Tuesday 26 September 2023

I start this week’s blog by acknowledging the first three weeks of football results.  Since the start of the new academic year, MGS football squads have played nine matches in total scoring 37 goals, and conceding only seven.  This is a remarkable achievement and one that should be rightly applauded.  Well done to all the payers and thank you to the members of staff who are supporting the teams.

At the weekend four MGS rugby squads took to the field to play Eltham College in the weekly fixture, seeing the 1^st XV secure their first win of the year.  In other rugby news Gabby of Year 13 and Corpus Christi House has just been called up to try out for the U19 England Women’s Rugby Squad.  This is wonderful news and we wish her well for possible selection.

This week is a relatively quiet week for MGS, until Friday when we as an entire school community acknowledge the MacMillan Coffee Morning.  The day will also be a non-uniform day.  Students will be joined by staff, governors and parents who will come together to enjoy each other’s company over a cuppa and a slice of cake.  MGS has supported MacMillan Cancer Support for a number of years now, and in doing so has raised over £8000 for the Charity.  I am sure Friday will be an enjoyable occasion.

Tuesday 12 September 2023

Firstly, I would like to thank the entire school community for understanding the difficulties we experienced last week with the hot weather.  It was very unusual to have such warm weather at the start of an academic year, but just like at all other times, the community of the school rolled up their sleeves (in some cases, literally) and got on with it.  Fortunately, the weather is to be cooler from this week, but I expect when we are in the deepest, dark depths of the winter we will be crying out for warmer times.  Thank you Maidstonians for getting through the first week.

Following on from the events last week we have a slightly quieter week ahead of us - but with it still being the start of a new year, there are still matters to deal with.  This week students will be having their individual and sibling photographs taken - both for our own use as well as for parents to enjoy.  In addition, we welcome parents of Year 12 students to attend the Year 12 Information Evening on Thursday: an evening to hear from key staff about the year ahead.

Providing opportunities away from school, the CCF RAF section has a trip out today to Biggin Hill Airport, and a group of students will be out on Thursday completing their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Practice Expedition. 

However, the main event taking place this week is a week-long event involving Year 11 and their parents.  Throughout the week form tutors will be meeting with Year 11 students and communicating with parents about the upcoming year and what the students should be doing this year to ensure they do well next summer.  These meetings and conversations are crucial to ensure Year 11 approach the year with positivity, and get the best out of it before their GCSEs.  If you are a Year 11 parent then do look out for details.

5 September 2023

Welcome to the start of a new academic year; welcome to Maidstone Grammar School’s 475^th Anniversary year; and welcome to the first Headteacher’s Blog of the year.  I hope you are all keeping well, and for those readers who have had a holiday, I hope you had a good one.  It is so good to be back, sharing once again news stories and successes that we are proud of and wish for you all to know.

We start with some amazing news from three Old Maidstonians.  Owen, Michael and Charlie, who all left Maidstone Grammar School in 2022, decided to set themselves a challenge.  At the end of July they all completed a 76-day walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats.  Along the way they were raising money for Parkinson’s, and at the moment, have raised over £7000!  What an achievement, and what an inspiration to others.  Well done to them.

Today we welcomed the entire student body back and acknowledged it at a school assembly in the Quad.  With the weather being ideal, we were all able to come together and celebrate the start of term before beginning the first lesson of the day.  It is always good to see the students return to their school, and being able to do it altogether added to the day. 

This week there are further opportunities for the school to come together.  On Thursday, we hope to be able to have a whole school photograph – something that we have not been able to do since September 2014.  This opportunity to record the moment when all Maidstonians come together is the first event to celebrate the 475^th anniversary of MGS.  We are keeping our fingers crossed for good weather.

On Friday our older students come together to acknowledge the achievements of last year’s Year 11, 12 and 13 at the Upper School Speech Day.  Guest of honour this year is Eileen Lewis, a former member of staff who gave MGS over 25 years’ service.  Colleagues of mine are looking forward to seeing her again, as well as seeing the many students who have achieved great things receive recognition and applause.  I addition to this event, on Friday morning Year 7 will be enjoying a morning of team building activities to support their transition and induction, as well as helping them make new friends.  This always proves to be an enjoyable and memorable event.