Humphry Davy School

Humphry Davy School

Humphry Davy School Logo
Type Foundation school
Headteacher Mr W. A. Marshall
Chair of Governors Mrs K. Uren
Location Coombe Road
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 2TG
England
Coordinates: 50°07′27″N 5°32′27″W / 50.1242°N 5.54089°W / 50.1242; -5.54089
Local authority Cornwall Council
DfE number 908/4173
DfE URN 112067 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Students 687
Gender Coeducational
Ages 11–16
Houses Grenville, Trevithick, Trelawny and Godolphin
Colours (in corresponding order) Green, Blue, Yellow, Red
Website www.humphry-davy.cornwall.sch.uk

Humphry Davy School is a comprehensive school in Penzance, Cornwall, England. The school teaches 11- to 16-year-olds. Humphry Davy school is located just outside Penzance town centre on Coombe Road, and backs onto Penwith College.

The school website states: 'Humphry Davy 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 Gifted and Talented.'[1]

Key highlights quoted from the most recent Ofsted report include,:[2]

History

The oldest part of the main school building was completed in 1909. It was originally called the Penzance County School and opened with an enrolment of 130 boys on 24 January 1910.[3] It later became known as the Humphry Davy Grammar School for Boys until 1980 when it became a co-educational comprehensive school with the name Humphry Davy School.

Much of the beauty of the original building has been preserved and, in the summer of 2013, the school received funding worth over £300,000 which was invested in renovations that saw each of the sash windows replaced with handmade modern versions that have sympathetically enhanced the historic building and increased its energy efficiency.

Princess Anne visited the school on 22 January 1999 to open the 'Chynoweth' block and took time to tour the newly built maths rooms, science labs, drama hall and specially designed art studios.

In 2005 it gained specialist status, as a Music College.

School achievements

In 2006 a group of students from the school became one of the first of their age group to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats. Students from the school also won an MTV award when a video they created was shown on MTV accompanying musician Tom Baxter's hit song 'Better'.

In the Summer Olympics of 2012 Humphry Davy School celebrated the rowing victory of alumna Helen Glover MBE. A victory parade was organised to mark the occasion and many local people attended.

In 2013 the school received paints and brushes from Dulux as part of their Let's Colour initiative which saw students and staff volunteer their time to help paint colourful panels and a mural by local artist Mat McIvor on to the Citizenship and Personal Development building. In the same year, The Science Club won £3000 worth of Lego engineering equipment for the school by entering a short stop-motion film and application letter.

Notable former pupils

Humphry Davy Grammar School for Boys

Peter Mathieson, nephrologist, medical researcher and teacher, currently President of the University of Hong Kong

References

  1. ,.
  2. Batten, Ben; James, Lawrence, Three Score Years and Ten - A History of The Penzance County School and The Humphry Davy Grammar School 1910-1980
  3. "Olympic gold rower Helen Glover's 'phenomenal talent'". BBC. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  4. "Issue 11 (2006)". Oldpenwithians.co.uk. 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  5. Mike Lake
  6. "Issue 9 (2004)". Oldpenwithians.co.uk. 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  7. "Lyne raises the bar with civil service promotion | Official CIPS Magazine – Supply Management". Supplymanagement.com. 2003-01-08. Retrieved 2013-01-12.

External links

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