This week I continue meeting each class from Year 7 to
year 10 to discuss with them a number of exciting changes that they will see
over the next few years. To date I have
spoken with 16 out of the 24 classes, and generally the response has been
positive. As I said in my letter to
parents about three weeks ago, parents will hear more about these changes at
the beginning of the academic year from September, but it is important that the
students themselves hear about the changes and be given an opportunity to ask
questions that I can then answer.
Understanding change is so important, and this is what these sessions
are intending to do. I will have
finished meeting all classes by the end of next week before Lower School Speech
Day. Despite the letter that was sent out last week regarding
today's industrial action by the NUT members, I wish to again express my
frustration with the action taken and the impact that it has created. Asking some students to remain at home and
having to cancel tonight's Year 10 Parents' Evening were decisions not taken
lightly but sadly were necessary. I am
continuing to discuss with staff how we can rectify the situation particularly with
regards the Parents' Evening, and should be in a position in the next few days
to inform parents of Year 10 how we are going to do this. Once again I deeply regret being in this
position; it is incredibly frustrating that our hands were somewhat tied.
About MGS
Welcome to the MGS Headteachers's Blog.
Tuesday, 5 July 2016
Tuesday 5 July 2016
Firstly I wish to apologise that I was unable to update
my blog last week; I was accompanying a group of students in the South of
France on the PGL water sports activity as part of Extended Learning Week. Since returning to school yesterday I have
heard nothing but positive comments from students and staff about their own
experiences last week. Once again we
have seen another successful Extended Learning Week, a week that so many
students and staff look forward to.
Seeing students from different year groups mix over an activity they
would not normally do is a delight. The
week is incredibly tiring and a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to ensure
its success, but it is all worth it.
Thank you to everyone who took part, particularly to the former students
and parents who volunteered their time to support the week. During the same week Year 12 spent the time
taking part in some work experience; placements that they had organised
themselves. I hope the week was valuable
and helped shaped the many thoughts that students have in determining what they
want to do in their futures. School returns to some form of normality this week, but
with the end of term looming there are a few events that are coming up. Wednesday this week we see the outgoing Year
13 students attend their Leavers' Prom at Leeds Castle. It is the last chance that the year group
come together before they all disappear off for a well-deserved summer
break. We look forward to saying goodbye
to them tomorrow. As we say goodbye to one year group we say hello to
another. Thursday this week we welcome
the Year 6 boys who will be joining the School in September. They spend the entire day in school attending
the Year 6 Induction Day; an opportunity to meet their form tutor, meet new
friends, and see what is to come next year.
Part of that day is to attend the whole school assembly which is
poignant this year as we will be, as a school, acknowledging the 100th
Anniversary of the start of The Battle of the Somme. Over these four years from 2014 to 2018 we
are acknowledging key dates from WWI, and The Battle of the Somme is one of
those events. Sadly a number of Old
Maidstonians lost their lives during the battle and so it is right that we
properly remember them.