50 Years of Co-Education

In September 1976 the first girls started at Truro School, heralding the beginning of co-education here. At that time Tanya Roberts and Johanna Walker were the only girls in the school. Tanya spoke to a local newspaper at the time, ‘I think they were stunned when we first walked into the classroom … no one said anything to us at all. They had never had any girl pupils in the school and didn’t know what to expect. They got over it. By lunchtime they actually spoke to us’. They were soon accepted and felt ‘really … rather spoilt’. On the plus side, there was no school uniform for them, and they were guaranteed a spot in the school play if they wanted it.

In 2026–27, Truro School celebrates 50 years of co-education, marking half a century since the first girls joined the Sixth Form in 1976. To commemorate this anniversary, the Development and Alumni Relations team is inviting Old Truronians to share their memories of the school becoming co-educational.

If you feel able to contribute, we would be grateful if you could send us your memories.