Firstly, I would like to thank the
staff and students who supported last week’s Post 16 Open Evening. Nearly 500 Year 11 students from MGS and
surrounding schools visited us to see what we do in our sixth form. Despite it being incredibly busy it was an
extremely positive evening with many positive comments from visiting students
and their parents.
Congratulations to the students who
took part in the Mock Trial Competition on Saturday at Maidstone Crown
Court. This is the first time
Maidstonians have taken part in the competition for a long time so expectations
were somewhat realistic. I am pleased to
say though that the students have progressed into the national final beating
Skinners’ School, Mayfield Grammar and Tonbridge Girls Grammar along the
way. The final will take place later in
the year at the Old Bailey. Well done
all, and thank you Mr Ferguson for supporting them.
Also congratulations to the U13
rugby squad who last week beat Oakwood Park Grammar School 90 – 5, and to the 1st
XV senior squad who beat Chatham and Claredon Grammar School to progress into
the final regional round of the National Bowl Competition.
And finally, congratulations must go
to the junior cross country team who finished fifth in the South East English
Schools Cross Country Competition on Saturday. This was an event involving the
best teams from schools in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire and our students
beat the likes of Whitgift School, Hurstpierpoint, RGS Guildford, Dartford Grammar
and Sevenoaks School. There is now an
outside chance that the team will qualify for the English Schools Final in
Derbyshire next month. Well done boys.
Before looking ahead to this week I
would like to acknowledge the conduct of all of our students at last Friday’s
Remembrance Service. Parents should be
very proud to know that the entire school paused for two minutes during break
time to coincide with the two-minutes silence during the Service. It is pleasing to know that today’s
generation respect the concept of remembrance even in the digital world. Thank you to each and every Maidstonian. Thank
you also to the 73 cadets and five staff who took part in the Maidstone
Remembrance Service on Sunday.
This week is a busy one. Tomorrow afternoon we invite parents of year
12 students into the school to attend the GCSE Presentation Afternoon. Students from last year’s Year 11 will be
receiving their GCSE certificates to recognise their achievements following three
years of hard work. Congratulations to
everyone.
This Friday is the annual BBC
Children In Need Appeal and like every year we support the charity with a day
of fundraising events. The usual
non-uniform will be in place as well as the sale of cakes and a staff vs. students
Big Hall event. To help with
fundraising, the day before, on Thursday, the six senior prefects will join me
in rowing a marathon. I have foolishly
agreed to row a marathon on my own, alongside Jonah and Jack, the school
captain and school vice-captain, who will row one between them; and Ben, Zack,
Jasmine and Will, the four house captains, who will also be rowing one between
them. There are going to be some very
tired legs!
