Best private schools in Cornwall & Devon?

[agp]

Hi there

My husband and I are considering moving to the north coast of cornwall and need to get to grips with the private schools in the area. Can anyone help? We've got three little girls (6 to 1yrs old) and would ideally like them to go to co-ed schools, with the flexibility to board or day (well I'm hoping they go day whilst at prep school!) It's hard to find out which ones are reckoned to be the best... Thanks in advance for any help/ opinions! :)

Amy

[Ariesgirl]

Well said TruroMum. I found Propatria's post condescending and snobbish. So no one outside the benighted backwater which is Cornwall has heard of Truro School. So? No one outside my county has heard of the comprehensive I went to and I did ok in life. It certainly didn't affect me adversely that the teams from my school were never invited to prestigious tournaments. Didn't stop us winning stuff or getting into excellent universities!

There are many excellent schools in Cornwall, State and private.

[scaryteacher]

As someone living in Cornwall and teaching at a Cornish state secondary at the time, I sent my ds to prep, as I was not impressed with the primary school in my village.

I am firmly of the opinion that you get the basics right in prep, literacy and numeracy, and then secondary falls into place. Getting a child through GCSEs can be done if they don't want to do the work; getting them through when they aren't literate and numerate enough to do so is a nightmare.

There are some excellent primaries in Cornwall as Ariesgirl has said, but this is not true of every primary there.

[propatria]

As Ive said each to their own,if people are happy with Truro Im delighted for them,its up to the individual,its not a school Im interested in for my children.
The point about the boarders is there are are so few(and getting fewer) because to be blunt no one outside the county wants to send their chidren there, Not sure how anyone going to Truro can mix with people from" very different and varied backgrounds" when over 90% of the pupils live in one county ,but as Truro clearly knows its market , its not a market I am in but good luck to it and its pupils.

[Decisions]

I've heard of Truro School and I live in Essex. Number 1 reason not to opt for private school? Pretentious, out of touch families!

[Ariesgirl]

Propatria do you not think that the reason most of the kids of in TS are from Cornwall is because Cornwall is a very large, long and thin county? Hardly the fault of the school! Out of interest, did you go to private or state school?

Scaryteacher, no not every primary in Cornwall is good. I can think of several which are't. I completely agree with getting the basics right and the rest will follow. With regard to state vs private at primary, when I was teaching we used to have a supply in regularly who also did supply at Treliske prep. She said in terms of resources and staff training, and staff and pupil enthusiasm our school won hands down.

[TruroMum]

Thank you Ariesgirl for echoing my thoughts and thank you Decisions - I knew TS's reputation went further than the Tamar but most importantly your comment on "Pretentious, out of touch families" is exactly why my daughter is at the kind of independent school that is TS and not some of the others that have been mentioned!

[propatria]

Aries, Private,as did parents,brothers,husband etc,etc
Truro was set up to meet the demands of the growing victorian middle class for private education,a lot of these type of schools were set up all over the country to meet this demand for local private education, if you like a no frills private education,it and others like it still meet that demand but out of county parents,prep school heads etc dont think of it as an option,it is literally a local school for local children,nothing wrong with that but I want more from a school,now if in the eyes of other people that makes us prentious,out of touch,snobbish,condescending etc,then so be it
Interesting what you say about Treliske,cant say Im suprised.

[propatria]

Truromum,What do you actually know about other private schools,did you consider any for your daughter,visit any etc?

[scaryteacher]

It also has to be a time/distance equation Propatria. Ds went to Mount House because it was doable with him as daybug, getting him and then me on to school, allied to dh serving abroad, so all the school run stuff fell on me. He also went there because I didn't want him to go to Kelly at the time.

[TruroMum]

For what it is worth Bryanston in an arc round to the Bath Schools but this has all come a long way from agp's first query. Suffice to say it is a good job there are different schools to suit different children and very different parents!

[propatria]

Indeed it is.

[Kren]

somewhat late, but just wanted to add another private school in Cornwall to the list. This school is admittedly not in North Cornwall, but they do send transport out to Truro, Falmouth, Helston etc, and boarding short or long term is available. The school is Gems Bolitho in Penzance, which caters for children from nursery to sixth form. Admittedly you will find some stuff about this school sadly having had a fraudster on it's board at one time, but heads have rolled and an international company has taken over, and the education continues as good as it ever was. I have a child at this school. The great thing about this school is SMALL CLASS SIZES = individual attention At this school classes are 15 to 17 per class compared with 36 to 43 in my over popular local 'outstanding' state primary. One of the most important school rules is 'Be kind' I really like that. I have heard that the class sizes are smaller than at Truro, which certainly seems to be the impression from viewing both schools. If you have a child that would benefit from positive encouragement, specialist subject teaching and small class sizes, I could recommend this school.

[propatria]

While Im glad you are happy at Bolitho its not a school that has a great track record of stability is it,its not just the "fraudster on the board" -even that description is massively underplaying it,its the fact its had to be rescued twice,its been over reliant on foreign children for its sixth form(how many children in its 6th at the moment?),its now caught up in a new financial scandal(not it would seem of its own making) but if those children are withdrawn...
Sorry but I really wouldnt send a child to it , however small(why are they small?) the classes and however kind everyone is,not least as you cant even be sure it will exist this time next year...

[Rhian82]

I used to work at Truro School, as an admin assistant, many moons ago (before marriage and children). I loved it, and if we still lived in Cornwall I would be scraping up every penny I had to send DS there when he was older.

I don't know much about private schools to compare it to, because I went to a really crappy state comprehensive, but I was overwhelmed at just how good it was. The grounds were gorgeous, the facilities and opportunities given to the children were amazing, but I have to say I was most impressed by the pastoral care. The headmaster knew every child by name, and the admin staff knew most of them. It was just a really supportive environment. I was only 22 when I worked there, and mostly just wished that I could have gone!

I also agree that the degree of snobbishness about a school being 'known' across the country is exactly the sort of thing that puts me off private education, so the fact that Truro School is apparently outside this only endears it to me more.

[wangle99]

We went against Truro School after DD visited (we were looking for year 9 entry) it felt very pushy although all of DD's friends went there are they finished year 8 at Polwhele.

As for Truro High, DD did a taster day there and it was horrendous. Would never consider single sex education after that day!

We chose Gems Bolitho in the end and DD is very settled and loves it, she started last September and I really would recommend it.

[Kren]

reply to propatria, it is school policy to have small classes. I did have same concerns about fraudulent goings on, have heard all the local gossip etc, but in the end it is where I have sent my child and all I can say is I am pleased with his experience there, and if I really thought the school was going to disappear tomorrow I would not have sent him there.

[Quinquagesima]

We loved Polwhele. We looked at Truro school and didn't like it at all (head wasn't interested in the DCs, which is always a bad start). If I could set up my own school, it would be Polwhele.

[cornishgaltruro]

Hello, I would be grateful for any feedback on Truro School, from parents of children whom are currently there and their children are registered with SEN? Thank you in advance :)

[BuntyPenfold]

Mount House highly thought of here.
Excellent if you need boarding place.

Many local primaries are also very good for free.

[propatria]

As a matter of interest could you name some of these famous alumni,Im afraid its not a school I was aware of but looking at its leaving destinations it doesnt seem to send to anywhere of merit,does it actually go to year 8?
Not sure its actually a prep school,certainly didnt notice it and the devon and cornwall prep athletics meeting at the weekend.

[carngrey]

I have just read the thread of conversation about schools in Truro and am completely shocked to see the negative comments about Truro School. My daughter was offered a place at both Truro High and Truro School and we decided that Truro School had by far the better facilities and offered a far broader education than Truro High School. I went to a top private school myself in London and have been far more impressed with what is on offer at Truro School than what was on offer to myself when i was at school!

[byeA3helloA30]

Glad I joined mumsnet before we go to the Truro open day on saturday,it isnt a school I know much about beyond the prospectus but we are moving to Cornwall and if possible I would like my children to go there,fingers crossed,anything that I need to ask,anything I shouldnt ask?
Two boys at a very well known school in Surrey and one in prep school,all bright and sports mad,Surrey county level in a couple of sports,hope that Truro will tick the box.Dont really want them to board unless its necessary.

[LittenTree]

My mum went to St Joseph's, Launceston...

in 1943