Staff Profile: Gail Hague

Ijoined The Perse in September 1995, the first year we took girls in the Sixth Form. Before that I had been Head of Chemistry and Assistant Head of Science at Samuel Ward (now academy) in Haverhill and then I worked at Parkside College in Cambridge. I was also Director of the Salters Chemistry Club for a while.

I was inspired to become a teacher because of the teachers I had at school and their enthusiasm for what they were doing. I actually wanted to become a PE teacher because I loved sport, but decided to do a chemistry degree first, knowing that I would be able to teach some sport as well but soon realised that not everyone enjoyed sport in the same way as I did so mainly stuck to the chemistry teaching after that!

I initially joined The Perse as a part time chemistry teacher, as my children Tom and Rosie (both OPs) were still young. Over the years I have been really fortunate that The Perse has allowed me to have a variety of roles, from chemistry teacher to careers advisor, from Head of Sixth Form girls, to Senior Tutor (overseeing the move to co-education), then to Assistant Head (Welfare and Admissions) and now Registrar.

There are so many great aspects to teaching, but over the last 37 years, the best ones for me are those ‘light bulb moments’ when children who have struggled with a difficult chemistry concept just suddenly ‘get it’; to see their confidence immediately grow is such a great feeling. Working with children too, to build their belief in themselves and getting them to realise that they can do it (and that can sometimes take a few years) and then seeing them really do well at the end of their school career is also something that has given me enormous pleasure over the years. The worst bits of teaching have to be the marking and writing reports – give me a parents’ evening any time!

I WAS INSPIRED TO BECOME A TEACHER BECAUSE OF THE TEACHERS I HAD AT SCHOOL AND THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

NAME: Gail Hague JOINED THE PERSE: 1995 SUBJECT: Chemistry

ALSO KNOWN FOR:

Establishing girls’ sport and making great jam.

I have too many happy memories over my 25 years at The Perse to mention here, but the first girls’ hockey team (we had to play on Parker’s Piece in the old 3rd XI boys’ kit!), my brilliant forms/tutor groups (from the 6GFHs to the first 7N in 2010 – they know who they are), and the laughs I have had with them, have to stand out, as well as that very first charity cabaret…

Now I have retired from my teaching and pastoral roles, I am looking forward to spending more time in my garden, walking and going to the gym. I’m still staying on as part time Registrar and am delighted to be able to spend my school days showing prospective students and their families around The Perse and letting them see for themselves what a very special place it is!