Mary Hare School celebrated its annual Speech day on 25th November in The Arlington Arts Centre. Presenting the prizes was Guest of Honour Patrick Hyland, an ex student, who left Mary Hare in 2005. School Principal, Tony Shaw said:
“It is the ultimate ambition of a school to be able to invite back one of its Alumni to be Guest of Honour on Speech Day. Patrick Hyland not only enabled Mary Hare to fulfil this ambition but achieved it within a remarkably short period – only six years!”
After achieving a double Masters Degree this summer, Patrick is now pursuing a career in Innovation Design and Engineering and has already worked with famous names such as Nokia, RIM Blackberry, iGuzzini, Airbus, Sprite, United Airlines and Mothercare.
The welcome address was delivered by Principal Tony Shaw and Chairman of Governors Mike Granatt, in which they reflected on the school’s recent Outstanding award from Ofsted, and this summer’s excellent results at A level and GCSE.
Special praise went to Lucy Guthrie and Ruaridh Lever-Hogg, who achieved A level A* grades in Art, Andrew Tolmie who achieved AS level A grades in Physics, Chemistry and Biology together with 100% in the AQA Maths Core 2 exam, Asher Ben Pearl who obtained 10 A* GCSE grades and Chloe Norton who achieved 1 A*, 7 A and 2 B grades.
Patrick presented prizes to current and returning students for their academic achievements and for effort and progress. Patrick found that he too was a prize winner when Mr Shaw presented him with the Hugh Ogus Award for Post Graduate achievement.
A special presentation was made to Rosie Lopez, winner of the BTEC Business Level 2 award, by Martin Herring of Banks & Co, a local accountancy practice in Newbury, who have generously sponsored this award.
The vote of thanks was offered by Head Girl Natasha Sullivan Monks and Head Boy Arran Thomas who spoke of their opportunities and achievements at Mary Hare. Natasha and Arran described how they had both taken part in a European exchange programme between Mary Hare and schools for the deaf in Norway and Germany, while Natasha told guests that she was only just back from a fabulous photography trip to Hong Kong.
Patrick, who was described by Mr Shaw as “the embodiment of everything the school stands for”, told his audience: “If you have a passion in something you are good at, nurture it, make the most of it and you will realise the potential you have.”