Tuesday 31 October 2023

Welcome to my first blog of Term 2; I hope you all had a good half term break. 

The term started straight away yesterday with us inviting parents of Year 11 into the school to attend the Year 11 Information Evening.  It is at this time of year when Year 11 really begin to think about what they want to be doing beyond their GCSEs - ensuring they position themselves well to achieve their best.  In just over six months’ time Year 11 will begin their GCSE examinations, but before that they need to complete their mock examinations as well as understand how the sixth form application process works.  Last night was the opportunity to hear from us about the rest of the year.

On Saturday, our biggest event, the MGS Parents’ Association Firework Display takes place.  The PA has run this event for almost 20 years, and during that time it has grown in size and popularity.  Many members of the MGS community come together to ensure the event goes ahead, so I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to those people and to everyone who will be coming along to support.  If you are keen to come along, and have not yet purchased a ticket, please do so online.  There will be no ticket sales on the night.  Gates open at 5pm with the display starting at 7pm.

Tuesday 17 October 2023

Welcome to the last blog of Term 1; it still only feels like we have just started the year.  Before we break for the October holiday, there is still a busy week ahead of us. 

Last night we enjoyed some cheese and wine at the annual MGS Parents’ Association AGM.  The Parents’ Association works incredibly hard to support the school, and so at the AGM we reflected on the year that has passed, look forward to the year ahead and welcome new parents to the Committee. 

Following last Friday’s first Open Morning, today we host the second.  Year 7 guides and Sixth Form prefects will help welcome the families of perspective Maidstonians to see the school during normal working hours.  These Open Mornings complement the Year 6 Open Evening that takes place this Thursday from 3.30pm to 7.30pm.  At that event we will be exhibiting all aspects of the school from the quality of our curriculum to the varied menu choices in our Refectory.

Before I wish you all a peaceful October break, I just wanted to thank everyone who has contributed in anyway to the achievements of the first term in our 475^th birthday year.  From the thousands of lessons that have taken place to the extensive extra-curricular and enrichment programme on offer, we have seen many positive successes.  Watching Year 7 sing the School Song back in September, to walking with the Year 12 students last weekend on the first Everest Base Camp Practice Walk, I have had some lovely memories already.  More of the same please next term.

Have a good holiday.

Tuesday 10 October 2023

This week is a relatively quiet week for us until we get to Friday when we host the first Year 6 Open Morning.  On Friday we open our doors to perspective Maidstonians and their families to see what we do and what we stand for.  It is always a busy and positive morning, but it also is a morning when many of our newest Maidstonians take pride in their school and act as guides to our visitors.  Thank you in advance to all of the students and staff who will be taking part.

From tonight the 56 form tutors spanning the four houses will be picking up the phone and making contact with our newest Maidstonians’ families to share how the boys have settled in following their first five weeks of MGS.  These personal phone calls follow the two house events that took place last week; they provided an opportunity for parents and carers to hear from key staff about the start of the year and see the school from the eyes of their children.  Year 7 have started extremely well, so I am sure the news will be positive.

On Saturday, as well as the normal rugby fixtures, a number of Year 12 students and staff will be taking to the Kent countryside and completing their first practice walk in preparation for the Easter trip to Base Camp Everest.  The North Downs Way will never compete with the terrain of the Himalayas, but the students and staff will put themselves through their paces and use the undulating nature of the North Downs Way to achieve as much elevation as possible. Let us hope the good weather continues until the weekend.

Tuesday 3 October 2023

Firstly, I would to thank the staff and students who supported last Friday’s MacMillan Coffee Morning.  In total we raised £3 short of £2000, which is a fantastic achievement.  Well done to everyone and a huge thank you to the staff and students who helped with the set up and organisation of the day.

I would also like to congratulate the CCF cadets who took part in the Cadet Skill At Arms Competition at the weekend.  The four cadets competed in a total of four ranges against 17 other teams from across the south east of England. They managed to place second in two of the ranges both Fire Control and the Advance to Contact, and one cadet, Julius, was also awarded overall third best shot for the Over 16 category.  Following the end of all competitions Maidstone Grammar School managed to place third overall and pick up a bronze medal. This is the best the CCF has done in this competition since 2007. Huge congratulations to the whole team for their enormous effort and determination to compete.

This week, with it being the beginning of October, we acknowledge Black History Month.  Miss Johnson, the deputy head, will be leading the week’s assemblies on the theme of Black History, focusing on the subjects of prominent Black British women and the 75^th anniversary of the Windrush Generation.

This week we also welcome parents of Year 7 into the school to attend the Year 7 Welcome Evening.  Across two nights, parents will see where their children spend their day and hear from key staff about life at MGS and how the first month has gone. 

The trip this week is to Reculver Bay.  Year 11 geography students will be visiting the village of Reculver to complete essential fieldwork as part of their GCSE examination.  The weather looks good for the week ahead, so I hope no one returns a little sunburnt, but that they have an opportunity to enjoy an ice cream!