Humphry Davy School is a mainstream secondary school in Penzance, Cornwall, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 227 of its 740 pupils (30.7%) were getting SEN support and 25 (3.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 740 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cornwall.
30.7% get SEN support
227 of 740 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.4% have an EHC plan
25 of 740 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia89
- Autism41
- Social, emotional and mental health39
- Speech, language and communication10
- Moderate learning difficulty7
- Physical disability5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Foundation school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 740 (places for 926)
- Headteacher
- Mr William Marshall
- Part of
- The Penwith Education Trust (PET)
- Free school meals
- 37% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cornwall
- School reference (URN)
- 112067
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Cornwall council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, May 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Coombe Road, Penzance, TR18 2TG
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Pensans Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.3 miles
- Nancealverne School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Cape Cornwall School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 6.5 miles
- Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change Independent · Ages 16–25 16 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Mary's Catholic School, Penzance Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 23.7%, EHC plans 8.6% 0.2 miles
- St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.3%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.7 miles
- Heamoor Community Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 9%, EHC plans 5.5% 0.7 miles
Questions about Humphry Davy School
How many pupils at Humphry Davy School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 227 of the 740 pupils (30.7%) were getting SEN support and 25 (3.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Humphry Davy School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (89 pupils), autism (41 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (39 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Humphry Davy School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Humphry Davy School?
Through Cornwall council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Humphry Davy School?
You can ask for Humphry Davy School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Humphry Davy School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Pensans Community Primary School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Humphry Davy School?
Coombe Road, Penzance, TR18 2TG, in Cornwall.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.