Tuesday 29 June 2021

This week each year group will compete an afternoon of sport to replace the annual School Sports Day.  Sadly, due to the restrictions, we are having to run five separate sporting events in order to keep year groups in their bubbles.  The students involved are taking part in rowing, volleyball, table tennis, Frisbee, handball and badminton.  All of the sports generate house points which will be added up at the end of the day to see which house has won their year group.  Good luck to all four houses.

Also this week, due to the restrictions, we are running three open mornings for those year 11 students from other schools who wish to join the MGS Sixth Form in September.  Sadly, we were not able to have them join our own year 11 students last week for the Pre Sixth Form Induction Week, so these open mornings will hopefully go some way in sharing to the students what we do here.  Our own students will be on hand to guide them around the school.

And finally, Simon Coppard (OM 2018) took part in the Olympic Trials last Friday in Manchester.  Simon is an outstanding athlete currently studying at Loughborough University, and throughout his time at MGS his main event was 1500m; and this was the event he ran in last Friday.  We could well be seeing him at a future Olympic Games. 

Tuesday 22 June 2021

At the start of this week we welcomed Year 11 back into school to attend the Sixth Form Induction Week.  All week the students will familiarise themselves with aspects of being in the sixth form: a number of A-Level lessons, some independent work in the school library, and some free time in the sixth form common room.  It is good having them back.

This week we also see the continuation of the Year 12 UCAS exams.  Speaking to a number of the students last week the exams seem to have gone well and they were happy with what they had written.  Results will be released in the coming weeks.

And finally, congratulations to Alfred Moison of Tonbridge House who has helped write ‘In Conversation With…’: a book that explores the world of Michelin chefs, fine dining and wine making.  This is so impressive as, not only is Alfred still a student at MGS, he is only in Year 7!  Well done Alfred, and I expect more is to come from you in the future.

Tuesday 15 June 2021

Firstly, I would like to thank Samantha Croucher of College House who led the organisation for last Friday’s charity day.  The aim of the day was to raise money and awareness for Lend with Care, a charity that provides loans for small businesses in the developing world.  Students arrived in non-uniform and were met by a sweet stall at the front gate.  Later, they all enjoyed buying ice lollies in the warm weather as well as perusing through a huge collection of donated books and DVDs.  It was lovely to see a number of students with an ice lolly in one hand and a selection of books in the other.  Well done Sam; and an extended thank you to the prefect team who supported her.

Also on Friday, the out-going senior CCF cadets enjoyed a formal meal in the school refectory to acknowledge their time, celebrate their efforts and thank the many adult volunteers who support the cadets week in, week out.  It was a pleasant affair in the cooling, evening sun. 

This week is the start of a two-week period where we see Year 12 sit their UCAS exams: a set of exams across all subjects which will help teaching staff predict their students their UCAS grades.  The year group has been working hard over recent weeks, so best of luck to them all.

Tuesday 8 June 2021

Welcome back everyone to Term 6 and the final six weeks of the academic year; I hope you all had a good half term break and enjoyed the glorious weather.

The week begins with Year 12 having two days off timetable completing some essential work on the UCAS process as well as hearing about some key issues that affect teenagers and young adults.  In other parts of the school years 7, 8 and 9 begin the week completing end of year tests reviewing what they have learnt over the year and seeing what impact, if any, remote learning has had. 

In addition, on Friday we are having a non-uniform charity day to raise money and awareness for Lend with Care: a charity originating from CARE international UK which allows individuals to make small loans to individuals in developing countries so they can start their business and work their way out of poverty. It was founded in 2010 and so far, over 60,000 people have helped change the lives of those in need.  We look forward to having another charity day back at school.