The new headteacher of Falmouth School is no stranger to staff and students, having already worked there for seven years.

Born and raised a Cornishman, Brett Miners joined the school as deputy headteacher in 2005, after previously teaching at Helston Community College and then Camborne College as head of sixth form.

With the majority of his professional life spent in the community, Mr Miners said it was therefore particularly special to be achieving his first headship at Falmouth.

He said: “It's an honour and a privilege to be the head of any school, but it's even more special to be the head here, because of that local context.”

Mr Miners said he had “thoroughly enjoyed” his work as deputy head and was delighted to be offered the post of headteacher.

He added: “The town of Falmouth can be proud to have an excellent secondary school and it will be my continual focus to build upon our current work by further embedding the highest standards and expectations for all of our students, whilst providing the opportunities for all of the students to be as successful as they possibly can.”

New chairman of the governors Glyn Williams, who took over the role the beginning of December, said it was Mr Miners' “professionalism” and “vision for the future of the development of the school” that led to his appointment at the end of a nationwide search.

This saw 18 candidates being whittled down to a shortlist of four, who were then put through two and a half days of interviews and a selection process.

The school governors added in a statement that Mr Miners had worked closely with Mrs Critchley in leading and managing the school, and was now ready to “pick up the challenge” and “move the school forward to even greater achievement.”

Mr Miners, who is in his early 40s, lives in the Helston area with his wife, who works in the senior management team of another local school, and they have twin boys who are about to begin secondary school.

He was born in Penzance and his parents are from Porthleven and Penzance.