Miss Margaret Gale became the third Headmistress of Ipswich High School in 1909, succeeding Miss Kennett. She had taught German and mathematics at the school since 1904 and was a firm favourite amongst the girls. Her own education was unusual for its time, given that she had been schooled in Germany, before returning to Nottingham and then studying at Girton, Cambridge and Royal Holloway, London.

 

Although she was considerably younger than many of her staff, Miss Gale was much respected and was known for her collaborative approach, ensuring she took the views of staff and parents before implementing significant changes to the curriculum. Her principal aim was to foster character development, and she was especially keen that girls participated in competitive sport as well as the sciences, and that this should sit alongside the more traditional subjects.

 

Old girls have written of the kindness she extended to those who suffered difficulty. Whilst she was known to have high standards and be severe to those who did not meet them, she recognised the value of learning from failure and was patient and supportive to girls who had genuine difficulties. For Miss Gale, the struggle to succeed was as valuable as the success itself. She was personable and made sure she knew the name and background of every child in the school, even taking a child in to live with her when the girl was experiencing hardship at home. It was due to her persuasion that the council purchased Woodview, expanding the Westerfield Road site, in order to create a domestic science department specifically for girls over 16, irrespective of whether they were students at the school. Such was her determination to make it financially viable, she even moved into the top floor of the building to reduce costs.

 

As the school’s Headmistress during World War One, Miss Gale had to lead the school through challenging times, but she saw the opportunity for women to advance themselves and told the students that they were open to privileges and responsibilities unknown to their predecessors. She was delighted when the government called upon women to take up the jobs left by men who had answered the call to war, no doubt seeing it as the catalyst for social change and the furthering of women’s rights.

 

Miss Gale left Ipswich High School in 1919 to become Headmistress of Blackheath High School and the Oxford High School. She had been asthmatic all her life but put her work before herself throughout her time at Ipswich, sadly this was no longer possible when she suffered a cruel accident, being struck by lightning not long after taking the reins at Oxford. Forced to retire due to the long- term ill health issues caused by this incident; she moved to Saffron Walden where she made an active contribution to the community. Miss Gale kept up her correspondence with Ipswich High School until her death in March 1953. Writing in the school magazine that year, Miss de Havilland Hall said, ‘The secret of her life and influence is summed up in one of the hymns sung on that occasion: “Blest are the pure in heart.”