Tuesday 8 June 2021

Welcome back everyone to Term 6 and the final six weeks of the academic year; I hope you all had a good half term break and enjoyed the glorious weather.

The week begins with Year 12 having two days off timetable completing some essential work on the UCAS process as well as hearing about some key issues that affect teenagers and young adults.  In other parts of the school years 7, 8 and 9 begin the week completing end of year tests reviewing what they have learnt over the year and seeing what impact, if any, remote learning has had. 

In addition, on Friday we are having a non-uniform charity day to raise money and awareness for Lend with Care: a charity originating from CARE international UK which allows individuals to make small loans to individuals in developing countries so they can start their business and work their way out of poverty. It was founded in 2010 and so far, over 60,000 people have helped change the lives of those in need.  We look forward to having another charity day back at school.

Tuesday 25 May 2021

Friday last week we said goodbye to Year 13 and it was a probably the best leavers’ day in my lifetime at MGS.  Spirits amongst the year group were perfectly judged, and it was clear that the students will really miss us.  Thank you to the entire year group for being a very special bunch of people.  Good luck and best wishes to them all.

This week is a moment in the story of MGS where we turn over to a new chapter.  As we slowly progress out of lockdown and restrictions are lifted we are able to return to elements of the old MGS.  We have now gone back to a normal timetable with a single break and lunch, and now students move around the school for each of their lessons.  Measures are still in place to keep year groups in some form of bubbles, particularly during unstructured time, and students have been informed how they should move round the school in a sensible and safe manner, but the opportunity to see each other and appreciate that we are one small part in a much larger community is wonderful.

This week we also see our first ‘big event’ in the Hall to raise money for a charity we are supporting. “Lend with Care” is a charity originating from “CARE International UK”. It allows individuals to make small loans, starting at £15, to individuals in developing countries so they can start their business and work their way out of poverty.  Today we are staging a ‘Staff Wars’ event which will see staff pitted against each other in a number of different challenges.  My money is on Mr Hughes who is taking part in the Keepie Uppie Challenge against Mr Terrell.  I would like to thank the group of business studies students, led by Samantha Croucher of College House, who has organised the event. 

Tuesday 18 May 2021

This week is the last week for Year 13.  For many of them they have been at MGS for seven years, so Leavers’ Day on Friday will be a bitter-sweet occasion.  Before that though they have their final assessments to complete.  Good luck to them all, and I look forward to the Leavers’ Assembly on Friday where I am sure there will be tears.

This week we are also putting together the final touches to our new arrangements that will be in place from Monday 24 May.  From next Monday, we are adjusting a number of measures that we have had inn place all year to return the school to some form of normality.  Teachers will be teaching in their own classrooms, students will travel around the site to get to their lessons, and we go back to having a single break and single lunch during the day.  This is something to be looking forward to.

Congratulations to College House who won the first ever inter-house netball tournament.  Year 12 students took part in this high-spirited event which saw both boys and girls play together.  It is always fun watching the boys try and bring the rules of basketball into the game!  Thank you to Mr Hughes, Mr Highsted, Miss Wilson, Miss Dimmick and Mrs Coveney for supporting.

I wish to acknowledge the many students I see every day bring their cricket kit to school to take part in our after school cricket clubs.  Thanks to Mr Davies, Mr Calvert, Mr Rivers and Mr Johnston the profile of cricket has drastically increased across all age groups.  It is so good to see many students take part and see them using our new cricket nets alongside the all-weather.

Tuesday 11 May 2021

We start the week with one fewer year group in school.  Year 11 left last Friday after finishing all of their final assessments, and now they have gone the focus for the next two weeks will be on Year 13 and ensuring they do as well as they can in their final assessments.  This is their last push so good luck to them all.

Much of the work over the next couple of weeks will be to prepare the students and staff for Monday 24 May: the day when we return to our normal timetable and to when teachers teach in their own subject areas and classrooms.  Since September teachers have been moving around the school site, teaching their classes in year group zones.  But with fewer students in school from Monday 24 Monday we are going to be moving to a point where students move around the site and have their lessons taught in departmental areas. Certain precautionary measures will be put in place to minimise risk, but this is something we have been looking forward to for a while.  It illustrates a big step forward to normality.

Tuesday 4 May 2021

Firstly, welcome back following the long weekend.  The May Day Bank Holiday weekend has always been my favourite bank holiday weekend of the year, and with the good weather, particularly on Saturday, it made for a pleasant extra break in the middle of a busy term.

Last week we enjoyed the last three inter-house football tournaments for years 7, 8 and 9.  Like all of the others they were strongly contested and played in good spirits. Congratulations to Barton House for winning both A and B competitions in Year 9; to Corpus Christi and College houses in Year 8; and Corpus Christi and Barton houses in Year 7.  All of these results get plugged into the overall House Cup Competition that will be awarded at the end of the academic year.  Thank you once again to the PE Department and to Mr Highsted for overseeing the events.

This week we welcome back Year 13 for their last three weeks of school.  During that time they will complete essential final assessments in each of their subjects before jetting off for a long summer holiday.  The hard work is not yet over, but some light at the end of the tunnel is slowly becoming visible. 

We also say goodbye this week to Year 11 who have come to the end of their time at MGS (for the moment).  They will complete all assessments by Friday and then leave having 17 weeks of holiday ahead of them!  Use it wisely, boys.

Finally, Haydn Price of Year 13 will be doing a 1.4 mile open-water swim in the Bournemouth 'Pier to Pier' on Saturday 3 July.  Haydn has started training, and gratefully welcomes donations towards the British Heart Foundation here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/haydn-price1?experiments=b2c_054_show_hide_fitness_totaliser%2Cb2c_059_donate_to_yourself_v3&isMobile=true&successType=StaticDonateButtonClick

Tuesday 27 April 2021

 Firstly, I wish to thank the PE Department for staging a series of inter-house football tournaments over the past few weeks.  So far we have seen years 10 to 13 compete for their respective bragging rights, with this week seeing years 7 to 9 compete for theirs.  Congratulations to College House for winning both the A and B competitions in the Year 10 tournament, and to Tonbridge and Barton for winning the A and B competitions respectively in the Year 11 tournament.  Good luck to years 7, 8 and 9 this week.

Thank you and well done to the students of Year 10 who took part in some Duke of Edinburgh training at the weekend.  Spirits were high, as I am sure the boys were eager to be outside enjoying each other’s company after the year we have had, and the feedback from the duty staff was excellent.  Thank you to Ms Adams and Ms Alloy for organising the experience.

This week Year 13 continue with their mock exams, with Year 11 beginning to sit some of their final assessments.  I am sure at the moment there are a number of anxious students and parents out there - and we really do understand the pressures that everyone is going through - but the hard work will pay off and soon there will be a very long summer holiday to enjoy.  Good luck to all students taking any kind of assessment.

To begin recognising the eventual farewell to Year 13 the year group has its leavers’ photograph this week.  Tomorrow morning the entire year group will be smartly dressed and will stand together for the penultimate time.  The photograph will be treasured by many for years to come, so let us hope the weather is good for them.

And also this week the Year 7 Parents’ Evening takes place. Since September parent consultation evenings have been delivered online with great success, so let us hope that this time our Year 7 parents have a positive experience.

Tuesday 20 April 2021

Welcome back to school and to the start of Term 5; I hope you have all had a well-deserved break.  I hope the Easter break provided a chance to catch up with friends and family as well as provide an opportunity to enjoy elements of the lifting of some lockdown restrictions.  Sadly, on Friday 9 April we received the news of the death of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.  The Union Flag was flown at half-mast on top of the School Gatehouse throughout the eight-day period of mourning. Our thoughts have been with HM The Queen and the rest of The Royal Family during this very sad time.

We return to school this week with two weeks of exams for Year 13.  Just like the exams for Year 11 before the Easter break, these exams will form an important part of how we as a school assess the students for their final examination grade.  Best of luck to Year 13.  Year 13 now have only five weeks before they leave MGS.  Over that time they will complete these exams, complete any other final assessments that are required, and prepare themselves for their leavers’ day, which will be on Friday 21 May.  The last day for Year 13 is always an emotional day as many students form a connection to MGS that is very special.  Let us not wish those five weeks away!

To contrast, Year 11 have only three weeks remaining.  Their last weeks will also include any final assessments that are required as well as their own leavers’ day.  Many students from Year 11 will return to the sixth form, but after the year they have had, I am sure emotions will be high.  Year 11 leave on Friday 7 May.

Speaking of Year 11, today after school the Year 11 Inter-House Football Tournament takes place.  We have already seen years 12 and 13 complete theirs, so tonight it is Year 11’s chance to show us what they are made of.  Good luck to the players and thank you to the PE Department for arranging.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the English Department and Ms Wilson for leading on our Read to Succeed campaign.  The campaign’s main agenda is to promote the love of reading across the school - part of it being a number of members of staff videoing themselves talking about their favourite book or making a book recommendation to the students.  Thank you to the staff who have contributed and to Ms Wilson for leading on the campaign.

Tuesday 30 March 2021

It is incredible to think that we have reached the end of the Spring Term.  It started back on Monday 4 January, but that evening Boris Johnson made the announcement that we were to go back into lockdown and schooling would return to being delivered online.  Since then we have achieved so much – evolving and moving forward in what we have always perceived as being possible.  Despite the students only being back for four weeks, the Spring Term has come at a good point - we are all looking forward to having a well-deserved rest.  I wish to again thank the students, staff and parents for their ongoing support and appreciation during these challenging times.  Let us see what terms 5 and 6 bring!

Last week I had the great pleasure of interviewing the six shortlisted candidates for the School Captain and School Vice-Captain positions.  Being in the company of fine Maidstonians and hearing how they feel about their school is something I have really missed.  They were, and are, a credit to the School.  The two successful students will be announced at the final assembly on Thursday. 

Following the Comic Relief charity day on Friday 19 March, I thought you would all like to know that we raised an impressive £2484.29.  This is a fantastic amount and all credit to the prefects who organised the day.

Last Thursday and yesterday I enjoyed seeing a number of students and staff remain in school after the day to take part in some of our extra-curricular activities.  On Thursday last week about 70 year 7 students and six members of staff were enjoying playing cricket on the new all-weather pitch, and about 150 cadets and adult volunteers were taking part in the weekly CCF training programme.  And last night, nearly half of Year 12 took part in the Year 12 Inter-House Football Tournament.  It was so good seeing students being allowed to be children again – it has been a long time coming.  With the improving weather and lighter nights, it is hoped that more activities can take place after school bringing life back to the place. 

And finally, news of two recently successful Old Maidstonians: Oli Leyland (OM 2019) made his professional debut for London Broncos at the weekend and it was live on the BBC.  Oli was a fantastic rugby player when he played for MGS and it was always a matter of time before he made it professionally.  Well done Oli, and we look forward to seeing you play again in the near future.  And Andrew Rout (OM 2015) and his Warwick University team reached the final of University Challenge last week.  Andrew has captained the team throughout the entire series, and has pretty much led the way to reach the final.  Congratulations Andrew, and good luck in the final.

Tuesday 23 March 2021

Today’s date, March 23 2021, marks exactly one year since MGS went into its first lockdown.  Back on Friday 20 March 2020, I said goodbye to the entire school not knowing what the future would hold.  One year later, and after two significant lockdowns, life at MGS is still very different.  So much has happened over the last year, but overwhelming, I can say that it has been one of the proudest moments of my career, and I expect one of the proudest moments in the life of Maidstone Grammar School.  When the time came, we did right!

Looking specifically at the last two weeks of the last 12 months, I would like to thank the entire MGS Lateral Flow Test Team for the enormous efforts that were collectively given, particularly to the 28 parent volunteers who supported MGS at this very challenging time.  Testing over 1200 students, three times each, was no small task.  But, last Friday signalled the end of the school-based tests and the start of tests being carried out at home.  Our responsibility does not end there though.  The distribution of home test kits will now go on, and we will continue to be here responding to any positive cases and completing the process of tracking and tracing any contacts when required.

Outside of coronavirus matters, on Friday we saw the return of an MGS charity day: acknowledging the national Comic Relief campaign.  Students were once again enjoying being in school in non-uniform, buying Comic Relief-themed cakes, and taking part in numerous activities.  The highlight for me was listening to a group of year 11 students singing along to a Rick Astley song during our MGS FM broadcast.  A big thank you to the Year 13 Prefect Team who led the organisation, and thank you to everyone who supported the day.

Now some student news.  Two teams of Year 12 Business students recently competed in a national entrepreneurship competition hosted by Lancaster University Management School.  Up against schools from across the UK they presented their business plans, focusing on achieving their prescribed UN Sustainable Development Goals.  A tough group stage saw one MGS team knocked out, but the remaining group advanced to the final six, where they presented and answered questions from a panel of industry experts & university "entrepreneurs in residence."  A strong performance was not enough to win first place, but the team came away with the Student Choice Award for Best Presentation.  Well done to all participants, especially Sam Croucher and Euan Board, both of Year 12, for leading the two teams so effectively.

To end, and on the request of a few Year 13 students, I would like to share with you all my on-going chess game I am having with Mr Rivers, the Head of Sixth Form.  Over Christmas, I received a chess set as a present and so I set it up in my office.  On return to school on Monday 4 January, Mr Rivers walked into my office and decided to open up a game and so moved one of the white pawns forward.  Game on, I thought!  Since that point the two of us have been making, on average, one move each, per day.  Nine weeks later the game is still going on!  For those of you who are interested, I am up on points, have Mr Rivers in check, but still believe the game is equally poised.  One day we will finish it!

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 16 March 2021

I start this week’s blog by saying how pleasing it is to have all of the students back.  Over the course of last week we welcomed back year groups one-by-one, and by the time Thursday came we had everyone back.  The students were fantastic, and so I wish to thank them for appreciating the situation we were in.  They had to sit in the hall and wait for their Covid-19 test as well as waiting for the result – some were in there for a while.  Spirits were high, and it was so good hearing their conversation again.  By the end of the week we were able to begin the process of testing the students again for a second and subsequent third time; which will be continued during the rest of this week.  By Friday, those who have consented will have had three Covid-19 tests, and then the process of distributing tests to students to complete at home will begin. 

Last Tuesday will be a day that I remember for a long time.  With Year 13 back in school we were able to hold the inaugural inter-house football tournament on the all-weather pitch.  Despite the pitch being for all weathers (!) the weather last Tuesday was glorious.  After a year of disruption, it was so good watching nearly 80 Year 13 students run around together and, despite being young adults, were allowed to be children again.  It’s been a long time coming.  Congratulations to Barton House who won both the A and B competitions. 

At the weekend Ellie Breeze and Liam Turner competed in the national finals of the Oxford Union Debating Competition.  We can be so proud of them, as out of 128 teams, they came 30^th.  They did so well that they qualified for the novice final, and along the way they beat a number of prestigious private schools and colleges.  Well done Ellie and Liam.

Congratulations to Nicholas Cutbill of Year 7 who recently won the 3rd place cash prize in the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) ‘Paint Our Way To Peace' competition in the age 8-12 category.  The contest was open to anybody currently resident in the UK.  Well done to Nicholas.

This week Year 10 complete their long-awaited Year 10 exams.  These exams were supposed to take place back in January and form an important part of their GCSE studies.  Good luck to them all.  Next week it is the turn of Year 11 to sit their second set of mock exams, followed by Year 13 who will sit their mock exams after Easter.  Good luck to Year 10.