Tuesday 27 June 2017

There are now only four weeks to go until the end of the year, but nothing is slowing down.  This week is a very busy one. Yesterday and Thursday we welcome a gentleman to the school who is currently undergoing his NPQH: the qualification required for headship. He will be spending 9 days in school over the next few months, and the two days this week involve him shadowing me, attending SLT meetings and working on a project that provides him with a contrast to his current school.  Yesterday I also met with the Head of a local primary school to chat about how we can both learn from each other’s experiences and give us a different perspective to our schools.  It was very helpful. This week public examinations finish after six busy weeks for a number of students.  With the examinations finishing, students in Years 11 and 13 are invited back into school to return their textbooks.  For Year 11 that day is Thursday and for Year 13 it is tomorrow.  To coincide with Year 13 book collection we also invite Year 13 to stay in school for a little longer and attend their Leavers' Tea: an opportunity to catch up once more over some strawberries and cream and a glass of punch.  Year 11's book collection takes place on Thursday morning as the rest of that day and Friday we run our Pre Sixth Form Induction Days.  Over these two days, students wishing to take up a place in the Sixth Form here spend time in school learning about the subjects they have chosen and hearing from key staff about life after GCSEs.  On Friday this week, I am out of school attending two meetings: the Kent Schools’ Funding Forum and the Kent and Medway Grammar Schools' Association.  Both meetings are incredibly valued as they provide opportunities to meet colleagues from across the county and learn about a number of important matters that affect our schools.  Also on Friday, the Parents’ Association are putting on an ABBA tribute night.  About 100 tickets have been sold already, but there is still time and availability if you fancy a night dancing to some ABBA classics.  The evening includes a BBQ and starts at 7.30pm. Congratulations to Kaan Belton (OM 2015) who qualified to row in this week’s Henley Royal Regatta, the most prestigious rowing event in the World.  He is rowing for Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club, in a coxless 4, and has a pretty good chance for progressing past the first round in the competition.  Well done and good luck Kaan. And finally, Teddy Ostler of Year 7 coxed a J14 crew on Saturday for the South East at Peterborough Junior Regatta, and after a long hard gruelling day with wins under his belts progressed to the final and won gold.  Well done Teddy.

 

 

Tuesday 20 June 2017

Firstly I would like to acknowledge and congratulate Samuel Ghinn of Year 9 who competed in a National U16 Gymnastics Competition last Saturday and won Gold on the Pommel Horse and came 4^th overall across all disciplines.  Sam has also been selected to take part in the GB Squad that is competing in the Junior International Competition in Portugal this weekend.  Well done Sam.

 

This week the four new Heads of House finalise the House Prefect Structure by appointing their House Captains and Deputy House Captains from the 16 strong Student Leadership Team.  Thank you to the students who have applied for the posts of House Captain and good luck.

 

On Thursday and Friday of this week students from Years 7 and 8 put on the dramatic production Fantastic Mr Fox.  The boys and staff have been working really hard over the last few weeks and months rehearsing and preparing themselves for these two performances.  There are tickets still available so please do come along.

 

With a temperature yesterday of 30 degrees, and the rest of the week being predicted to be in the high 20s, it is important that everyone stays as cool as possible.  School buildings are not the best for staying cool so we need to ensure we can adapt to the high temperatures easily.  During the summer months we always enforce summer uniform regulations, and on very hot days we will also allow students, if they wish, to remove their ties and undo their top buttons.  Students should also be sensible themselves and think about what they do and where they go at break and lunch.  Staying out of the sun and drinking plenty of water would be a good idea.  I hope everyone is managing.

 

 

Tuesday 13 June 2017

This week is a busy one.  Last night students and parents of Year 12 attended our UCAS Evening: the event at which Year 12 students begin to think about what they wish to do after they leave MGS.  It is followed today with Year 12 students being off timetable and attending a carousel of sessions that get them thinking about university and the world of work.  I hope they had a good day. 

This afternoon the middle leaders of the school meet for the last time this year and will be using that time to review the year and consider ideas for the future.  It is always important to build time in the academic year to reflect on how things are going, and the meeting this afternoon is one opportunity of doing that. Public examinations for Years 11, 12 and 13 continue all of this week and do so for another couple of weeks.  Keep revising hard everyone! Today and tomorrow I am attending the Grammar School Heads’ Association Annual Conference in London.  Every year the heads of grammar schools come together to discuss a number of matters that are prevalent in their schools and hear from key speakers who give them their thoughts on a variety of issues.  The timing of this year’s conference is very apt following last week’s outcome of the General Election. Tomorrow and Thursday after school the other half of the new Year 6 students are coming into school to begin their induction process.  With the introduction of new Houses from September we have introduced four Year 6 House Teas, and the first two were last week which went extremely well.  Well done to the U13 Cricket Squad who beat Harvey Grammar School last week in their weekly fixture.  The boys scored over 100 in their 20 overs and then managed to keep Harvey to a total of about 60 in their overs.  Congratulations boys and keep up the good run that you have produced so far this year. And finally, on Saturday the 9th of June, Simon Coppard of Year 11 attended the Kent School Championships at the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford representing MGS. He won his heat in a comfortable time of 2:05 and then went on to win the 800m Intermediate Boys Final in a time of 1:59 which will hopefully allow him to be selected for the English School Athletics Championships in Birmingham representing MGS and Kent during early July. In addition to Simon, Bashiri Ryan of Year 9 also ran at the weekend and placed 4th in the Junior Boys 800m Final.  Well done to them both.

 

Tuesday 6th June 2017

Welcome back everyone; I hope you all had a pleasant Spring Bank Holiday.

Just before the half term break over 100 people on Thursday 25 May enjoyed an evening with Steve Davis.  We were thoroughly entertained throughout the whole night watching the six-time world champion play six frames of snooker and listening to a number of funny stories about his life.  Thank you to everyone who came along and supported, and thank you to the Parents’ Association for organising the event.

Yesterday, while many students continued with their half term, staff were in school attending one of their training days.  The day involved learning about a number of new and different initiatives that will be introduced into school in the near future, and provided time to prepare for events that are coming up this term.  A good day.

This week is a busy one.  This afternoon and tomorrow afternoon half of the new Year 6 students are coming into school to begin their induction process.  With the introduction of new Houses from September we have introduced four Year 6 House Teas.  Year 6 boys and their parents are being invited into school for about an hour or so in their Houses to meet each other and key members of staff in that House.  We hope they enjoy themselves.  The other two House teas take place next week.

Tuesday 23rd May 2017

This week Year 7, 9 and 10 join Year 11 and 13 in completing their end of year examinations.  All the students in Years 7, 9 and 10 will complete examinations in a number of subjects which will then provide a detailed analysis on how they have progressed during the year.  Good luck to the boys and I hope that they have been revising hard.

Yesterday the Senior Leadership Team spent the day away from school working on a number of things in preparation for next year.  It is always this time of year when a lot of work takes place for the new academic year, and being away from school allows for a clear head and no distractions.  From now we are able to put together the 2017-18 School Development Plan which draws our attention to key areas we wish to see develop.

Tonight I am attending the final full governors meeting of the year.  At every full governors meeting I compile a report in how MGS has developed and what we have been working on since the last meeting.  It is also a chance for me to inform the governors of the outcomes of the previous day.

Tomorrow evening I have invited some neighbours who live around the school site to join me in looking at the plans for the new pavilion.  It is really important we engage our neighbours with such matters and understand from them their thoughts and ideas.  I look forward to welcoming them.

 I am very excited about Thursday night’s Parents’ Association event.  I am a huge snooker fan and was brought up on the vintage snooker years of the 1980s.  The six-time world champion Steve Davis will be here at MGS playing a few frames of snooker and entertaining the audience with some funny stories and providing an insight into his life.  Tickets are still available. 

 And finally congratulation to Hamish Reilly of Year 9 who took part in the National Youth Triathlon Super Series event in Llanelli last weekend.  It was Hamish’s first race at this level and he finished in a very credible 6^th place.  Coming out of the swim he was in 31^st place but then had a fantastic bike segment which put him into 8^th place going into the run.  Well done Hamish.

Tuesday 16 May 2017

 Last Friday was a sad day for many as we said goodbye to Year 13.  Year 13 Leavers’ Day is always an emotional occasion; for students saying goodbye to their school after building a connection with it can be very difficult.  The students left in good spirits, with some shedding the odd tear.  Good luck and best wishes to them all.

 Sadly the U14 footballers lost to Oakwood Park Grammar School at last week’s Maidstone District Final at the Gallagher Stadium.  It was 1 – 1 at full-time and then still 1 -1 at the end of extra-time.  After the standard five penalties, it was 3 -3, and then sadly we missed the next penalty to mean Oakwood taking the match.  The game was incredibly exciting with the boys being a credit to their School.  Bad luck boys, and thank you Mr Terrell for supporting them throughout the season. 

The GCE and GCSE examinations began yesterday and will be with us for the next six weeks.  Timings of the school day are different because of the examinations and it always takes a few days to get used to them.  With lunch being an hour earlier I am sure there will be some hungry students in the evening when they return home!

Tonight after school there is a Full Staff Meeting which is providing me with an opportunity to speak to everyone about the coming months and years.  It is always this time to year when attention turns to the new year in September, and my words to the staff tonight will set out the next phase in MGS’s life.

On Friday I am in Birmingham attending the Grammar School Heads’ Association (GSHA) committee meeting.  I am standing to be a committee member of GSHA and this meeting on Friday is my first opportunity to support the workings of the association.  With grammar schools being encouraged to expand and the drive from the Government to increase the number, the work of GSHA is becoming even more relevant. 

Tuesday 9 May 2017

This week we say goodbye to Year 11 and Year 13.  GCSE and GCE examinations begin in earnest next Monday, so it is that time of year to let students of those two year groups begin their study leave.  Year 11 will go some time during the week, but Year 13 leave on Friday.  Year 13 Leavers’ Day is a very special day for everyone involved, particularly for the students as they move from being a Maidstonian to being an Old Maidstonian; there will be tears.  I would like to wish Year 11 and Year 13 success in their examinations, and thank Year 13 for their service to the School.

This week Year 12 will be completing their examinations, which, along with the AS examinations later in the month, provide an idea of how the students have progressed since September.  These examinations are vitally important as they form the basis of predicting the students’ UCAS grades later in the year.  Good luck to them all.

On Thursday last week two events took place.  The U15 football squad played Valley Park School in the Maidstone District U15 Final at the Gallagher Stadium.  The boys played really well, but sadly lost to Valley 3 – 2.  The boys were very disappointed not to bring back a win for the School, but throughout the game conducted themselves extremely well and were a credit to MGS.  And also on Thursday the Year 11 drama students performed their GCSE pieces to an external examiner.  The students had spent the last few weeks preparing for their assessments, and fingers crossed for some good results which won’t be known until August.

Today after school the U14 football squad play Oakwood Park Grammar School in the Maidstone District U14 Final at the Gallagher Stadium.  Good luck to the boys and let’s hope they can bring home a win.

Finally, congratulations to Matthew Piper of Year 12 who completed the Milton Keynes half marathon a week ago.  He finished it in a really good time of 1 hour 52 minutes and raised over £250 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.  He now has plans to run the Tonbridge half marathon later this year.  Well done Matthew.

Tuesday 2 May 2017

Good morning, I hope you all had a good bank holiday weekend; I could get used to these three day weekends and four day weeks!  This week is a relatively quiet one.  Tonight we welcome parents of Year 7 boys at the Year 7 Parents' Evening.  It is the first time parents of Year 7 boys have met their son's teachers, and I hope the feedback they receive is positive. 

Thank you to everyone who supported the Parents' Association’s non-uniform day on Friday.  Support from the Parents' Association is becoming increasingly important, and their non-uniform day is a really good example of an event that involves the entire student body supporting the School.  Thank you.

Tuesday 25 April 2017

This week is a much busier one than last week.  This evening I am attending the quarterly Old Maidstonian Committee meeting and tomorrow after school we welcome new parents and students who are joining MGS in September.  The event tomorrow is the Year 6 Welcome Evening; it is the event that we invite new members of the MGS community into the School to begin their journey as Maidstonians.  Also at that event the current School Captain, School Vice-Captain and Student Leadership Team relinquish their positions after undertaking them over the last year and invite the new team to take over.  Thank you again to Tom Lindsey, Joshua Gray and the Team for the last year and I look forward to working closely with Kristian, Lex and the new Team over the next 12 months.

Friday this week is the annual Parents' Association non-uniform day.  The day normally takes place in June to coincide with the Summer Fete but this year it is taking place in April just before the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.  The Parents' Association works incredibly hard to support the School and this non-uniform day is one of many events that raises money to help fund numerous projects around the School.

And finally, 4 RAF cadets, accompanied by Mr Parish, spent 10 days based at RAF Troodos in the Cypriot mountains along with 52 other cadets from all over the UK. While there they had official visits to most areas of RAF Akrotiri including the Sea Rescue helicopters, police dogs, explosive demonstrations, leadership exercises, air traffic control, DCCT range shooting, weapons demonstrations, meteorological office and the fire-fighting section. There were also more adventurous activities such as clay pigeon shooting, high/low ropes, swim tests and life raft demonstrations, dodgeball and other sports, laser tag and paintballing, and beach sports. To give you some context, RAF Akrotiri is a very active operational base where the RAF is conducting Operation Shader in Syria and Iraq, and RAF Troodos is the UK radar installation covering the Middle East.  Thank you to Mr Parish for accompanying the cadets.

Tuesday 18 April 2017

Welcome back everyone; I hope you all had a good and well-rested holiday.  Today we embark on the final term of the year, and this first week is a relatively quiet one, to ease us back into things, but the new term sees the very important examination season begin. Students from Years 11 to 13 are completing GCSE and A Level exams in May and June and I am hoping that they have already started with their revision! There are now only four weeks until the exams begin so many students will be knuckling down to prepare for them.  Good luck to everyone involved.

Before the holiday we enjoyed a week of Old Maidstonian events. Last year's leavers returned to receive their A Level certificates; the 1st XV played the Old Maidstonians at rugby and beat them 40 - 0; and nearly 100 former students attended the Old Maidstonian Society Supper. This last event took place on the last day of term and was presided over by the then president of the society, Neil Turrell.  His presidency came to an end at the supper and we welcomed Sam Coppard, School Captain 2011 - 2012, to take on the role for the coming year.  The supper was a lovely occasion, and I thank all the students, parents and staff members who attended and supported the event.

A lot of work has taken place over the holiday, particularly to the premises: new flooring and carpet in Reception and Lobby, new lights in the Quad, new gold curtains now hang in the Big Hall, a number of areas of the school have been painted, and progress has continued with the building project.  Thank you to all of the staff who continued their work over these last two weeks which included a number of crucial revision classes for the older students.

Many congratulations to Maxim Bragin of 7H who competed for Kent at the South East Schools' Inter-Counties U13 & U14 Cross-Country Championships at the end of March. The competition was very tough indeed with Maxim coming 49^th out of 80 and 10^th out of 16 in the Kent Team.  Well done Maxim.

Over the first weekend of the Easter holiday, the Army Section took part in the Cadet Cambrian Patrol in the Brecon Beacons.  This is a national competition with 22 Army sections selected from all over the UK. The cadets spent 13 hours navigating 30 km, over arduous terrain in typically challenging Welsh weather.  On route they had to complete 7 military tasks, ranging from first aid to a sniper stalk. This was the first time that MGS entered the competition and the months of preparation was rewarded with a Bronze Medal.  

Enjoy the first week back.