Tuesday 27 February 2024

Firstly, well done to the Year 12 Everest walkers who completed two 20km walks over the weekend in preparation for the Everest Base Camp trip that is now only five weeks away.  On both Saturday and Sunday a group of 25 Maidstonians could be seen walking the footpaths of the North Downs getting very wet and muddy in the process.  Not long to go now before they depart.

This week is a slightly quieter week for us following a busy return to school last week.  The highlight for me last week was awarding the roles of school captain and school vice-captain to the two new incumbents.  Huge congratulations go to Isaac and Noah who were successful in the two-day interview process.  The two of them will now work with Rafe and Jess over the next couple of months before they officially take over in April.

This Friday is the annual MGS Parents’ Association Quiz Night.  This year’s theme is MGS 475: every question will have something to do with the letters M, G or S and the numbers 4, 7 or 5.  Knowledge of MGS is not required!  Tickets are still available so do come along.  Quiz starts at 7pm in the Big Hall.

20 February 2024

Welcome to Term 4 and the half-way point in the school year.  I hope you have had a good half term break and found an opportunity to recharge.

I start the term spending two days interviewing the eight shortlisted candidates for the roles of next year’s school captain and school vice-captain.  Eight Year 12 students were successful before the half term break in progressing to the final stages of the process, and so by Thursday this week we will know the next two incumbents.  Good luck to them all.

I also start this term by saying thank you to the staff and students involved in this year’s school production.  Three evenings in the week before the half term break audiences enjoyed being thrown back to the 1980s in The Wedding Singer.  A huge thank you to the musicians, cast and crew and to the members of staff who supported the production, led this year by Mrs Brooks and Mr Bourne.  Here’s to next year!

Finally, huge congratulations to Gaby of Year 12 who has just become the National Schools Equestrian Association County Dressage Champion achieving 2nd place in the Restricted Class and 1st in the Open.  She has now qualified to compete in the County Championship to be held in May at the All England Show Ground Hickstead.  Well done Gaby.

Tuesday 6 February 2024

I start this week’s blog by acknowledging two groups of students who represented MGS over the weekend.  On Saturday nine students, accompanied by Ms Adams, took part in the regional round of the Cambridge University Debating Competition, which was in fact held at Maidstone Grammar School.  Sadly, none of the students progressed to the national finals, but there were some good outcomes across the day and some promising younger debaters who will form a strong team going forward.  In contrast, on Sunday a number of senior rugby players, accompanied by Mr Saunders, took part in a rugby sevens tournament in Surrey.  Competition was extremely tough, particularly against Dulwich College, but the players valued the experience and exposure.

Very soon Year 12 students will begin to think about life beyond MGS, and many will be wanting to make an application to university to further their education, so yesterday, students and parents of Year 12 attended the annual UCAS Information Evening: an evening providing information about the UCAS process. 

This week we look forward to three performances of this year’s school production The Wedding Singer.  A huge ensemble of cast, crew and musicians have been rehearsing for months, and are now ready to perform for an excited audience.  The Wedding Singer is on tonight, Wednesday and Thursday in the Big Hall at 7pm.  Do come along.

Also this week the 25 candidates for next year’s school captain and school vice-captain positions get whittled down to a shortlist of about eight who will progress onto the interview stage.  25 Year 12 students putting their name forward indicates how strong the year group is and how much they all wish to giver service and leadership to their school.