Founded in 1880 by Cornish Methodists, Truro School came under the Methodist Independent Schools Trust (MIST) in 1904 and is governed by a Board of Governors appointed by the Methodist Conference. While welcoming pupils from across the UK and abroad, the school remains deeply rooted in Cornwall and is the county’s only HMC member. Religious instruction is inter-denominational, reflecting its Methodist heritage.
Boarding. The Senior School educates 820 pupils (760 day, 60 boarders) aged 11 and above, with a strong Sixth Form of about 180 students. The Preparatory School has 290 pupils, including boys and girls starting from Nursery at age 3. The school is fully co-educational.
Girl boarders live in Malvern House and Pentreve House, while boys reside in Trennick House. Each house has on-site boarding staff living with their families to create a home-like atmosphere. Boarders share meals in a central dining room with a cafeteria system and have access to all school facilities plus weekend activities. No boarding is offered at the Prep School.
Campus and buildings. The Senior School overlooks Truro Cathedral city and the Fal Estuary, just five minutes from the city centre. Its playing fields extend into open countryside, blending urban convenience with green space. Facilities include a first-class library, refurbished Science labs, Design Technology and Art studios, a dedicated computer centre, Music School, vibrant Sixth Form Centre, and specialist classrooms.
The Wilkes Building houses the Burrell Theatre, drama centre, classrooms, and a recently expanded Modern Languages Centre. A new Music School opening in 2026 will feature a 900-seat auditorium, cafeteria, practice rooms, and refurbished assembly hall to foster musical excellence and community inclusion.
The refurbished chapel offers a peaceful space for reflection. Sports facilities include the Sir Ben Ainslie Sports Centre with an eight-court multi-use hall, two county-standard squash courts with viewing gallery, fitness suite, plus a 25-metre heated pool, cricket nets, tennis courts, pavilion, and 40 acres of pitches. The school also partners with Truro Fencing Club to provide a dedicated Fencing Salle with national and international competitors, also enabling Fencing to be offered to all pupils as an additional co-curricular sport.
In 2018, Truro opened a state-of-the-art Cookery School in partnership with Leiths School of Food & Wine. This ten-bay facility offers co-curricular cookery for all year groups, a one-year Seasonaires course in Y12 and Level 3 Extended Certificate in Professional Cookery as a Sixth Form option.
Organisation and curriculum. Up to GCSE level, pupils study a balanced curriculum including Sciences, Humanities, Creative Arts, and Modern Languages. Years 7–9 cover Art, Biology, Chemistry, Design & Technology, Drama, English, French, Geography, German, History, ICT, Mathematics, Music, Physics, PSHEE, Religious Studies, Spanish plus weekly PE and Games.
At GCSE, pupils typically take nine subjects: compulsory English Language & Literature, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Double or Triple Science; options include Art & Design, Computer Science, Design & Technology, Drama, French, Geography, Geology, German, History, Music, PE, Religious Studies and Spanish.
A level subjects largely mirror GCSE offerings with additions like Business Studies, Economics, Psychology, Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics), Cambridge Technicals: Sport & Physical Fitness, Level 3 in Professional Cookery, Football Programme and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). The Sixth Form Diploma enriches academic study with supra-curricular activities focused on personal growth, leadership and service. Careers advice includes specialised support for Medics/Dentists/Vets applicants as well as Oxbridge and international university hopefuls. Most Sixth Formers take three A levels; many progress to higher education.
Out-of-school activities. Co-curricular life is vibrant and diverse. Pupils can join subject clubs or pursue active interests such as drama, fencing (with national competitors), squash, surfing, golf, basketball or debating, to list just a few. The Music Department features choirs, orchestra, jazz group and brass band among other ensembles. Many participate in Ten Tors expeditions or Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme alongside community service projects. Trips span local to international destinations.
Sports. Truro offers all major team sports at various levels from beginner to regional competitor: badminton, cross-country running, hockey (girls’ hockey in Winter Term), football (boys’ football in Spring Term), netball (Spring Term), squash, and tennis year round. Summer focuses on cricket and athletics. The indoor heated pool supports year-round swimming while fencing benefits from dedicated facilities producing national-level athletes.
Admissions. Prep School accepts applicants aged 4–11 at any point during the academic year subject to availability. Senior School entry for Years 7–10 requires entrance assessments plus school report and interview; Year 12 admission involves report review and interview with predicted GCSE grades or equivalent.
Scholarships and bursaries. Truro offers chorister scholarships through links with Truro Cathedral’s Chorister Programme. Fencing scholarships provide small fee remissions via partnership with Truro Fencing Club. Academic, Sporting and Music scholarships enhance educational opportunities rather than reduce fees. Means-tested bursaries range from 5% to full fee remission based on need for UK families.
Fees per term (2025-2026).
Senior School: International Boarders £15,759; Full Boarders £14,240; Weekly Boarders £12,225; Day Pupils (including lunch) £7,136.
Prep School (including lunch): Years 3–4 £6,320; Years 5–6 £6,568.
Pre-Prep (including lunch): Reception without EYF £4,668; Years 1–2 £4,438.
Full-time Nursery (without EYF): £3,816.
Fees are correct as of September 2025.
Academic results. In 2025, over 90% of pupils secured places at their chosen universities including Oxbridge and international institutions. At A level, 50% of grades were A*/A with over 80% A*–B; ALPS grade 2 placed the school in the top 10% nationally. GCSE results were equally strong: across 22 subjects more than 500 top grades (9–7) were achieved and nearly twice the national average, with roughly one-third at grades 9 or 8.
Former Pupils’ Association. The Development and Alumni team runs the Old Truronian Network and hosts a range of events.
Charitable status. Truro School is part of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust, a registered charity (number 1142794).