Tuesday 25 June 2019

Congratulations to Hamish Reilly of Corpus Christ House who, at the weekend, took part in the ETU European Youth Triathlon Championships.  On the Friday of the competition Hamish came through his semi-final in 3^rd place recording the fastest bike split of all 90 competitors.  In the final on the Saturday, Hamish again performed brilliantly to come home in 7^th place overall, and just 10 seconds off the podium positions. On the Sunday Hamish was part of the mixed team relay.  With 25 teams participating, it was very exciting as places kept changing.  Hamish was on the final leg, and successfully brought the team home in 6^th place.  Well done Hamish.

 

Congratulations to the Year 10 students who completed their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award assessed expedition at the weekend.  The good weather meant for some pleasant walks around the Kent countryside.  Well done boys and thank you to all of the staff who volunteered their time to support.

 

Well done and thank you to the Art and Performing Arts departments for putting on the annual Art Exhibition and Summer Production of Bugsy Malone.  Many students contributed both their work and their talents to help create three wonderful nights of creativity and performance.  Congratulations to the art prize-winners and all those who took part in the show.  And thank you to all of the staff who supported the students over these last few months.

 

Tomorrow is a busy day.  A group of students from years 8 and 10 are taking part in the Big Bang South East Science Competition, psychology students from Year 12 are visiting Maidstone Crown Court as part of their A-Level studies, and Year 13 students come in to school to return their textbooks and attend the Leavers’ Tea following the end of the public examinations. 

 

Friday is also another busy day as a number of CCF cadets are attending the Armed Forces Day National Event, and we welcome students from Year 11 and our visiting students to attend the Pre-Sixth Form Induction Day. 

Tuesday 18 June 2019

Despite the heavy rain for most of last week we were able to put out a full side of cricket against St Olaves School.  The U12s and U14s were at home, and the U13s and U15s were away.  Sadly, only the U14s won their game bowling the other side out for 90 after giving them a target of 117.  Well done boys.

 

Congratulations to Sam Ghinn of Barton House who, as well as revising hard for his GCSEs, competed at the South East Regional Gymnastics Championships this weekend and won.  He is now the U18 Regional Champion winning gold on high bar, vault and parallel bars and silver on pommel, rings and floor.  Fantastic news.  Well done Sam.

 

This week is another busy week for the school.

 

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week we put on three nights of the production Bugsy Malone.  For months students and staff have been preparing for the show, but there has been little evidence of custard pies being launched all over the place!  Let’s wait and see what happens on opening night.  The show starts at 7pm and tickets can be purchased from the Bursary.

 

Also this week the GCSE and A-Level Art Exhibition takes place.  To complement the production visitors will be able to enjoy three days of art work produced by our budding artists for their respective examinations.  The Art Exhibition is always something I enjoy going to.  The opening is on Wednesday and starts at 4pm.  Do come along.

 

At the weekend the year 10 students who have chosen to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award will complete their assessed expedition.  Up to 100 boys will be roaming the country lanes and footpaths of Kent hoping to get back to their start point.  Good luck to them all, thank you to the staff who will be supervising them, and fingers crossed for good weather.

Tuesday 11 June 2019

Firstly, I would like apologise for not being in a position for the school community to witness the D-Day Flypast last week.  The flypast was scheduled to fly over the school just after 2.30pm, but there was a delay with take-off that meant the planes did not reach Maidstone until just before 5pm.  Some staff and students though remained in school to enjoy the occasion which will be remembered for a long time, and thank you to the CCF led by Mr Parish who arranged a display on the field which we were able to catch on camera.

 

This week is a very busy one for the school.

 

Yesterday and today, I am out of school attending the Grammar School Heads’ Association annual conference.  It is a chance for grammar school headteachers across the country to meet up and discuss matters that affect our schools.  Guest Speaker this year is the Rt Hon Nick Gibb, MP who is the Schools Minister, and in fact an Old Maidstonian.

 

Today and tomorrow students from Year 12 are off normal timetable to undertake two days looking at matters that affect them.  Today’s focus is UCAS, higher education and the world of work; and tomorrow’s focus is on personal, social and health education.  We hope the students value the days.  At the end of tomorrow’s sessions, the students will be receiving their Year 12 UCAS examination results – results that will help them understand what they could achieve this time next year.  Following on from the day, parents of the students will be invited into school to attend the UCAS Information Evening.

 

On Thursday and Friday students from Year 10 who are studying geography will be visiting Reculver, just outside Herne Bay, to complete a day’s field work.  Let us hope they don’t come back sunburnt!  Also on Friday, some more students from Year 7 visit Bletchley Park, following a previous trip there back in December. 

Tuesday 4 June 2019

Welcome back to the final term of the school year; I hope you all had a good half term holiday and were able to enjoy the fine weather at the weekend.

 

Just before half term 12 year 8 students (two teams of six) took part in the National Institute of Engineering and Technology Competition. Congratulations to the team consisting of William Fletcher, David Ringelmann, Charles Stanley, Archie Coombe, Marc Venegas-Grau and Fraser Passmore who successfully won the competition.  Runners up were Mahrus Syed, Charlie Hilder, Sam French, Sonny Henley, Jack Creasy and Ali Shelley.  Well done boys.

 

A Level and GCSE examinations continue this week for our year 13 and year 11 students, but examinations for other year groups have now finished.  Three more weeks to go!

 

Yesterday was an additional day’s holiday for most of the school as staff completed a day’s training.  Much of the focus at this time of year is looking towards the next academic year, so staff were working on a number of areas we wish to further develop from September.  

 

Today, being the first real day of school following the holiday, sees the beginning of our House Teas.  Since the new vertical house structure was introduced we have been inviting year 6 boys and their parents in to enjoy an hour or so with us preparing for next year.  The boys get a chance to meet each other and their house teams whilst the parents enjoy a cuppa and a natter with senior staff.  The teas take place each afternoon for the rest of the week.

 

Today is also the launch of the 2019 Inter-House Photography Competition.  Once again students and staff have an opportunity to demonstrate their photography skills and enter the competition, with this year’s theme being Identity.  Good luck all.

 

Tomorrow is a very special day for the School as we will be able to watch the D-Day 75^th Anniversary flypast that is flying over Maidstone in the afternoon.  Over 40 planes are flying over to Normandy for the celebrations, and their route is taking them right over the School.  The entire school community will be out on the field watching.

 

And finally, this term also sees the beginning of our Quad assemblies.  With the weather usually being on our side, Quad assemblies are opportunities for the entire school to come together outside in the Quad.  Those members of staff who deliver the assemblies always enjoy being able to speak to the whole school outside in the fine weather in a beautiful part of the school.