Boarding at Truro High

It can be difficult deciding whether or not to go down the boarding school option. Sometimes, due to family circumstances, it's a necessity but, more often than not, we find that once the girls have had a couple of Taster Days and Sleepovers with us, it's more a question of 'allowing' them to board rather than 'sending them to board'! Pester power often rules!

Truro High School ranks in the Top 50 Independent Girls' Boarding Schools in the UK (www.best-schools.co.uk) and, when you take into account our very competitive fees we make the Top 20!

We have about 40 boarders who live, during term time, in two Boarding Houses - Dalvenie for the girls from Prep 3-Year 8 and Rashleigh House for those in Years 9-13. The Houses are located right in the centre of the school campus, immediately adjacent to both the dining room and sick bay (without the need to go outside) and of course they become the centre of a boarder's life at Truro High School for Girls. We are justifiably proud of the excellent standard of pastoral care, facilities and ‘extras' we are able to provide. Indeed, our most recent ISI report (October 2008) commented:

‘The quality of pastoral care and provision for welfare and health and safety is outstanding, giving all pupils the opportunity to develop into mature and confident people.'

‘Pupils are kind, thoughtful and supportive to other members of the community. They are confident and relaxed with each other, with staff and with visitors to the school, and ready to celebrate each other's strength and successes.'

‘The quality of boarding is excellent and boarding plays an important part in the life of the school.....creating a happy and caring atmosphere, and encouraging a willingness in pupils to help others.'

‘The overall quality of the accommodation is outstanding.'

Of course we want our girls to feel as  ‘at home' as possible. In this way they will be able to work successfully, be happy outside school and fulfil their potential, academically and in the rest of their busy, purposeful lives. So, right from the outset we ensure that the school, parents and girls work in partnership to ensure a quick, smooth and happy integration into boarding life.

Mrs Gill Tregay (Head of Boarding), the Headmistress Mrs Caroline Pascoe and Mrs June Blakemore are Houseparents of Rashleigh House. The younger girls are looked after by Houseparents Mrs Kate Roberts (Prep 3 teacher) and her husband Simon and they live in Dalvenie with their daughter Evie. Houseparents are supported by Academic members of staff who not only provide additional cover but also academic support during Prep time.

There's always plenty going on in the Houses - from snacks, to DVD nights, to parties and of course Prep! Our boarding staff are modern in approach (no cold showers and envelope corners on the beds here) and, together with the Registrar Mrs Ellison, will do all they can to answer questions on the practicalities about living away from home. Things like - who will plait my 8 year old's hair in the morning or ensure my 16 year old is revising for her GCSEs. There will be a very warm welcome indeed and a really positive approach to help your daughter settle in, make friends quickly and feel genuinely 'at home'. This means that, on those occasional moments when home is missed, it's soon better because there's always someone to turn to for a chat, a bit of Wii Fit perhps or just a mug of hot chocolate!