Proudly Co-Educational, Proudly Truro School

This year, Truro School celebrates 50 years of co-education, five decades of girls and boys learning alongside one another, sharing opportunities and shaping our community together.

Since becoming co-educational in 1976, we have continued to champion an education that recognises every pupil as an individual, encourages ambition without boundaries and prepares young people for life beyond school.

Today, our co-educational community is central to who we are. It is reflected in the opportunities we offer, the achievements we celebrate and the relationships that help our pupils grow in confidence, compassion and understanding. As we mark this milestone, we look at what makes co-education at Truro School so special, and how our commitment to knowing, challenging and empowering every pupil continues to shape the next generation.

A Community that Champions Ambition for All

At the heart of our values-based education is a belief in equality of aspiration. Great co-education is about ensuring that ambition is equally encouraged and celebrated in every pupil. Girls and boys learn from and alongside one another, building the mutual respect, empathy and confidence that form the foundation of lifelong success.

Across the school, leadership opportunities are shared equally between girls and boys. Our Heads of School team, House Captains, Prefects and Scholars represent a true balance of genders, reflecting the kind of collaborative leadership we see in the workplaces and communities beyond school.

By knowing our pupils, recognising their individual strengths and encouraging them to take on new challenges, we help every young person find their voice and develop their confidence.

Academic Excellence Without Boundaries

Truro School is the leading educational provider in Cornwall and consistently ranks among the top 10% nationally for value added (ALPS). Our pupils, girls and boys alike, achieve outstanding results at both GCSE and A-Level, reflecting the quality of teaching, pastoral care and academic ambition that underpin everything we do.

When exploring independent schools in Cornwall, families sometimes ask us, “Do boys and girls achieve better in single-sex or co-educational schools?”

There is no simple answer that applies to every child. What matters is finding an environment where pupils are supported to learn, encouraged to aim high and given the opportunity to fulfil their potential. At Truro School, our academic outcomes reflect our commitment to helping every pupil make excellent progress, with high expectations alongside individual support.

As one parent recently shared: “The teachers at Truro School go above and beyond. They genuinely care about each pupil’s progress and wellbeing. Since joining, our daughter has rediscovered her confidence and is excelling academically.”

Collaboration in Action

Our Maths Department’s achievements are a great example of what happens when equality and ambition go hand in hand. This year, Truro School pupils across all year groups have demonstrated exceptional talent and teamwork in Mathematics. Recent leavers have gone on to prestigious universities to study Mathematics, Engineering, Economics and Computer Science, reflecting how pupils are encouraged to pursue their interests and ambitions.

Younger pupils have also excelled, with teams representing Cornwall in the UKMT National Finals. Our pupils have also achieved success in the Maths Competition for Girls and the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls, while opportunities for collaboration and mentorship help build confidence and encourage more girls to explore their potential in Mathematics.

Whether discovering a new interest, tackling a complex problem or pursuing an ambitious goal, pupils are challenged to think differently, supported to develop their skills and empowered to see what they can achieve.

Breaking Stereotypes Through Sport

Nowhere is our co-educational ethos more visible than in sport. Over two-thirds of our pupils proudly represent Truro School in competitive fixtures each year, across an incredible 18 different sports.

Last year, our list of county, regional and national achievements was outstanding (see Terraces for the full list). But success is about more than results. As Director of Sport, Dan Sanderson, explains:  “Sport at Truro School is about more than competition. It’s about courage, collaboration and lifelong wellbeing. Every pupil leaves with a love of physical activity and a sense of belonging.”

Our pupils challenge outdated gender expectations, celebrating teamwork, skill and determination rather than stereotypes. They learn to support one another, push beyond their comfort zones and discover what they can achieve, both individually and as part of a team.

Beyond the Classroom

Co-education at Truro School extends far beyond exam success. Our girls and boys engage in over 300 co-curricular activities at the Senior School, and more than 70 at Prep, exploring passions that shape them as thinkers, leaders and creators.

Whether acting on stage, performing in concerts, excelling in national competitions, completing a Duke of Edinburgh Award or trekking through the rainforests on life-changing expedition, our pupils are encouraged to explore new interests, take on challenges and discover strengths they may not yet know they have.

As Mrs Jobling, Deputy Head (Co-Curricular and Partnerships), explains:  “Co-curricular life isn’t an add-on. It’s who we are. These experiences build resilience, belonging and joy. They help our pupils discover not just what they can do, but who they are.”

These experiences are an essential part of a Truro School education. They help pupils develop confidence, resilience and emotional intelligence, while learning to collaborate with others, embrace new perspectives and approach the future with an open mind.

A Supportive, Values-Driven Community

Our pastoral care is at the heart of the Truro School difference. In a co-educational environment, pupils learn to appreciate and respect different perspectives, forming friendships and networks that cross traditional boundaries.

We believe that young people thrive when they feel known, understood and supported, while also being encouraged to step outside their comfort zones. This balance of care and challenge creates a powerful sense of belonging, giving every pupil the confidence to explore who they are, develop their strengths and become the person they want to be.

Proudly Co-Educational. Proudly Truro School.

At Truro School, we do more than prepare pupils for exams. We help them prepare for life: learning to collaborate, lead, navigate different perspectives and contribute positively to the world around them.

Our co-educational community brings together different strengths, ideas and ambitions. It challenges assumptions, broadens horizons and empowers every pupil to make the most of their opportunities.

We know each pupil as an individual. We challenge them to think bigger, aim higher and discover what they are capable of. And we empower them to shape their own future with confidence, compassion and courage.

Because at Truro School, who you become matters.