THE college principal who turned around a struggling Tavistock school four years ago, setting it on the road to become outstanding, is retiring from education in July.

Helen Salmon, 60, said it was time for a new head to take Tavistock College to its next stage, with the backing of a very strong leadership team.

Mrs Salmon joined Tavistock College on secondment in September 2010 when it was placed into special measures by education wachdog Ofsted. She was made permanent principal a few months later.

Since that time Mrs Salmon's 'unswerving commitment and determination' has been recognised by education inspectors and the college has made a rapid improvement. Ofsted in its last report in 2013 said the school was now 'good' — with some outstanding features.

The principal, who also wrought similar huge changes at St James' School in Exeter before she came to Tavistock, said she was proud of what had been achieved at the college over the last four years, but said it was not just down to her.

'It's been a team effort,' she said.

'The joy of it for me has been putting really strong people in position to take the college forward. To leave a legacy like that is very rewarding for me.

'I have really enjoyed being at Tavistock and it's been a great community to work with.

'I have been really fortunate in having so much support, some of it from day one, and I will miss all of that, but I am at retirement age and the college is in a good position now.

'To build on this solid foundation is a wonderful opportunity for my successor.

'Hopefully the college will go on to be outstanding in the next few years.'

Mrs Salmon said she wanted to spend more time with her family and embark on some travelling opportunities.

Chairman of Governors at Tavistock College, Alan Jones, said Mrs Salmon had done an incredible job at the college: 'Helen has done what she came to do — she has turned the college around from a fairly poor inspection to what it is now, which is a good rating by Ofsted with some outstanding features.

'The last inspection highlighted college practices which are being used as an example to other schools, particularly on child protection. Formerly it was quite the reverse.

'We are now looking for a principal who will take us to the next level which is outstanding because that is where we are heading.'

Mr Jones said the ethos of the school, with its 1,250 pupils, had changed dramatically with major improvements in behaviour and attendance and staff were more focused.

'The senior leadership is totally behind the college and from the outside people can also see it has changed,' he said.

'It is rapidly becoming a place where parents want their children to come to, that was not the case before.

'Now is a good time for Helen to leave us as the college is in good fettle.

'We never know what will happen in this current environment of education especially with the General Election coming up and how that will affect education as a whole but the college is in good shape.'

The principal's job will be advertised nationally and a new appointment is expected to be made this term.