Tuesday 29 October 2019

Welcome to my first blog of Term 2.  I hope you all had an enjoyable half term and a well-deserved break.  

 

Firstly, I would like to thank the staff, the year 7 guides, the prefects and all the other student helpers who supported the school at the Year 6 Open Evening just before the half term break.  It was an extremely positive evening with many families and visitors attending.  Thank you all.

 

We return to school with a quiet week.  Tonight after work the staff have a meeting to reflect on the year so far and to look forward to what is to come.  Friday is the Post 16 Open Morning where we welcome year 11 students from other schools to see what we do before they decide whether they would like to make an application to join our sixth form.  And on Saturday we welcome the wider school community into the school to attend the annual MGS Parents’ Association Firework Display.  This event always proves to be popular one.  Advance tickets are available from the Bursary or they can be purchased on the gate.  Gates open at 5pm with the display starting at 7pm.  Do come along.

 

Finally, congratulations to Zachary Martin of Corpus Christi House CR2 who recently attend two international roller skating competitions as part of Team GB.  He competed internationally for the first time in September at the Cup of Europe in Roana Italy where he placed 7^th; and has just come back from the Hettange International in France where he placed 2^nd.  This follows Zac winning the Youth Men’s British Championship back in May this year.  Well done Zac.

Tuesday 15 October 2019

I cannot believe this is my last blog entry of Term 1 - where have the last seven weeks gone?!

 

Firstly, I wish to congratulate all of the rugby squads for their performances at the weekend.  This weekend’s fixtures were against Sir Joseph Williamson Mathematical School with all squads winning their respective matches.  Close games were the U15s and 2nd XV who narrowly won 22 - 21 and 10 - 7 respectively.  Well done to all the boys involved and many thanks to the members of staff who accompanied them.

 

Continuing the rugby theme, congratulations to the 1st XV squad who beat St Dunstan’s 64 - 5 last Wednesday in the National Bowl competition.  One more game and we progress from the regional level of the competition to the national one.  

 

This week is another busy one for the school and me.  Yesterday after school I attended the first Old Maidstonian Society committee meeting of the academic year and the Parents’ Association AGM.  Both the Old Maidstonian Society and the Parents’ Association do incredible work supporting the school raising money and providing opportunities for their members to socialise.  Events coming up in November are the annual PA Firework Display and the OM London Get-Together.  We look forward to welcoming many respective members.

 

Today I am going into London to attend the Grammar School Heads’ Association October Seminar and the annual House of Commons Reception.  These events provide excellent opportunities for networking as well as providing important training for grammar school heads.  Before going into London we held our second Year 6 Open Morning - inviting families into school to see if we are a choice for their sons for next September.

 

And on Thursday is our Year 6 Open Evening which is probably the most important event of the school year.  Every member of staff along with many hundreds of our students will be supporting their school during the evening putting on numerous subject exhibitions and displays advertising what we do here.  It always proves to be a busy occasion, but an incredibly rewarding one.

 

 

Tuesday 8 October 2019

HM Blog - Tuesday 8^th October 2019

 

Firstly, I would like to thank College House for arranging the first charity day of the academic year last Friday.  We saw many students and staff enjoying the College House Fete at break and lunch which was put on to raise money for the Maidstone charity Mind.  Early figures indicate a total of £2300 being raised.  Well done everyone.

 

Congratulations to the U12 rugby squads who beat Beths Grammar School at home at the weekend and to the U14 squad who won away.  What also added to a winning Saturday for MGS was the World Cup result of England beating Argentina 39 - 10.  With so many parents accompanying their boys we decided to show the World Cup match in the pavilion clubhouse.  Wins all round, a cuppa, and a bite to eat were all warmly received and all added to a good start to the weekend.

 

This week is a very busy one, with yesterday being the quietest.  Tomorrow we welcome parents of year 7 boys into the school to attend the Year 7 Welcome Evening.  It is an opportunity to explain in more detail what parents can expect over the coming months and years as they begin their relationship with us.  

 

On Wednesday we officially open the new War Memorial Library.  Author and Old Maidstonian Dan Abnett is the guest of honour, who will not only be opening the Library, but will also be running a workshop for a group of students.  Former students and staff, donors, and relatives of some of the fallen Old Maidstonians, along with current students, staff and governors, will all present.

 

On Thursday we not only will be welcoming Mark Fenton, CEO of the Grammar School Heads’ Association, to spend a day in school seeing what we do, we will also be enjoying some music and variety at the Performing Arts Autumn Showcase.  Do come along to the latter - performances start at 6.30pm.

 

And on Friday we open our doors to the wider community for the first Year 6 Open Morning.  That time of the year has come around when we look forward to next September and welcome families who are considering MGS as the school for their sons.  Year 7 guides will be providing tours, supported by senior prefects and staff who will be on hand to answer any questions.

Tuesday 1 October 2019

Firstly, I wish to apologise for having to postpone the whole school photograph last Wednesday due to the weather.  The whole school photograph is not just a photograph; it is an event in itself.  Seeing the whole school together is always a pleasure, but we will have to wait a little while longer.

 

However, last Wednesday was a good day for the school because the 1st XV rugby squad as well as the 1st and 2nd XI football squads all came back from away matches with wins.  The 1st XV rugby squad beat Oakwood Park Grammar School 40 - 0, and the 1st and 2nd XI football squads beat Dane Court Grammar School and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School 5 - 3 and 10 - 2 respectively.  Well done to all the players and thank you to the members of staff who accompanies them.

 

And I must thank everyone who came along to last Friday’s MacMillan coffee morning.  Once again the event was very well attended bringing together all members of the school community, and in the process raised £430.

 

This week we see a number of different events.  Tomorrow we welcome parents of Year 10 into school to attend the Year 10 Information Evening - an evening for parents to understand what can be expected for the coming year; on Thursday the Old Maidstonian Society annual quiz is taking place; and on Friday we see the first house charity day of the academic year led by College House.  Students and staff are planning a variety of events during the day to raise money and awareness for Maidstone Mind - a charity supporting people of Maidstone with mental health and wellbeing issues.  

 

Finally, congratulations to Beatrice Fury of Corpus Christi House who represented Kent Schools at the English Schools Race Walking Championships at Exeter at the weekend and came away as Senior Girls 5km Champion.  Well done to Beatrice.