Tuesday 18 July 2023

Welcome to the last blog of the year and the last ever Headmaster's Blog. Don't worry, my weekly blog will continue into the next academic year, but from September will be named Headteacher's Blog as opposed to Headmaster's. This is because from September I will be the headteacher of Maidstone Grammar School and not headmaster. It is right that the School reflects a changing society, and so changing the role name I am known by will be a small but significant change that is right for MGS in the world we live in. 

Before looking at the coming week, I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the planning and organisation of Friday's speech day. Despite not being able to have everyone there due to the wet weather, it was still a wonderful event for the school and for the prizewinners. An event in which the whole school could attend together was the Founders' Day Service at All Saints Church earlier in the day. It was an opportunity for the entire school community to celebrate the founding of the School and give thanks to the many thousands upon thousands of Maidstonians who have passed through its gates and given leadership and service to it.

This week's highlight is today's Sports Day. The MGS Sports Day has not taken place since 2019, and so only Year 12 have experienced the delights of competing in one. The weather looks good, and so here's hoping for a good day.  Good luck to all competitors.

Friday is the last day of term where we come together one final time and celebrate the year that has passed. The MGS House Cup will be awarded to the winning house, we say goodbye to leaving staff, and we sing the School Song one last time. At the assembly I will also be looking ahead to next year and preparing everyone for the School's 475th anniversary. There will be lots going on next year, particularly during the month of April, but there will also be events in September and July to launch and end the celebrations. It really will be a year to remember.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a restful summer holiday and thank you all for reading my blogs throughout the year. See you in September.

Tuesday 11 July 2023

A huge thank you to the staff who organised and led the many activities that took place during last week’s Extended Learning Week.  From walking in the Kent countryside to creating a typical picnic lunch, Maidstonians enjoyed doing something different for a week.  In addition to years 7 to 9 partaking in these activities, years 10 and 12 completed some essential work experience that took them away from MGS and into the workplace.  I hope everyone had a fabulous time.

Last week we heard the sad news of the death of former colleague and deputy head of MGS, Dr Tony Webb.  Dr Webb taught history here from 1971 to 2000, and was deputy head for almost 20 years in that time.  Even though I never had a chance to work with Dr Webb, I had the pleasure of meeting him early on in my headship, as well as getting to know him during his time in the Old Maidstonian Society.  I know from some of my colleagues and former staff who worked with him, Dr Webb was a character, and had a unique way of doing things.  Schools like MGS were filled with teachers like Dr Webb, so his passing brings to an end a significant chapter of MGS’s life.  We send our thoughts to his family and friends at this time.

This week, as we approach the end of the academic year, is a busy one.  On Thursday we welcome  our newest Maidstonians to the school to the Year 6 Induction Day.  Over 200 young faces will be spending the day at MGS, getting to know the lay of the land and hopefully getting to know some new friends.  And on Friday we celebrate the founding of Maidstone Grammar School at a service at All Saints Church in the morning, which will then be followed by our Lower School Speech and Prize Giving Day in the afternoon.  We hope for some good weather.

Finally, congratulations to Jamie Noakes, our head chef, who last week placed 3^rd in the National School Chef of the Year Competition.  He competed amongst 12 finalists from across the country, being asked to prepare a two-course school meal in under 90 minutes.  He cooked chicken breast with sticky rice and a vagrant Thai broth with crunchy vegetables; and for desert, he prepared a Peach Melba Crumble.  Well done Jamie.

 

Tuesday 4 July 2023

A huge thank you to Mr Norton, Corpus Christi House and all of the students and staff who took part in last Friday’s Lip-Sync Battle.  An eclectic mix of performances and music genres were on show for everyone to enjoy, from Kylie Minogue to Queen.  In addition to this musical event we also enjoyed the MGS Summer Showcase on Thursday.  The audience enjoyed music from John Williams’s film scores to an extract from Macbeth.  Thank you to Mrs Brooks, Mr Bourne and Mrs Edwards, and to all of the students who took part and helped make it happen.

This week is Extended Learning Week.  Years 7 to 9 are busy enjoying a variety of different activities across the country and beyond, and years 10 and 12 are taking part in some valuable work experience.  Extended Learning Week has been in place for 10 years now.  It is week where Maidstonians broaden their learning experiences to complement their normal classroom ones.  I hope everyone; staff and students value the week and get the best out of it.

Tomorrow, Jamie, our head chef, competes in the final of the School Chef of the Year.  Over 2000 applicants entered the competition, and now the last 12 take part in the final in Birmingham.  The School Chef of the Year competition aims to show off the high quality of school meals and the contribution they make to the health and wellbeing of young people.  We wish Jamie the best of luck and hope his two-course meal choice wows the judges.