Latest Prep Inspection

We are delighted that the ISI recognised Truro School Prep as a thriving co-educational community with strong safeguarding, dedicated pastoral care, excellent curricular and co-curricular opportunities, and impressive educational outcomes. This was also reflected by outstanding parental, pupil, and staff feedback.  

Against this backdrop, we were disappointed that the inspectorate took a critical view of opportunities within our longstanding partnership with Truro Cathedral’s chorister programme. Choristerships are currently available for five years each to boys aged 8-13 (across Truro School Prep and Senior) and to girls aged 13-18 at Truro School Senior. We operate as a 3-18 through School but, as the Prep and Senior Schools are separately registered with the DfE, the ISI assessed only the programme relating to Truro School Prep, not the full offering. The current absence of the opportunity for all genders to access the Cathedral chorister programme at the same time meant that Truro School Prep did not meet some key standards in their most recent inspection.  

I must underline that the standards stated as ‘unmet’ in the report, which you are encouraged to read in full below, relate solely and exclusively to the view taken by the inspectorate on the Cathedral’s chorister programme and not to any other aspect of pupil experience, school provision, co-educational culture, or leadership. Indeed, all aspects of the education and welfare that the Prep School both controls and offers are highly praised. This includes how we teach, care for, and inspire the children we nurture, how we ensure they thrive in a safe co-educational environment surrounded by dedicated and expert staff, and how we lead and continue to ambitiously evolve our School.   

The Cathedral and School remain committed to our partnership, one which widens access to musical and educational opportunity for children from all backgrounds across Cornwall. We spend a great deal of time encouraging the children in our care to meet problems head on and to reframe them into opportunities and, in this, we must lead by example. In response to, and respectful of the changed approach from the ISI, the Cathedral has decided to review how the chorister programme can offer more equal opportunities at each age level regardless of gender. This positive step, which we support wholeheartedly, will further enhance opportunity for children, musical and spiritual benefit to the community, and strengthen a partnership that brings national recognition to Cornwall.  

Looking ahead, the ISI is obliged to return to Truro School Prep within six months to follow up on their recommendations. We will be proud to show them again not only the quality of our education, safeguarding, and the dedication and happiness of our community, but the exciting steps being taken by the Cathedral, with our support, to evolve the chorister programme for the future.   

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to discuss the contents of this report with us directly. 

Rob Morse
Head of Prep

Independent School’s Inspectorate

Previous ISI Inspections