HT Blog – Tuesday 4 November 2025

 

Before looking ahead to the week to come, I would like to begin by expressing my sincere thanks to Mrs Hudson, the MGS Parents’ Association, staff, students, and friends of the school who helped to organise and support the MGS PA Fireworks Display. Thankfully, the weather held, allowing the large crowd from both the school and the wider community to enjoy a truly spectacular evening of fireworks and celebration.

The weekend also saw our rugby squads take part in the annual fixtures against The Judd School. Beginning on Friday with the U12 and 1st XV matches, all of our players rose to the occasion, demonstrating great determination and teamwork against one of the strongest rugby schools in Kent. Well done to every player for their effort, commitment, and sportsmanship on the pitch.

After a particularly busy week, the coming days will be somewhat quieter. Our Year 11 students are spending their final week in lessons before beginning their GCSE mock examinations next week, while our CCF cadets are preparing to represent the school at the Remembrance Sunday Parade in Maidstone town centre this weekend.

With a little more calm in the school calendar, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight our social media channels, where we regularly share updates, stories, and achievements from across the MGS community. Our newly established Development and Alumni Office has been posting a range of interesting features that we hope our wider community will enjoy. One of these is ‘Throwback Thursday’, a weekly post designed to take Old Maidstonians on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.  Do take a moment to follow our social media platforms to stay connected with all that is happening at MGS - past and present.

HT Blog – Tuesday 28 October 2025

 

Welcome back to school and to the start of Term 2. I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable half-term break.

Before we look ahead, I want to take a moment to thank the hundreds of students and staff who supported our 11+ Open Evening - the largest event in the school calendar. We were delighted to welcome over 850 visitors to MGS, all of whom had the chance to experience our school in action and witness first-hand the pride we all share in being part of this community. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many guests expressing a strong desire to be associated with the school in the future.

I am proud to acknowledge Mr Rai and Rafael in Year 12 of College House, who were both honoured with a Lord Lieutenant Award last week in recognition of their outstanding service and contributions to the CCF.  I had the pleasure of attending the award ceremony and witnessing their achievements being formally recognised.  Well done to both Mr Rai and Rafael on this well-deserved honour.

As we move into this eight-week term, we face the seasonal challenges of darker evenings and colder days - but also the promise of many exciting opportunities and highlights.

This week alone is filled with key events that showcase the talent, commitment, and spirit of MGS. On Wednesday, our musicians and performers will take to the stage in the Autumn Showcase, celebrating the musical and dramatic talents of our students. Then on Friday evening, the 1st XV Rugby Squad travels to Tonbridge to take on The Judd School in what is always a competitive and eagerly anticipated fixture.

To round off the week, our annual MGS Firework Display will take place on Saturday evening, led by our fantastic Parents’ Association. This much-loved event brings together thousands from across the school and wider community to enjoy an evening of entertainment and spectacular fireworks. Gates open at 5pm, with the display starting at 7pm. Tickets are still available, and we look forward to seeing many of you there.

Alongside these events, we are also beginning to support Year 11 students as they start to look ahead and plan for life beyond GCSEs. Yesterday, we welcomed parents and carers into school for an evening of guidance and discussion around the important decisions that lie ahead. This continues today with our A Level Subject Fair, giving students the opportunity to meet with teachers and subject specialists to explore their options and make informed choices about their future pathways.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the remarkable growth of girls’ sport at MGS. Thanks to the energy and commitment of Mrs Coveney, Miss Dimmick, Miss Chesterton and the wider PE department, girls’ sport is now one of the fastest-growing areas in school life. Just before half term, two of our netball teams competed in a tournament against Gravesend Grammar School, and this week our girls' rugby squad will take part in a competitive fixture. Plans are also underway to introduce volleyball and badminton as part of our expanding Girls’ Sport Programme. A huge thank you to the students who are embracing these opportunities, and to the staff who are making them possible.

HT Blog – Tuesday 14 October 2025

 

It is hard to believe that I am writing the final blog of Term 1—where has the time gone? It feels as though we only just returned from the summer holidays, and yet we are already heading into the October Half Term break.

This week, we have continued to welcome the wider community through our doors, with both our Open Morning and Open Evening events taking place. On Thursday evening, over 400 of our students will be involved in guiding visitors and sharing their experiences of life at MGS. Open Evening is always a highlight of the school year—an opportunity for us to come together and celebrate everything that makes our school so special. It is a day when we can all feel truly proud to be part of MGS.

Our Year 7 trips to Waterstones also continue this week, made possible thanks to the generous support of the Parents’ Association. Their donation has allowed us to buy every Year 7 student a brand-new book. I had the pleasure of accompanying one of the classes last week, and it was a real joy to see their excitement on the walk into town and to hear their thoughtful conversations as they chose their books. A heartfelt thank you to the Parents’ Association for making this experience possible.

In sporting news, our senior rugby squads are enjoying a strong run of form after a challenging start to the season. They have recorded excellent wins over Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School and Cranbrook School in recent days. Let us hope their success continues through the rest of the season—momentum is a powerful thing!

This week also marked an exciting milestone for our Year 7 students, who received their new digital devices as part of our Digital Device Scheme. Every student joining MGS is now issued with a device to enhance their learning and prepare them for future online assessments. With both Year 7 and Year 8 now equipped, we are already seeing the impact this technology is having on classroom learning and teaching.

Finally, I wish to congratulate Harry of Year 10 and College House who won Cadets’ Cadet and the award for NCO Junior Corporal for the Year at an RAF cadet competition at the weekend.  Well done, Harry.

Wishing all our students, staff, and families a restful and enjoyable half term break

 

HT Blog – Tuesday 7 October 2025

 

I would like to begin this week by extending my sincere thanks to the staff, parents, and friends of the school who helped organise and support last week’s Year 7 trip to Bewl Water. I had the pleasure of joining one of the groups for the day—and what a day it was! Glorious sunshine, water-based adventures, and even some surprisingly good axe-throwing skills on display made for a brilliant experience. It was a fantastic opportunity for our newest students to bond and build memories. Thank you to everyone involved in making it such a success.

Congratulations are also in order for our Netball Squad, who played their first competitive fixture of the season last Wednesday—and won in style, beating Mascalls School 29–11. A huge well done to the team, and many thanks to Miss Dimmick and Mrs Coveney for their expert coaching and support.

This week marks the beginning of an exciting fortnight at MGS, as we welcome prospective students and their families for our Year 5 and 6 Open Mornings. Today’s event is the first of several opportunities for visitors to explore our school, meet our staff and students, and get a sense of what life is like at MGS. Our Year 7 students—still only five weeks into their time with us—will be acting as tour guides, proudly showing off their school with confidence and enthusiasm. If previous years are anything to go by, we are expecting a lively and inspiring morning.

Finally, we are looking forward to our first Band Evening of the academic year, taking place this Friday. These events have quickly become highlights in the school calendar, with many of our talented musicians keen to perform on stage in front of their peers. A huge thank you to Mr Martin for once again organising what promises to be an exciting and memorable evening.

HT Blog – Tuesday 30 September 2025

 

I would like to begin this week’s blog by extending my sincere thanks to Barton House and Mrs Rees for organising last Friday’s Macmillan Coffee Morning. The Big Hall was buzzing with students, staff, parents, and friends of MGS – all coming together to support a fantastic cause over tea, coffee, and cake. It was wonderful to see the school community in full force, and I am pleased to share that we raised around £2000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Last week also saw a fantastic opportunity for our Classics students, who attended a conference at Wycombe Abbey. Joining over 200 other young Classicists, they enjoyed a series of lectures delivered by leading academics from Oxford and Cambridge. It was an inspiring and enriching experience, and I am very grateful to the Classics Department for making this happen.

This week, our Year 7 students are heading off for their induction trip to Bewl Water. This outing, now a much-loved part of our Year 7 programme, provides students with a chance to build friendships, strengthen bonds, and simply enjoy time together outside the classroom. A huge thank you to the staff involved in organising and accompanying the trip.

Continuing the focus on our newest Maidstonians, we are looking forward to welcoming Year 7 families into school this Thursday for our annual Year 7 Welcome Evening. This event offers parents and carers the chance to meet form tutors, hear from key staff, and learn more about the year ahead. One of the highlights of the evening is the student-led tour of the school – a real ‘show and tell’ moment where pupils proudly share their new environment with their families. It is always a lovely evening, and we are excited to see many there.

Looking ahead to Friday, we are thrilled to be hosting author and illustrator Curtis Jobling, as part of both our Literacy Programme and the Maidstone Literary Festival. Best known as the creator of Bob the Builder, Curtis will be spending time with Year 8, sharing insights into his career and creative process. We are certain it will be a memorable and inspiring visit for our students.

Finally, a big congratulations to some of our sports teams. The 1st XV Rugby Squad secured an emphatic 76–0 win over Oakwood Park Grammar School, while the 1st XI Football Squad triumphed 3–0 against Rainham Mark Grammar School – both in national cup competitions. Special recognition also goes to our U15 Rugby Squad, who remain unbeaten this academic year. A brilliant effort from all involved.

HT Blog – Tuesday 23 September 2025

 

HT Blog – Tuesday 23 September 2025

I would like to begin by extending my sincere thanks to everyone who attended and helped organise last week’s Higher Education Fair. With over 1,500 visitors exploring the school site and engaging with representatives from more than 50 universities, the event was a tremendous success. It was especially rewarding to welcome students not only from our own school but from over 15 local schools, all eager to explore their aspirations and future pathways.

After a particularly busy few weeks, this one brings a slightly steadier pace. The highlight will undoubtedly be our annual Macmillan Coffee Morning on Friday. This long-standing tradition is a much-valued opportunity for our school community to come together in support of a vital cause. Sharing a cup of tea and a slice of cake may seem simple, but it speaks volumes about the spirit and generosity of our community. It is always a popular and well-supported event.

On the sporting front, congratulations go to our 1st XI Football Squad, who delivered an impressive 5–0 victory against Queen Elizabeth Grammar School last Wednesday. This week, attention turns to rugby as our 1st XV Rugby Squad faces Oakwood Park Grammar School in the second round of the National Vase. It is an important fixture—not only in terms of progression in the competition but also as we look to maintain a clean sheet against our local (and friendly) rivals. Best of luck to all involved.

In other news, the CCF has made a fantastic start to the new school year. We are delighted to welcome 70 new recruits to the contingent, and we are pleased to announce that a parent has joined the RAF Section as an adult volunteer. At the recent Cadet Skill at Arms Meeting, the Army Section shooting team performed exceptionally well, earning a Silver medal in the Fire Control Assessment and a Bronze in the Advance to Contact shoot. Congratulations also go to Staff Sergeant Rist, who has been appointed one of the Lord Lieutenant of Kent’s Cadets for this academic year. In October, Lt Rai will be presented with the Lord Lieutenant’s Meritorious Service Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the CCF.

HT Blog – Tuesday 16 September 2025

 

HT Blog – Tuesday 16 September 2025

I would like to begin this week’s blog by extending my heartfelt thanks to the entire school community for their support, patience, and understanding during what was undoubtedly a challenging time last week. With a significant number of staff absent due to illness, our ability to deliver the usual Maidstonian experience was tested. However, thanks to the unwavering support of my colleagues and the resilience and maturity shown by our students, we navigated the week with strength and grace. It truly became a moment of pride for our school. Thank you all.

A special congratulation goes to our senior rugby and football squads, who started their respective seasons with excellent performances. The 1st XV triumphed over St Lawrence College with a 34–8 victory, the 1st XI secured a 3–1 win against Oakwood Park Grammar School, and the 2nd XI impressed with a 9–2 result against Simon Langton Grammar School. Well done to all involved – a great start to the sporting year.

Now in our third week of the new academic year, the rhythm of school life has returned. Lessons are in full flow, our extra-curricular programme is up and running, and students have once again embraced the spirit of the Maidstonian community. It is genuinely uplifting to see school life return to its usual, vibrant routine.

Looking ahead, we are once again excited to host our annual Higher Education Fair this Wednesday. We will be welcoming over 1,000 visitors to the school as they explore the Big Hall and corridors, engaging with representatives from a wide range of universities and higher education institutions. This event is a cornerstone of our careers provision, and I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the Careers Team for their outstanding work in organising it.

HT Blog – Tuesday 2 September 2025

 

HT Blog – Tuesday 2 September 2025

I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the start of the new academic year—and to my first blog post. I hope everyone who was able to take a break over the summer had a restful and enjoyable time with family and friends.

We return this week following an exceptional set of public examination results. These were the strongest outcomes the school has achieved outside of the COVID years, and they are a testament to the dedication and hard work of both our students and staff. My sincere congratulations to all involved.

This week, we are welcoming students back in a staggered manner. Today we greet Years 7, 12 and 13, while the remaining year groups will join us from Wednesday. Weather permitting, we are planning a whole-school assembly in the Quad on Wednesday morning—a valued tradition and a wonderful opportunity for our entire community to come together and celebrate being Maidstonians once more. It is always a joy to see the whole school gathered in one place.

In addition to our returning students—and the many new students beginning their journey with us—we are also pleased to welcome 15 new members of staff across various departments. We look forward to getting to know them and hope they find MGS to be a warm and rewarding place to work.

At the end of this first week, we look forward to celebrating Upper School Speech Day. This is always a highlight of the school calendar, offering one final opportunity to come together with our outgoing Year 13 cohort before they move on to new adventures. This year’s guest of honour is Old Maidstonian and former School Captain, Chris Boobier, who left MGS 20 years ago. We are delighted to welcome him back as he presents awards to our senior students.

Finally, I would like to offer our congratulations to Old Maidstonian Jacob Safa, who has recently signed a professional football contract with Charlton Athletic. Jacob was an exceptional footballer during his time at MGS and an outstanding member of the school community. We are immensely proud of his achievement.

Wishing you all a successful and positive start to the term

HT Blog – Tuesday 15 July 2025

 

HT Blog – Tuesday 15 July 2025

As we approach the final days of the 2024–25 academic year, it’s hard to believe how quickly the time has flown. This has been another challenging yet remarkable year in the life of MGS, and with the summer holidays now in sight, a well-earned rest awaits us all before we begin afresh in September.

But before we officially wrap up the year, we still have one more important and eventful week ahead.

Our final week is a little different from the usual. With lessons set aside, we enter Enrichment Week—a time for students to step outside their normal timetables and take part in a range of exciting, diverse activities designed to broaden their horizons and spark new interests. Alongside this, we’ll also enjoy our festival-style Sports Day, our traditional Founders’ Day Service and Lower School Speech Day, and the Biennial Inspection of the CCF led by Brigadier Lamb. It may be the last week of term, but it certainly won't be a quiet one!

As is customary at this time of year, we also take a moment to say goodbye and thank you to some much-valued members of staff who are moving on: Mr Sharp (Design & Technology) has made a strong impression in his single year with us. He now moves into an exciting new role at the Rochester Bridge Trust, continuing his journey in education beyond the classroom. Mr Knight, who returned to support the English Department this year, now resumes his well-earned retirement. His guidance and experience have been much appreciated. Mrs Handley, from our Finance Team, departs after an extraordinary 19 years of service. Her meticulous approach to school budgeting has kept us on track—and we are deeply grateful. Mrs Van Mol, also retiring after 19 years at MGS (and an incredible 49 years in education), has been a steadfast presence in our school community. Her legacy will be long remembered.

Mr Young, our Head of Computing and E-Learning Manager, retires after 27 years at MGS. Thanks to his vision and dedication, our Computing Department has become one of the best in the county—and arguably the country. His impact on generations of students is immeasurable. We thank each of them for their dedication and service. They leave behind not only a professional legacy but also warm memories, and we wish them all the very best for the future.

Before I sign off, I’d like to share a final piece of good news from the student community: Michael in Year 11 recently took part in the Rugby Americas North U19 Championship, where he not only scored two tries, but also earned a mention for Maidstone Grammar School from the commentators! A fantastic achievement—well done, Michael.

To everyone in the MGS community—students, staff, families, and friends—thank you for another incredible year. I wish you all a relaxing, refreshing, and well-deserved summer break.

See you in September.

HT Blog Tuesday 8 July 2025

 

HT Blog -Tuesday 8 July 2025

Hello there, Mr Hanratty here. Yesterday marked the start of Extended Learning Week for Year 7 to 9. ELW is a unique feature of our curriculum and a week many students and staff look forward to, with many arguing it is the best week of the year. This is because during ELW we suspend the normal timetable and provide learning and enrichment experiences that students wouldn’t normally experience through the formal curriculum, including residentials and trips.

Some of our popular activities include Basketball Camp, Chess, Debating, DT Soap Box (a high-energy, Grand Prix-style race where teams will put their soapboxes they’ve been building all week to the test), Golf Academy at Tudor Park Golf Club in Bearsted, Harry Potter Workshop at (of course) Harry Potter Studios, MGS Bake Off, Rowing, Special Effects Makeup, Water sports on St Andrews Lakes (very popular), and Wrestler Bootcamp where students meet real professional wrestlers, create their own wrestler persona, and take part in appropriate exercises that would one day make them ring-ready!

Many of the activities on offer run for 2 and a half days until tomorrow lunchtime, and then we have a reset for those students who have signed up for two 2.5-day activities. There are also 5-day activities such as golf, and of course trips - these include visits to France, Spain, and our CCF contingents travelling to different corners of the UK. We will update our social media over this week with many photos from the various trips and activities and will also publish a rundown of the week in our end of term newsletter.

And while speaking about end of term, next week is the final week of the academic year - and a busy one to end on. On Monday we will celebrate Founders’ Day with our annual service at All Saints Church in Maidstone. The school will walk to the church for the service in the morning and walk back in the afternoon to join our Lower School Speech Day, where subject prizes and top scholar awards will be awarded. The list of prize winners will be published in next week’s end of term newsletter.

On Wednesday we will hold our Sports Day (weather permitting, of course), and you can feel the excitement building amongst the students for this day - they say boys tend to have a competitive streak - well, you really see it when it comes to Sports Day. Like previous years, parents and carers are invited to come along for the day or part of it.

On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, we will be suspending the normal timetable for enrichment activities - similar to this week’s Extended Learning Week - but the focus is more academic in nature, with students given the opportunity to explore academic subjects they wouldn’t normally get exposed to. For example, Year 7 will take part in Film and Media workshops, and Year 10 will take part in Politics and Philosophy lessons.

While on the subject of Year 10, this year group, along with Year 12, are involved in work experience this week while everyone else takes part in ELW. Thank you to our Careers Team for supporting them in finding positions and thank you also to the many employers who have supported our work experience programme.

Finally, looking back at last week, Thursday was really a day of two bookends - with Year 6 Induction Day held during the school day and Year 13 Prom in the evening and night.

On Thursday we were pleased to welcome our soon-to-be Maidstonians from Year 6 to their Year 7 Induction Day with us. They took part in a carousel of activities and team building opportunities and joined the whole school for one of our assemblies in the Quad. We hope they enjoy their final weeks at primary school, have a great summer, and we look forward to welcoming them in September as our 477^th cohort.

And following the Induction Day, that night Year 13 celebrated the end of their MGS journey at their Prom at Leeds Castle. It was great to hear them speak so positively about their time at the school and their recent exam experience. Speeches, prize giving, and quizzes took place between a fantastic three course meal, with plenty of laughter, singing, and some questionable dance moves (including from staff!). A big thank you to the Prom Committee for organising and running such a successful event, and to Leeds Castle for hosting us. We look forward to seeing Year 13 again on A Level Results Day on the 14 August and hope they all have a wonderful summer in the meantime.

As we quickly now approach the end of term, I’m sure the Head will share his closing message with all you Constant Readers, but as I will not have the opportunity, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all an enjoyable summer with sunshine and laughs wherever you may be. I may write to you all again in the future through this blog, so until then, take care.