FALMOUTH School will be under new leadership next year as Sandra Critchley has announced her retirement after eleven years as headteacher.
But her replacement will be well known to the school community, as after an "arduous" interview process, deputy head Brett Miners was selected to take the role.
The governors said they were saddened to receive Mrs Critchley's resignation at the beginning of term.
During her time at the school she had led it through three Ofstead inspections, academy conversion and to its best ever exam results this year.
"The school under her leadership has gone from strength to strength," the governors said in a statement.
Although she is not retiring until August, work is now in place to enable a "smooth transition" from one head to another.
Mrs Critchley said: "I think it's time to hand the mantle on to someone else.
"Though I love my job and will really miss it. It has been lovely to watch the school grow and flourish and watch the children mature into young adults who will make their mark on the world."
She began her teaching career 30 years ago in Manchester and after a stint as head of the Roseland School she joined Falmouth in April 2001.
One of her first jobs was to oversee the amalgamation of the school from two sites to one under the governments Private Finance Initiative.