Our School : History & Development
Truro High School was founded in 1880 by Bishop Benson, whose sister was involved with the High School movement that had started in Ipswich and Plymouth. As well as establishing Truro High School, Bishop Benson also oversaw the building of Truro Cathedral before moving on to become Archbishop of Canterbury. The school moved to its present site in 1896 and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2005. We celebrated our 130th birthday in 2010.The school was started as an all girls' school although it has had boys in both its Pre Prep and Sixth Form at various stages in its development. It continues to welcome boys in the Nursery and they currently make up about 33% of the nursery children.
The school started with just seven girls but, by the 1950s, pupil numbers were up to almost 500. At that time, most of the girls were boarders but today most are daygirls although about 15% make up a strong boarding contingent.
The school campus is deceptively large. On entry through the original Victorian building you might think that the school is quite small but a veritable 'Tardis' awaits you. Not only are the Nursery, Prep and Senior girls and boys on the same campus (which we feel gives our school a distinctly 'family feel') but over the last 20 years we have subsumed the previous Daniel Girls' Secondary School site to provide our Daniel Road campus which houses our English, Art, Drama, Modern Foreign Languages Departments as well as our Performing Arts Studio and Studio Theatre. Renovation and new build continues apace - whilst mindful of keeping school fees at a real 'value for money' level alongside providing great facilities and resources for the pupils.
Developments in the last eight years include:
- the resurfacing and fencing of netball and tennis courts
- the installation of an all-weather astro pitch
- the complete rebuild of the purpose built nursery
- the complete new build of the Modern Languages Department
- the complete refurbishment of the boarding house to incorporate ensuite bedrooms and two sitting rooms with a kitchen, Sky TV and Wii consoles
- the complete refurbishment of the Food Room, Geography rooms, three (of six) Science Labs, English Department, Performing Arts Studio
- a continuing installation of interactive white boards in teaching rooms
Upcoming projects on the School Development Plan include:
- developing an outdoor play area for Foundation Stage pupils (Reception and Nursery)
- conversion of one grass tennis court into an outdoor amphitheatre/outdoor classroom with the Cathedral as the backdrop (supported by the Du Maurier family)
- installation of an outdoor seating/social area outside the Sixth Form Centre
- installation of a Sixth Form library/quiet study area in the Sixth Form Centre
- ongoing upgrade of IT provision
Truro High is recognised by the Independent Schools Council and by the Department for Education and Skills.