CORNISH preparatory school Polwhele House is expanding to offer secondary school education up to GCSE level.

The co-educational school near Truro has grown steadily since it was founded in 1981 by Richard and Rosemary White and offers a nursery, pre-preparatory and preparatory school for 105 pupils aged between three and 13.

Richard White, chairman of the managing council of Polwhele House, said: “After much deliberation and planning over the past year, the managing council has decided the time is right for this development to happen.

“We feel there is a call for a more specialised and intimate type of educational provision in our part of Cornwall, and the recent introduction of our performing arts and equestrian provision adds strength to our offering.”

Following numerous requests from parents to extend the age range to 16 and offer secondary school education, it will open a new senior school in September 2020, to accommodate children up to the age of 16.

The expansion will be rolled out slowly with a year 9 class in 2020 - made up of many of the school’s present year 8 intake who are keen to stay on - and an additional year group added each subsequent year.

The new senior school will offer a range of GCSE courses in core subjects of English, maths, science, history, geography and modern foreign languages.

These will be complimented by specialist options including an equestrian BTEC, a performance BTEC and a GSCE art course.

Polwhele House is able to offer specialist courses in performing arts and equestrianism thanks in part to its extensive grounds and facilities, which include 32 acres of grounds with playing fields, tennis courts and a riding school with eight ponies and one horse, where annual gymkhanas are held and pupils have regular riding lessons.

The school itself is based within a historic manor house dating back to the 16th century.

Hilary Mann, recently appointed Head of Polwhele, said the expansion would be carefully managed and the new senior school would be accommodated within the current buildings during the first year, with the potential to expand in future.

She said: “The school will grow by one senior year group each year, slowly and steadily. Our current buildings give scope for the first year expansion, and in time we can plan a redesign of the buildings and look to add any necessary new buildings.

“As we move forward we will be taking on new staff experienced in teaching to GSCE and some current staff have experience of teaching to A Level standard.”

“We will offer something entirely different which is attractive to a different sort of child. Young people who benefit from a smaller school with smaller classes, where the whole person can be developed and educated, taking account of individual needs and desires. This is the strength of Polwhele House and the reason why so many parents have requested this age range extension. We are delighted and excited about the future.”

The new Senior School will have its own arrangements, activities and uniform and offer a range of individual and team sports as well as taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.

A number of performing arts and equestrian scholarships are available at the school, and prospective parents and pupils are welcome to visit to look around the site.

To find out more about Polwhele House, visit www.polwhelehouse.co.uk or call 01872 273011.

• There is an open morning at Polwhele House on February 29 from 9.30am until 12.30pm, when parents can drop in to meet the team and discover more about the new school.