Tuesday 26 February 2019

Welcome back to school; I hope you all had a good half term break and enjoyed the pleasant weather.  For years 11, 12 and 13 though, the February half term is the beginning of the next three to four months of hard work, revision and preparation before the examinations in the summer.  Good luck to them all.  Welcome back also to the students and staff who went on the Classics trip to Rome and the Rugby Tour to Italy.

 

Yesterday was certainly an eventful day and one that I have never experienced before.  Having to make the difficult decision to close the school due to no water was hopefully a one off.  Thank you very much for understanding the position we were in, but I am sure the students, despite returning after a week’s holiday, enjoyed the extra half day off.  Back to normality today.

 

Just before the half term break we all enjoyed the annual Inter-House Senior Rugby Competition.  Players from years 11, 12 and 13 came together to represent their house, hoping to achieve bragging rights for the next 12 months.  Regular school players were supported by their peers, some of whom had not played for some years, to put on six heavily contested games.  Congratulations to College House who won all of their games and a huge thank you to the players who took part.  True MGS spirit.

 

Tonight we welcome parents from across the school who wish to hear about the recent Ofsted inspection.  I will be joined by senior staff and governors, and will be answering any questions and hearing the thoughts of parents.  If you would still like to come please do let my PA, Mrs Friend, know.

 

On Thursday I drive to Coventry to attend the annual CCF Headteachers’ Briefing.  It is vital that headteachers of schools with CCFs have an opportunity to hear about developments and put forward points to ensure that the experiences the cadets get are good ones.

Tuesday 12 February 2019

I cannot believe we are almost halfway through the school year.  We continue to be busy with this week being no different.  Yesterday and today I am interviewing five candidates for the roles of School Captain and School Vice-Captain.  The shortlisted students are going through a rigorous process including presenting an assembly to a group of students, having lunch with senior staff, governors and Old Maidstonians, taking part in a group activity, and being interviewed by me and Mrs Sewell.  I hope to be able to announce the successful candidates after half term.  Good luck to them all.

 

Tomorrow we welcome parents of year 8 students to attend the Year 8 Parents’ Evening.  It is a chance for parents to hear how their sons are getting on particularly at this crucial stage when they are choosing to select what subjects they wish to study from next year.  We look forward to welcoming them tomorrow evening.

 

Later this week the Classics trip to Italy leaves taking students to Rome, Sorrento and Pompeii, and the senior rugby squad depart for the rugby tour to the same country.  Thank you in advance to the staff who are accompanying the students.  Stay safe everyone.

 

Finally, just a reminder to parents, if you wish to attend the Ofsted Q & A Parental Evening on Tuesday 26 February please email my PA, Mrs Friend, letting us know.  The evening starts at 7pm.

 

Have a lovely half term holiday.

 

Tuesday 5 February 2019

Thank you to the students and staff of Corpus Christi House who led the charity day last Friday.  Despite the damp and cold conditions fun was had by all, particularly at the main event at lunchtime where staff and students performed songs from the 1970s and 80s.  The rendition of Bon Jovi’s Living On A Prayer will certainly be remembered!  The total amount raised was just under £2,800 for Motor Neurone UK, which is the highest amount so far for any individual house charity day.  Well done everyone.

 

Friday was also the deadline for year 12 students to apply to be next year’s School Captain and School Vice-Captain.  At last night’s SLT meeting we shortlisted the applicants based on their letters of application, but also took into account the student and staff votes that took place yesterday.  Interviews for the two posts take place next week.  News of the two successful applicants will be shared by the end of next week.

 

This week is a busy one for senior staff as on Thursday and Friday we all are involved in interviewing perspective candidates for two assistant headteacher roles.  Following the announcement that Mrs Sewell, the deputy head, is retiring at the end of the academic year, there is now movement to appoint new faces to the senior team.  We look forward to meeting the candidates and hope to be successfully appointing two of them.

 

This Friday the Amnesty International Student Group is hosting a quiz night here at MGS.  Do come along.  It starts at 7pm and tickets can be purchased on the door.

 

Congratulations to the RAF cadets who took part in the Regional RAF Air Squadron Trophy Competition last weekend.  They won!  Winning the regional competition means they now go direct to the final in March as strong contenders.  Well done to the cadets and many thanks to Mr Moores and all of the RAF adult volunteers for supporting the cadets over these past months.