Amongst the crowd were best friends returning to school for the first time in 30 years and mothers whose daughters have followed in their footsteps to Truro High – all past pupils of Cornwall’s top girls school.
After meeting over coffee and catching up with former classmates, the Old Girls joined present pupils for a whole host of exciting lessons in which they got a chance to brush up on colour theory in Art, investigate avalanches in Geography, delve into the ancient past in Latin and much more. There was even the opportunity to try out some new subjects with A Level Business Studies on offer.
Jane Taylor (nee Ifould), a Truro High pupil from 1980 – 1987, had been nervous about packing her pencil case for school again but her butterflies were set aside as lessons started.
She said: “It’s been lovely coming back. We headed up into the top of the tower for our Business Studies lesson and as I opened the door, it all came flooding back – the familiarity, warmth and the girls are just amazing. They wanted to know everything about our time at school – what we did, what we wore, what O Levels we studied.”
Best friends Alicia Sullivan (nee Sowell) and Rachel Siviter hadn’t visited the school since they left in the mid-eighties, and were delighted to experience life and learning at Truro High 30 years on.
Alicia said: “I’m been very impressed by the quality of education and especially the focus on individual learning – it certainly wasn’t like that in our day.”
Rachel said: “The atmosphere of the place hasn’t changed, it feels just like it did when I was here. I had such a good time at school and it really feels like the girls are still having that same experience.”
Gill Marshall (nee Lutey), who attended the school from 1974 – 1984, was thrilled to get a taste of the education her daughter, Lucy, is now enjoying at Truro High.
She said: “It was a really fun morning and a great opportunity to reminisce on happy times and see how much has changed. It has been particularly lovely to be taught by Lucy’s teachers and get to know the girls a little better by working alongside them – there have been lots of smiles today and you can certainly see why.”
Gill’s daughter Lucy has been a Truro High pupil since 2015 and is looking forward to creating more wonderful memories as she continues to thrive in the Senior School.
After their lessons the Old Girls gathered in the dining hall for a school lunch, a meal quite different from – and a huge improvement on – those many were describing from their own experiences.
Truro High School Old Girls’ Association runs a packed calendar of reunions, lectures and ‘Back to School’ days throughout the year offering former pupils the opportunity to catch up with old friends, see how much has changed and maybe learn something new.
