22 February 2022

Welcome to Term 4.  I hope you have all had a good half term break, a well-deserved rest, and had a chance to watch some of the Beijing Winter Olympics.  I expect, like me, we have all become curling enthusiasts again!

We are now half way through the academic year, and we start the new term with Year 11 completing another set of mock exams.  We introduced these February mock exams about five years ago, and they have proved to be extremely helpful to all concerned.  These assessments provide a further opportunity for the students to prepare for what is to come in the summer.  We wait and see how the students do.  Best of luck to Year 11.

We also start the new term with searching for the next school captain and school vice-captain.  18 students from Year 12 applied for the posts and just before the half term we whittled them down to eight.  These shortlisted candidates are now going through a two-day rigorous interview process, and by the end of the week we will know who the two successful students are.  For me this time of year is one of my favourite times of the year as I get to spend two days talking with the students who wish to become the following year’s school captain and school vice-captain.  It is a delight being in their company and hearing how they feel about their school.  Good luck to all of them.

Today, right across the World, and here at MGS, we are recognising ‘Twosday’.  Today is 22 February, 2022, or 22/2/22, and it falling on a Tuesday makes it even more special.  I know I will, but I am sure the Maths Department will be sharing this quirky date with the students.

On Friday this week the students will be at home as the staff complete their final inset day of the year.  We would normally have this inset day in June but we have moved it so we can build on the work that we have been doing in school in improving the quality of teaching and learning.  On Friday we will be working with Inner Drive, who are part of Eton College’s educational research programme.  Based on where we believe MGS is we identified this organisation as the ideal partner to help us really think about questioning, assessment and memory retention. This is a fresh approach for us and so we are looking forward to welcoming some outside voices.   

As it is still February we are still recognising LGBT+ History Month, but very soon, when we move into March, we will be expanding our inclusivity agenda and looking at Equality and International Women’s Day.  The feedback we are receiving from the student body about how we are raising the profile of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity has been extremely positive. 

Tuesday 8 February 2022

Firstly, congratulations to the players of the MGS 2^nd XI Football Squad who, by beating Simon Langton Grammar School 1 – 0 on Wednesday, have won their respective league.  This is a huge achievement for the players who have worked so hard to achieve this significant goal.  Well done gents, and a huge thank you to the members of staff who supported them throughout the whole season.

Yesterday we acknowledged the 70^th anniversary of Accession Day: the day the Queen became Queen Elizabeth II back on 6 February 1952 following the death of her father, HM King George VI.  The Union flag was flown on top of the school gatehouse, the Refectory served food with a Royal theme, and the CCF contingent paraded in school forming the number 70.  Thank you to everyone who took part.

Following yesterday’s celebrations, the Union flag was replaced with the Pride flag once more - acknowledging the month of LGBT+ History Month.  We have received so much positive feedback since we launched our recognition of LGBT+ History Month last week.  It is so pleasing to know that MGS goes on being an incredibly kind and accepting school.

Yesterday we welcomed parents of year 12 students into the school to hear from key staff about the upcoming UCAS process that their children will be now facing.  The time has come for our year 12 students to really start thinking of what life will be like beyond the school gates, and the evening last night hopefully provided a lot of information and guidance about what is to come.

On Wednesday this week parents of year 8 students will attend an evening speaking to their son’s teachers at the Year 8 Virtual Parents’ Evening.  Just like with the Year 12 UCAS Evening, this year 8 event is crucial for the students as it is at this time of the year when they choose their GCSE options.  A lot of work now goes on in school to ensure we create as good a curriculum as possible for each year 8 student.

Tuesday 1 February 2022

On Friday last week Corpus Christi House led the way with the fourth charity day of the year.  A number of fun activities took place around the school including dodgeball, soaking a teacher, and completing a challenging assault course on the all-weather pitch.  Lots of money has been raised for Maidstone Mind, a charity that provides wellbeing support for the people of Maidstone.  Thank you to the staff and students who helped organise the day.

On Saturday a large number of MGS football squads took part in a weekend fixture against Colfe’s School.  It is unusual to have so many football fixtures on a Saturday morning, so it was really good to welcome players and families outside of the usual rugby community to enjoy a few hours of competition.

A couple of weekends ago a number of our students took part in the Schools’ District Cross Country competition.  The year 7 boys came 3^rd place, the junior boys came 4^th, and the intermediate boys came 6^th.  Congratulations to Freddie of Year 7 who came 1^st in his race, and Theo of Year 9 who came 6^th.

Today marks the beginning of LGBTQ+ History Month, and I am delighted that Maidstone Grammar School for the first time ever in its history is acknowledging it.  In the School's 473-year history we have never really spoken about LGBTQ+ matters in such a public and open way and we have never flown the rainbow flag on top of the gatehouse.  As headmaster, I am extremely proud to be a part of something that is now looking forward and embracing such a key aspect of diversity.  To acknowledge the month, I will be addressing the entire school community in a live broadcast providing some history and context about the journey the LGBTQ+ community has been on.  As well as this we will be flying the rainbow flag, displaying numerous posters around the school acknowledging key LGBTQ+ role models, displaying LGBTQ+ literature in the school library, and putting together a bank of resources for form tutors to use during our weekly form time programme.  Thank you to the staff and students who have helped prepare for this important event.  Maidstone Grammar School goes on being a kind and tolerant school.