5 years ago when Miss Kleiman started the group. The concert finale was a fitting performance of 'You Will be Found' from the musical Dear Evan Hansen - a song sung 5 years ago in the first iteration of the choir.
What a night!
ASONE Hub
Humphry Davy School
24 Jun 2025
How exciting! Our 2026 musical has been announced and audition sign up is now open! If you would like an audition pack or would like to know more please speak to Mr Chinn.
Humphry Davy School
23 Jun 2025
On the evening of Tuesday 17th June, ten HDS students (along with participants from a host of other local primary and secondary schools) gave a superb performance at the Hall for Cornwall.
As part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Associate Schools Programme, students have spent many months exploring the text of The Tempest in after school rehearsals at HDS.
On Tuesday, six Y7 and Y8 students gave a fantastic performance of their scene on the big stage in front of a packed house. The nerves may have been there, but you couldn’t tell as they acted their roles with confidence, clarity, energy and enthusiasm.
Prior to the showcase this week, four of our Y9 students had the exciting opportunity to participate in several full day workshops at the Hall for Cornwall with RSC professionals and Sam Colborne from Treviglas Academy, which all led to a moving and compelling performance on the night of their interpretation of extracts from Hamlet. The commitment and camaraderie from our students and from all the other participants from around Cornwall were wonderful to see.
A huge well done to all who took part and thank you to all staff, parents and carers for your support. We’re looking forward to doing it all again next year!
Humphry Davy School
23 Jun 2025
As a reward for our participation in Big Walk and Wheel 2025, we were treated to a thrilling BMX demonstration from professional rider Matti Hemmings.
Matti also put together a workshop for ten lucky students to learn some BMX tricks of their own! The selected students had the unique opportunity to learn some flatland BMX skills under Matti’s expert guidance. The students thoroughly enjoyed themselves and showcased some impressive emerging talents!
After the workshop, Matti delivered a fantastic demonstration where students got the chance to watch the skilled BMX rider in action and were thoroughly entertained. Matti also spoke with our students after his demo, offering them a glimpse into life as a professional athlete and sharing words of encouragement and inspiration.
What an incredible reward, well done to everyone who participated in the Big Walk and Wheel this year.
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Contact Us
Headteacher William Marshall
Humphry Davy School, Coombe Road, Penzance,Cornwall, TR18 2TG
- 01736 363 559
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