THE HEAD of the most improved secondary school in the South West has been appointed as principal of Tavistock College.

Helen Salmon, who is head of St James School in Exeter, will be the first female principal in the college's history.

Chair of governors Mandy Govier said: 'We are delighted with the appointment.

'We had over 100 expressions of interest for the post and we were able to select a very strong field of candidates for interview.

'Helen has a proven and successful record of raising achievement in her previous schools and a marvellous history of accomplishment at St James'.

'We are confident these skills can be transferred to Tavistock College.'

Mrs Govier said candidates underwent a challenging, three-day recruitment process where their skills and attributes were tested rigorously.

'The governors decided unanimously to appoint Helen, who took on the role of acting principal at the beginning of September, as the school's permanent principal.'

Mrs Salmon said: 'I am delighted to be appointed as principal of Tavistock College.

'I have received a very positive and warm welcome to the college from both staff and students and I am now looking forward to working with them, their families and the wider community on a permanent basis.'

St James was placed in special measures by the school standards agency, Ofsted, in November 2005.

Mrs Salmon joined the school in September 2006 and, by the summer of 2007, it had been removed from special measures.

In March this year St James was named the most improved school in the South West by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and one of the 20 most improved secondaries in the country

Its GCSE results rose from 30% in 2007 to 76% in 2010 for five passes at A*-C and from 10% in 2006 to 54% last year for five good GCSEs, including English and maths.

In December 2009, Ofsted concluded that St James enjoyed the overwhelming support of parents with more than nine out of ten saying their child enjoyed school.

They said Mrs Salmon's 'ambitious vision' for raising achievement was shared throughout the school and there was a concerted drive for improvement.

Mrs Salmon said:?'Tavistock College clearly has the potential to be an outstanding school and I am very keen to help to lead them on that journey.

'The school has a lot of strengths in spite of its recent difficulties, not least its impressive students and able staff and its outstanding facilities and supportive governors and community.

'Our job now is to lead the college out of special measures as soon as possible and our aim is to be an outstanding college in the future.'