HT Blog - Tuesday 17 December 2024

 

HT Blog - Tuesday 17 December 2024

Welcome to my last blog of not only 2024 but of Maidstone Grammar School’s 475^th birthday year.  Following the end of this term we officially leave the year of our 475^th birthday and begin a new one.  We have, together, been reminded of our special association we have for this school and the special connection we have with our fellow Maidstonians.  I hope Maidstone Grammar School has enjoyed its birthday year just as much as we have.

But before we say goodbye to 2024 there is still this week to finish.  On Friday last week, thanks to Tonbridge House, we all enjoyed the annual Christmas-themed Charity Day.  A variety of different activities took place throughout the day with a sum of just under £1700 being raised for Save the Children, well done to all involved in organising the day.  Following the day, a large crowd of Maidstonians gathered under the floodlights to watch the MGS Senior XI Football Squad play The Judd School in the National Cup.  The atmosphere was amazing - with the result going our way, beating The Judd School 3 – 0.  This means we are now one of 16 remaining teams still in the competition.  Huge congratulations to the Squad and thank you to Mr Hughes for guiding the players to reach this point.  Following the match the Big Hall was transformed into a festival venue as a number of musicians from across the staff and students took part in the Battle of the Bands event. Huge thanks to Mr Martin who not only performed with his band but organised the entire event.  It certainly was a good day to be a Maidstonian.

Also, at the weekend the last Saturday rugby fixture took place against Ravenswood School.  There were mixed fortunes across the different squads, but the 1^st XV managed to secure a win, beating Ravenswood School 7 – 5.  Well done to them.  Whilst our rugby players were out representing their school, the Navy cadets were spending the weekend at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth and a group of younger students travelled to Cologne to enjoy the Christmas market.  They all had a fantastic time and thank you to the staff who accompanied both trips.

This week many of the students and staff will be enjoying their Christmas lunch served by the staff of Cucina.  It is always a popular occasion, and with the sound of pulling crackers and the sight of paper hats, the meal is always well received.  Thank you to Cucina for preparing it for us.

Also, this week I deliver my last Christmas assembly to Tonbridge and Barton Houses.  Since last week I have been sharing with everyone my thoughts on the last term and saying goodbye to leaving staff as well as hearing from the School Captain and School Vice-Captain on their thoughts on the upcoming festive period. 

Finally, William in Year 11 and College House has just regained his title of National Junior Champion in the electric kart series Global Karting League for 2024. This meant that he has gained a fully funded place in the 2025 season.  Huge congratulations William.  

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and peaceful New Year.  See you in 2025.

HT Blog - Tuesday 10 December 2024

 

HT Blog - Tuesday 10 December 2024

Firstly, I must praise and give thanks to the brave rugby payers and staff who braved the dreadful conditions of Storm Darragh at the weekend.  Fortunately, I found shelter in the dug-out, but the players, coaches and referees all suffered the challenging conditions for the pride of their school.  A weekend we won’t quickly forget.

Yesterday we welcomed parents of Year 12 to attend our annual GCSE Certificate Presentation Afternoon.  It is an event where we issue Year 12 with their GCSE certificates and recognise their hard work and academic achievements from last year.  The students now need to look after them as those certificates will be needed in their futures.

Also yesterday, a number of parents spent an enjoyable evening together at the MGS Parents’ Association Christmas Wreath Making event.  At the start of the evening the school refectory floor was covered in Christmas-themed foliage, but by the end, every parent took away with them a hand-crafted wreath fit for any front door.  Thank you to the Parents’ Association and to Mrs Hudson for leading the event.

This week I begin delivering my Christmas assemblies to each house.  Over the next two weeks I will be speaking with each house and sharing with them my thoughts on the term that has passed and looking ahead to next year.  Joining me will be the School Captain and School Vice-Captain who will also share a few words of their own about the upcoming festivities.

On Friday this week we have three big events: the Christmas Jumper charity day led by Tonbridge House; the Band Evening; and the MGS vs. The Judd School 1^st XI football match as part of the National Cup.  The Christmas-themed charity day where we invite Maidstonians to wear a Christmas jumper has become a well-established event in the MGS calendar, but as well as the wearing of festive jumpers, this year a number of school bands (including a staff band) will be performing on stage in the Big Hall in front of an excitable audience.  Following the day, some of those same bands will be performing at our Band Evening to a larger audience of rock lovers; and just before that our senior football players take on The Judd School in the all-important match in the National Cup.  The match is at home and will be under the floodlights of the all-weather pitch, which always makes for an exciting event. Good luck to the players.

Huge congratulations to Dexter of Year 11 and Corpus Christi House who last week received the fantastic news that he has been selected for the GB Gymnastic Top Squad for 2025.  This is a wonderful opportunity for him to represent Great Britain!

Finally, well done to Tonbridge House who won the first Battle of the Houses Quiz that took place last Thursday.  100 house points go to them.  Thank you, Mr Holmes, for organising the event and acting as quizmaster. 

Tuesday 2 December 2024

 

HT Blog - Tuesday 2 December 2024

I cannot believe we have already reached the month of December.  The Christmas tree is up in the Big Hall, and we are beginning to make plans for the end of term.  But before we break for the Christmas holiday there are still three weeks to go.

This week Year 8 take part in two days of activities to begin thinking about what they might be interested in doing after they leave school.  I am sure, like me, the students have very little idea of what they want to do in the future, but the work they will be doing over these two days will help them consider what their strengths are and what they might like to study at GCSE.

Yesterday we welcomed again students and their families from outside MGS who are considering joining the school in the sixth form.  This open morning follows the two we had last week as well as the Post 16 Open Evening we had last Thursday.  At that evening event many people wandered the corridors of MGS to get an idea of what we do and how special it is being a Maidstonian.  Thank you to the many staff and students who shared their pride for their school with our guests.

On Thursday we are hosting a new house competition: Battle of the Houses Quiz.  Students across the four houses will be pipped against each other in a series of general knowledge rounds to see which house comes out on top.  Good luck to them all and thank you to the competitors for taking part and the staff for compiling the questions.

Tuesday 26 November 2024

 

HT Blog - Tuesday 26 November 2024

Following on from my comment in last week’s blog, I now am able to share the total raised at the recent BBC Children in Need charity day.  Putting together the non-uniform gate contributions, the cake sales, and the donations for the 24-hour sportathon, this year we raised a total of £2,415.72.  Huge congratulations to everyone and thank you again for everyone who took part. 

Congratulations to Dexter of Year 11 and Corpus Christi House who competed for England in the 2024 Artistic Gymnastics Austrian Future Cup.  Dexter performed brilliantly, securing silver in the Pommel and bronze in the Rings.  Well done Dexter.

Both last Wednesday and yesterday, MGS rugby squads took to the field to play Worth School in two National Cup matches.  The first match last Wednesday was another ‘under the floodlight’ game for the senior players.  Sadly, they lost 31 – 20, but they put up a really good fight to keep the scoreline close.  Yesterday the U15 players played the same school in their respective match, but this time away at the Worth School itself.  Sadly, we lost 17 – 12, but again, the fight and passion from the players, particularly near the end, was certainly something to see.

This week year 11 students return to normal lessons following their mock examinations but now have to wait a few weeks for them to be marked, moderated and graded.  Results will be released on Wednesday 18 December, so not too long to wait.

This week we also open our doors and welcome the wider MGS and Maidstone community to attend our Post 16 Opening Mornings and Post 16 Open Evening.  The mornings provide an opportunity to see the school at work, whereas the evening provides an opportunity to talk with students and staff about A-levels in more detail and to hear from key staff about what life is like for a Maidstonian.

On Wednesday we welcome the BBC to MGS to share their BBC Bitesize initiative with a group of students.  Over the course of the day students from across a number of different years will hear from representatives from the BBC about how BBC Bitesize can help, and how the BBC is funding new developments in how it supports education.  I am sure it will be interesting.  Also, on Wednesday the senior football squads play The Harvey Grammar School in their weekly fixture, which will be followed on Friday and Saturday with the rugby squads playing the always-strong Dartford Grammar School.  Good luck to all the footballers and rugby players.

Tuesday 19 November 2024

 

HT Blog - Tuesday 19 November 2024

Firstly, I would like to extend a huge thank you to the College Pastoral and Prefect Team for putting on last Friday’s Children in Need charity day.  What with the rowathon, the jumble sale, the cake sale, and guess the weight of a student, there was much for everyone to enjoy.  Alongside these, and the usual non-uniform gate collection, a number of staff and students also took part in a 24-hour sportathon which saw Mr Williams from Student Services play a variety of sports throughout the day and night.  Well done Mr Williams and thank you to everyone who supported him.

This week the Year 11 mock exams continue into their second week with many more exams still to complete.  Following numerous conversations with Year 11, the exams seem to have gone well so far with the usual ‘some good’ and ‘some not so good’ comments.  Continued good luck to Year 11.

Also, this week the entire student body will be shown the recently produced MGS 475 film that was commissioned last year to commemorate the school’s birthday year.  It was filmed and directed by Chris Haywood, Old Maidstonian and 2020-21 school captain, who back in April spent a week in school filming the school and interviewing numerous students and members of staff to capture life at MGS in 2024.  It is a beautifully crafted piece of film which I know will be received positively.

Three of our year 13 students Theo, Rafe and Emir recently took place in a coding competition completing the task in a sixth of the allocated time.  The organisers contacted the school to pass on their comments about the exceptional efficiency, combined with the quality of the students’ solutions, speaking volumes of the students’ technical capabilities and problem-solving acumen.  Thank you to these students for representing the school in such a positive way - a testament to the values of Maidstonians. 

Tuesday 12 November 2024

 

HT Blog - Tuesday 12 November 2024

Firstly, can I thank the staff and student helpers as well as Mrs Hudson and the MGS Parents’ Association for Saturday’s firework display.  This annual event has grown into one of the biggest community events MGS puts on, and it is with the help from everyone that allows it to go ahead.  The weather conditions were ideal for a November day, and with the food, music, and of course the fireworks themselves, it made for an enjoyable evening.  Thank you again, and thank you to everyone who came along to enjoy.

Also, I wish to acknowledge and congratulate both the 1^st and 2^nd XV rugby squads who played under the floodlights on Friday evening against Sutton Valence School.  Due to the fireworks and the need to set things up on the Saturday morning, it has become customary to play the annual fixture on the Friday night instead of the usual Saturday morning.  Both squads won their respective matches, and what made it more of an occasion, there was a large crowd of spectators who came along to watch. Thank you to those spectators and to the staff who made the evening a success.  As for the Saturday morning fixture, the U15 rugby squad also beat Sutton Valence School 17 – 14, which means we won all home matches against one of our closest schools.  Well done all.

This week the year 11 mock exams begin in earnest.  Over the next two weeks year 11 students will complete examinations in all of their subjects to provide them with a clear indication of how they have progressed and what they need to do in the coming months.  Good luck to them all.

Yesterday the MGS community came together to acknowledge the two-minutes silence at 11 o’clock to remember those fallen Old Maidstonians who lost their lives in conflict or who died during military service.  The theme for this year’s Remembrance Service was to remember those former students who died during WWII in Asia, particularly recognising Lieutenant Giovanni Arrigoni, who died in February 1944 serving in Burma.  Associated with this, I also wish to thank the 50 or so cadets and staff volunteers who represented MGS at the Remembrance Parade in Maidstone on Sunday. 

Also, yesterday four year 13 students took part in the south east regional heat of the English Speaking Union Schools Mace.  The students competed against St Edmunds School, Sutton Valence School and Dover Grammar School for Girls, and over four debates across the afternoon the MGS students successfully progressed to the next round.  Well done, and thank you Mr Andrews for accompanying them.

Today and Thursday, Year 7 and a few students from Year 12 are visiting Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire to understand more about what work went on there during the WWII.  This trip has been taking place for almost 10 years now, and it not only has an educational purpose, it also forms another occasion when our newest Maidstonians can get to know more of each other.  A huge thank you to Mr Gokool and Mrs Ridgeway for leading the trip.

Tuesday 5 November 2024

Welcome back to school and to the start of Term 2.  Here we are in November already, and whilst Americans vote in the US election, we begin the process of supporting year 11 students with their thoughts and ideas of life beyond GCSE.  Last night we welcomed parents of Year 11 to attend our Year 11 Information Evening: an evening where parents understand how we guide their children through the next couple of months as they consider what they want to do.  Part of that process are the upcoming Year 11 mock exams that start next week.  These mock exams will form part of what Year 11 will use to help them identify what their strengths are what they may wish to consider studying at A-level.  Good luck to Year 11 over the coming weeks.

On Saturday we can all look forward to enjoying a fine fireworks display put on by the MGS Parents’ Association.  Yes, this annual event always proves to be a popular one with many from the school and wider school community coming together to enjoy.  Thank you in advance to the many helpers who make the event possible, particularly Mrs Hudson, who continues to support MGS in her capacity as chairman of the Parents’ Association.

Finally, I would like to thank the many members of the school community who joined together just under two weeks ago at the 11+ Open Evening.  We opened our doors to the wider community on Thursday 25 October to welcome those potential Maidstonians and their families to see what life is like at MGS.  It was once again a very busy and popular evening with many positive comments being shared with us.  A huge thank you to the School Captain and School-Vice Captain for organising the prefects and many student helpers.