Tuesday 25 September 2018

CCF news first.  On Saturday 15th September, 12 cadets and 5 adults from the CCF took part in a range day to select the 8 best shots to represent the school at the Cadet Skill at Arms Meet.  On a glorious autumnal day, perfect for shooting, the cadets competed on a number of ranges, shooting at targets up to 300m away.  The competition was strong and at the end of a very long day, an MGS Army Team and an MGS Tri-service team were announced.  The CADSAM competition then took place over last weekend, on the military ranges in Pirbright. The two MGS teams were competing against 23 other teams from across the south east over 5 demanding shoots, in very wet and windy conditions.  Despite the appalling conditions the MGS teams shot very well and produced our best performance for a number of years.  MGS B narrowly lost to MGS A in the quarter final of the Falling Plate competition. MGS A went on to finish 4th, only missing out on a place in the final by one shot.  Congratulations to Staff Sergeant Owen who was awarded Gold Medal for the best overall shot in the urban combat match, achieving a perfect 100 score. 

 

Sadly, our first encounter with our friendly rivals, Oakwood Park Grammar School, ended in defeat.  The 2^nd XI football squad lost 5 – 2 last Wednesday.  The loss was even more of a thorn in the side as the match was played at home.  Maidstone Grammar School was a very quiet school the following day!  Much to work on already so early in the season! 

 

At the weekend the rugby squads took on Cranbrook School with mixed fortune.  The 1^st and 2^nd XV, U15A and U14B squads all won but the U15B and U14A squads sadly lost.  Thank you to the parents and players of all the home matches who stayed and enjoyed some refreshments in the pavilion afterwards. 

 

Congratulations to Amy Tate of Tonbridge House who took part in the Eventers Challenge at Blenheim Palace last week.  Amy had the best individual round out of 168 other riders and her team placed 14^th out if 42.  Well done Amy.  If there are any other students who wish to know more about eventing, then please do see her.

 

This week is a busy one.  Last night we welcomed parents of Year 9 students to attend the Year 9 Information Evening.  The evening provided an opportunity for parents and students to understand what can be expected in the year to come.

 

Tonight is the first full governing body meeting of the school year where we reflect on last year’s work and look forward to this year’s.  Straight after that meeting I have the pleasure in attending a function at Salomons Estate to watch William Hulme of Tonbridge House receive a Lord-Lieutenant Award from the Lord-Lieutenant himself, The Viscount De L’Isle MBE.  William is the head cadet in the army section of the CCF and had given tremendous service to the contingent for many years.  His recognition with this award is certainly well-deserved.

 

Tomorrow we open our doors to students across Maidstone who wish to attend our University and Higher Education Fair.  Over 50 universities and colleges across the entire country will be here providing information and literature about themselves and the numerous courses they offer.  This is the fifth year MGS is hosting such an event, and if the last four years are anything to go by, the event tomorrow will be extremely busy and informative to all who come.  Bring a large bag to take home all of the many prospectuses!

 

This Friday is a very important date in the MGS calendar; it is the Macmillan Coffee Morning.  Each year we acknowledge the event by holding our own ‘coffee’ morning, and it is always very well supported.  Over the last couple of years we have opened our doors to the wider community and a number of parents and Old Maidstonians have joined us over a cup of coffee and a slice of cake.  If you are able to please do join us from 10.30am on Friday.

 

Tuesday 18 September 2018

The weather held at the end of last week allowing us to have our Upper School Speech Day outside in the Quad.  It was another wonderful occasion acknowledging the successes of the senior students from the 2017-18 academic year.  We wish the out-going Year 13 best wishes with the next phase of their lives.  As well as this event we were also able to walk down to All Saints Church in the morning for the Beginning of Year Service.  Many thanks to Canon Sewell for leading the service.

 

At the weekend a number of the rugby squads played their first fixture of the new year against Gravesend Grammar School.  The 1^st XV squad was at home with the U15s, U14s and U13s away.  All the squads returned to school with a win.  Well done boys.  With a squad playing at home it allowed us to utilise our new pavilion.  Being able to serve tea and coffee along with some light refreshments just added to the occasion.  It is hoped that with more teams playing at home in future more parents will enjoy the facilities. 

 

Throughout this week Year 13 students will be having their academic interviews with their form tutors.  It is at this time of year when Year 13 students make their final preparations with their university application or begin to consider more about life beyond the school gates.  These meetings particularly help tutors finalise their tutees’ UCAS references.

 

Wednesday is Photo Day.  Each year every student in the school has their photograph taken.  This provides an opportunity for parents to purchase a photograph to put in the family album, and also allows us to update our school management information system.  Alongside individual photographs each form will have one as well.  With forms being vertical it is always pleasing to see a picture of different aged students together; it reminds us of how within the school community there are much smaller communities where relationships are forming.

 

Finally, congratulations to Old Maidstonians Connor Watson and Max Green who both left in the summer and who both completed their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards.  Well done, gents.

 

Tuesday 11 September 2018

It has been a good first week.  Everyone has settled into the new year well and we are all enjoying the freedom we now have moving around the school site following the completion of all the building works.  Space!  As for the new buildings, they are already making a big impact.  Thank you again to the contractors for completing them on time and to such a high spec.

 

The process of looking to next year’s September intake began at the weekend when we welcomed a number of Year 6 students into the school to complete the 11+ Kent Test.  It is that time of the year when students aspirational for a grammar school place sit the Kent Test and very soon afterwards we will be having our open mornings and evening inviting interested boys and their families into MGS to see what we do.

 

Also at the weekend the senior rugby squad enjoyed a day of team building exercises before beginning the season this coming weekend against Gravesend Grammar School.  We look forward to the year ahead.

 

Despite it only being the second week of term this week is a busy one.  Last night the Extended Senior Leadership Team had their first meeting which was followed by the first Parents’ Association meeting of the year.  Today, teaching staff remain after school for their first twilight training session.  This year’s focus is the development of ‘Teaching Tuesdays’ which hopefully will provide an impetus for teaching staff to try new and exciting things in their classrooms. 

 

Tomorrow evening we welcome parents of Year 12 into the school to attend the Year 12 Information Evening.  It will be chance to set out our stall and share with everyone what they can expect from us over the next two years.  And Friday is our annual Beginning of Year Church Service and Upper School Speech Day when we invite the outgoing Year 13 cohort back into school to receive recognition for the exam success and wish them well as they progress on to the next chapter of their lives.  It always makes for a wonderful occasion.

 

Finally, congratulations to Joseph Harmon of Tonbridge House.  Over the summer he successfully auditioned for a small role in a new TV series and then found himself on set filming alongside David Tennant. The new series is called “There She Goes” and will be aired later this year. Joseph plays the role of Jamie.  Do look out for it, and well done Joseph.

 

 

Tuesday 4 September 2018

Tuesday 4^th September 2018

 

Welcome back to a new school year; I hope you all have had a lovely holiday and well-deserved rest.  Here at school much has gone on during the summer holiday to prepare for the start of term.  The main focus of the holiday was to receive, issue and analyse the summer examination results, both A Level and GCSE.  I will be sharing more of the detail at next week’s Upper School Speech Day, but I am pleased to say that the overall picture was a good one; there were successes in a number of areas, and work to do in others.  We still aspire to do better, and so the developments that we started last year will continue during this year.  

 

As well as the examination results much work has gone on around the site, particularly getting the new science and computing building and new pavilion ready for students and staff use.  I am pleased to say they are fully operational from today.  At this point I wish to say thank you to all of the staff who continued their work during the six weeks’ holiday.  Without their support the school would not be as ready.  Thank you.

 

The start of a new year brings new faces: a new cohort of year 7 students; new students who join the sixth form in year 12; and the many new members of staff who join the staffing body.  We welcome them all and wish them many happy years ahead.  

 

A new year also brings new procedures.  I cannot explain everything in this blog, but you will have all hopefully seen the letter I sent out yesterday explaining our new position with mobile phones.  In addition to this change the students were informed today about our new procedures with homework which are going to support the changes we are making to our assessment arrangements.  Details of this will be shared with parents at the up-and-coming information evenings, but if you would like to know more please do make contact with your child’s form tutor.  Just like with the introduction of the new house structure last year, it always takes time for new procedures to bed down, but over the next few weeks and months your child will begin to see the impact of them.  

 

There is some good news to share already.  Congratulations to Finley Lodge of Corpus Christi House who took part in the KSI World Karate Championships in Stockholm during the last week of the school term.  Together with his three team mates from Kent/Birmingham, Finley became World Champion in the team kata event.  He also was very successful in his individual fighting event achieving a bronze medal, after narrowly missing out on a place in the final.  His next focus will be the European Championships in Lisbon in October next year.  Well done Finley.

 

Best wishes to all the students in these first few days of the new year.