A Message from the Development and Alumni Relations Team

As an Old Truronian (Class of 2003) who looks back nostalgically on my Truro School days, it was a real honour to join the Development & Alumni Relations Team in September 2022. I must thank my colleagues Amanda and Jo who warmly welcomed me into the team; this made starting a new role so much easier.

Despite our Truro School paths never crossing, it was heartwarming to learn that we had common experiences which allowed the conversation to flow well throughout the day’s events. The reminiscing continued after dinner with impromptu stories being shared, with the common theme being the positive impact that Truro School had on individuals’ lives when venturing into the world of work and careers.

The main event in the Old Truronian calendar is, of course, our Reunion Dinner. Over 80 Truro School alumni from a wide range of year groups, along with their guests, enjoyed the evening. I must thank the Trustees of Truro School Association for their generous donation towards the after-dinner drinks; they were gratefully received by all who attended.

As a charity, the Truro School Foundation is extremely close to my heart, not only because it was officially established and chaired by the late Guy Dodd, who was Headmaster during my Truro School days, but because subsequently I have also learnt that some of my Truro School friends and peers were supported through the generous donations from others. To give you an idea of this generosity, over the last five years, Truro School Foundation has contributed over £750,000 to Truro School to support life-changing bursaries. Our fundraising efforts never stop and, if anything, the need and importantly the desire to fund more bursary places will continue to grow over the next 10 –15 years.

It was not long until I was meeting fellow Old Truronians and had the privilege to hear their personal Truro School memories. Welcoming the ‘Class of 1964’ back to Truro School in early October gave me an amazing insight into their School days.

Engaging with our Old Truronian Community is at the heart of what we do in the Development and Alumni Relations office. We are incredibly lucky to have such a supportive community; this was certainly seen at our Careers Convention, where a high percentage of attendees were also former Truro School pupils. We’re forever on the lookout for Old Truronians who can support our current Sixth Formers and recent leavers with helpful career insights. Our Careers department would love to hear from you if you’re keen to support?

Thank you to the Old Truronians who have contributed to this edition of The Truronian. Not only are the articles interesting and enjoyable to read, but they have real impact on our current Truro School pupils and recent leavers. Every Old Truronian has a story to tell, so please do reach out to us in the Development and Alumni Relations office if you would like to feature in the next edition.

If the work of Truro School Foundation resonates with you then please do take a look at our current Chairperson vacancy. Truro School Foundation is seeking a visionary individual to serve as the Chairperson of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. The Chairperson will play a crucial role in leading the Board, advising on the Charity’s strategic goals, strengthening internal and external relationships and promoting the Foundation’s ambition of widening means-tested access to a Truro School education via the raising of bursary funds for this purpose from stakeholders, alumni, parents and friends of Truro School. It is an exciting time to join the board, and we warmly welcome passionate Old Truronians to apply and hopefully play a key role the next evolutionary phase of the Charity’s development.

The next 12 months within the Development and Alumni Relations office are set to be just as busy as the previous, and I look forward to hopefully meeting you at an Old Truronian event in the near future.

It was an emotional morning as our Upper Sixth and newly welcomed Old Truronians gathered to collect their A-Level results with family and friends. Despite initial nerves, it was uplifting to see the breadth of opportunities that opened up alongside the results envelopes.

Our diverse cohort of students will now go on to an exciting range of pathways, from universities and further education to gap years and burgeoning careers in sports. We caught up with some of our students and their families to find out more about their bright futures and what their time at Truro School has given them.

We first chatted with a beaming Maya and Livvi. Maya gained an A* in Psychology and an A in both Chemistry and Maths, giving her the grades she needs to go on to her planned route to begin her Integrated Masters Degree in Chemistry at York. Maya joined Truro School in the 1st Year and told us, “The support from the teachers has been amazing. Truro School is so good at preparing you for everything.”

Livvi had been nervous about her results but had done better than she’d expected and was delighted to be going to Truro College to do a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.

Reuben, who also joined Truro School in the 1st Year, was “really shocked” having been “very stressed” about his results. With two A*s and an A in Biology, Chemistry and Maths, he will now go on to his first choice to study Medicine at Keele University. “Truro School has been amazing for me. I definitely wouldn’t have got into Medicine without the school’s support, or the help from the Medical Pathway Programme here led by Mrs Havis.”