Happy Retirement, Peter Gale
Today marks a special farewell to our Principal, Peter Gale, who heads on his well-earned retirement after 26 years at Mary Hare.
Peter started his time at Mary Hare in 1996 as Head of Sixth Form and from his first impressions knew that the school was where he wanted to take his career. ‘When I came for interview, it was the last day of term. This looked like a happy school…. I knew it would be a huge change for me, but I knew I was doing the right thing.’
Peter was one of the first staff to take up the first ever Mary Hare/Oxford Brookes Teacher of the Deaf training course, and soon became very passionate about deaf education.
‘… to be truly happy, many deaf children need people like them to learn with, and a school setting which makes it possible for them to lip-read, listen and take part.’
Then, eight years ago, Peter made the big step into the top seat as Principal of Mary Hare School and has seen the school through many changes in the community, education and technology.
‘I guess the reason I never left Mary Hare was the amazing opportunities it gave me that I would not get elsewhere… some of my happiest memories are of playing with the school band.’
‘I also enjoyed, in a very strange way, appearing as a witness at over 100 tribunals. I got a real buzz from knowing that everything I said was true, right and in support of families and deaf children, in a system that seemed stacked against them.’
From everyone at Mary Hare School, we would like to send our best wishes to Peter and his retirement.