Caroline Pascoe is currently Deputy Head at Wellington School in Somerset where she also teaches physics. As well as studying for a Doctorate in Education, having a Masters degree in Educational Management and an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership, she boasts some rather unusual additional qualifications - those of accomplished mountaineer, former membership of the Great Britain National Rowing Squad and European Record Holder. She also rowed for Britain at the Barcelona Olympic Games.

In addition she is an experienced business executive who has run her own travel company providing trekking expeditions in the Himalayas, she is a Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme assessor, a mountain and rock-climbing leader and an RAF cadet commander. She even found time to open a local village school of her own in Northern India.

Sally Glover, Chair of the school's governors, said: 'Caroline's world-class sporting background and outstanding academic achievement make her the perfect role model and we know she will be an inspiration to all the girls at Truro High.

Mrs Pascoe will begin her new role on 1 April and says she is really looking forward to it.

'I want to continue building on the nurturing and caring environment within which pupils at the school clearly already thrive,' she said. 'The school enjoys a superb academic record. My challenge will be to continue developing the school still further - creating a community that becomes even more of a benchmark for teaching and learning, sporting excellence and business achievement.'

Jane Abbotts, who took over as Truro High's interim headmistress in September for two terms prior to taking on the headship of Coombe Bank School in Kent, welcomed Mrs Pascoe's appointment.