Ms Bacon started at the college in 1990 as deputy principal, after a variety of senior posts in education and commerce, including three years as associate vice-principal of Wellingborough College in Northamptonshire.

Richard and Rosemary White, founding heads of Polwhele House, the prep school that educates the choristers of Truro Cathedral, are to step down at the end of the academic year. Jeremy Mason, currently deputy head and senior housemaster at the Pilgrims’ School in Winchester, will take over as head next September.

Polwhele House, which has 160 pupils, was established in its current form in 1981. Mr White is chairman of the Choir Schools Association and has joined forces with Cornwall’s county music service to help revive the art of choral singing in primary schools.

MIKE Bell is to become chairman of Birmingham and Solihull Connexions Partnership. Mr Bell, formerly senior operations manager of Birmingham and Solihull training and enterprise council, has since December 2000 been chief executive of the Birmingham and Solihull careers and education business partnership. The partnership joins the careers and youth services and voluntary sectors to form the new Connexions service in April.