8 December 2020

I am so pleased to be writing this blog with students back in school.  Last Wednesday was an extremely challenging day, and once again I am really sorry that I had to close the school for the majority of the students for the rest of that week.  Yesterday we were able to welcome back three year groups, and by the end of the week we will have everyone back.  It is always good to be in students’ company.

Yesterday, students in Year 11 completed their CAG exams and so return to normal school today.  Over the last six days the students in Year 11 have been exemplary – conducting themselves brilliantly and representing themselves and their school well.  The entire school community should be very proud to know we have a year group of fine Maidstonians.  Well done boys.

This week we host our first virtual parents’ evening. Parents of year 12 students will hopefully see and hear their child’s teachers via the internet, and at the same time hear some positive feedback.  Let us hope it all works!

On Friday we will be holding our annual You Can Help Christmas Appeal Charity Day where we ask students to bring in non-perishable food items to support the homeless.  Despite the difficult circumstance we are all in we still wish to continue to support this worthwhile charity, and so the day is still going ahead. It will be the usual non-uniform day, and we ask that students pay £1 for the privilege.  Friday is also National Christmas Jumper Day so students are welcome to wear a Christmas jumper to school.

Headmaster's Blog - 1 December 2020

This week we welcome year 11 students back from their self-isolation and study leave period to complete, what we are calling, their Year 11 CAG examinations.  These examinations will not only be the first real test for Year 11 following the long period of lockdown, they will also act as a big piece of evidence that we may use if we are in a similar position as this year.  Good luck boys.  It is nice to have you back.

Last Friday, Jon Sopel, the BBC North America Correspondent was involved in a video-call from Washington D.C. with three of our students. Jon Sopel is internationally-renowned; he has recently been covering the U.S. Election, making visits to the White House, and appears on TV regularly. He has interviewed the President on numerous occasions and is also the author of two brilliant books. Chris Haywood, Ellie Breeze and Liam Turner, all of Year 13, enjoyed asking questions on the students’ behalf, with their call being recorded and later broadcast to the rest of the school at a later date. This was an amazing opportunity for all, and thank you to the students who made all of the arrangements.