Tuesday 26 November 2024

 

HT Blog - Tuesday 26 November 2024

Following on from my comment in last week’s blog, I now am able to share the total raised at the recent BBC Children in Need charity day.  Putting together the non-uniform gate contributions, the cake sales, and the donations for the 24-hour sportathon, this year we raised a total of £2,415.72.  Huge congratulations to everyone and thank you again for everyone who took part. 

Congratulations to Dexter of Year 11 and Corpus Christi House who competed for England in the 2024 Artistic Gymnastics Austrian Future Cup.  Dexter performed brilliantly, securing silver in the Pommel and bronze in the Rings.  Well done Dexter.

Both last Wednesday and yesterday, MGS rugby squads took to the field to play Worth School in two National Cup matches.  The first match last Wednesday was another ‘under the floodlight’ game for the senior players.  Sadly, they lost 31 – 20, but they put up a really good fight to keep the scoreline close.  Yesterday the U15 players played the same school in their respective match, but this time away at the Worth School itself.  Sadly, we lost 17 – 12, but again, the fight and passion from the players, particularly near the end, was certainly something to see.

This week year 11 students return to normal lessons following their mock examinations but now have to wait a few weeks for them to be marked, moderated and graded.  Results will be released on Wednesday 18 December, so not too long to wait.

This week we also open our doors and welcome the wider MGS and Maidstone community to attend our Post 16 Opening Mornings and Post 16 Open Evening.  The mornings provide an opportunity to see the school at work, whereas the evening provides an opportunity to talk with students and staff about A-levels in more detail and to hear from key staff about what life is like for a Maidstonian.

On Wednesday we welcome the BBC to MGS to share their BBC Bitesize initiative with a group of students.  Over the course of the day students from across a number of different years will hear from representatives from the BBC about how BBC Bitesize can help, and how the BBC is funding new developments in how it supports education.  I am sure it will be interesting.  Also, on Wednesday the senior football squads play The Harvey Grammar School in their weekly fixture, which will be followed on Friday and Saturday with the rugby squads playing the always-strong Dartford Grammar School.  Good luck to all the footballers and rugby players.

Tuesday 19 November 2024

 

HT Blog - Tuesday 19 November 2024

Firstly, I would like to extend a huge thank you to the College Pastoral and Prefect Team for putting on last Friday’s Children in Need charity day.  What with the rowathon, the jumble sale, the cake sale, and guess the weight of a student, there was much for everyone to enjoy.  Alongside these, and the usual non-uniform gate collection, a number of staff and students also took part in a 24-hour sportathon which saw Mr Williams from Student Services play a variety of sports throughout the day and night.  Well done Mr Williams and thank you to everyone who supported him.

This week the Year 11 mock exams continue into their second week with many more exams still to complete.  Following numerous conversations with Year 11, the exams seem to have gone well so far with the usual ‘some good’ and ‘some not so good’ comments.  Continued good luck to Year 11.

Also, this week the entire student body will be shown the recently produced MGS 475 film that was commissioned last year to commemorate the school’s birthday year.  It was filmed and directed by Chris Haywood, Old Maidstonian and 2020-21 school captain, who back in April spent a week in school filming the school and interviewing numerous students and members of staff to capture life at MGS in 2024.  It is a beautifully crafted piece of film which I know will be received positively.

Three of our year 13 students Theo, Rafe and Emir recently took place in a coding competition completing the task in a sixth of the allocated time.  The organisers contacted the school to pass on their comments about the exceptional efficiency, combined with the quality of the students’ solutions, speaking volumes of the students’ technical capabilities and problem-solving acumen.  Thank you to these students for representing the school in such a positive way - a testament to the values of Maidstonians. 

Tuesday 12 November 2024

 

HT Blog - Tuesday 12 November 2024

Firstly, can I thank the staff and student helpers as well as Mrs Hudson and the MGS Parents’ Association for Saturday’s firework display.  This annual event has grown into one of the biggest community events MGS puts on, and it is with the help from everyone that allows it to go ahead.  The weather conditions were ideal for a November day, and with the food, music, and of course the fireworks themselves, it made for an enjoyable evening.  Thank you again, and thank you to everyone who came along to enjoy.

Also, I wish to acknowledge and congratulate both the 1^st and 2^nd XV rugby squads who played under the floodlights on Friday evening against Sutton Valence School.  Due to the fireworks and the need to set things up on the Saturday morning, it has become customary to play the annual fixture on the Friday night instead of the usual Saturday morning.  Both squads won their respective matches, and what made it more of an occasion, there was a large crowd of spectators who came along to watch. Thank you to those spectators and to the staff who made the evening a success.  As for the Saturday morning fixture, the U15 rugby squad also beat Sutton Valence School 17 – 14, which means we won all home matches against one of our closest schools.  Well done all.

This week the year 11 mock exams begin in earnest.  Over the next two weeks year 11 students will complete examinations in all of their subjects to provide them with a clear indication of how they have progressed and what they need to do in the coming months.  Good luck to them all.

Yesterday the MGS community came together to acknowledge the two-minutes silence at 11 o’clock to remember those fallen Old Maidstonians who lost their lives in conflict or who died during military service.  The theme for this year’s Remembrance Service was to remember those former students who died during WWII in Asia, particularly recognising Lieutenant Giovanni Arrigoni, who died in February 1944 serving in Burma.  Associated with this, I also wish to thank the 50 or so cadets and staff volunteers who represented MGS at the Remembrance Parade in Maidstone on Sunday. 

Also, yesterday four year 13 students took part in the south east regional heat of the English Speaking Union Schools Mace.  The students competed against St Edmunds School, Sutton Valence School and Dover Grammar School for Girls, and over four debates across the afternoon the MGS students successfully progressed to the next round.  Well done, and thank you Mr Andrews for accompanying them.

Today and Thursday, Year 7 and a few students from Year 12 are visiting Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire to understand more about what work went on there during the WWII.  This trip has been taking place for almost 10 years now, and it not only has an educational purpose, it also forms another occasion when our newest Maidstonians can get to know more of each other.  A huge thank you to Mr Gokool and Mrs Ridgeway for leading the trip.

Tuesday 5 November 2024

Welcome back to school and to the start of Term 2.  Here we are in November already, and whilst Americans vote in the US election, we begin the process of supporting year 11 students with their thoughts and ideas of life beyond GCSE.  Last night we welcomed parents of Year 11 to attend our Year 11 Information Evening: an evening where parents understand how we guide their children through the next couple of months as they consider what they want to do.  Part of that process are the upcoming Year 11 mock exams that start next week.  These mock exams will form part of what Year 11 will use to help them identify what their strengths are what they may wish to consider studying at A-level.  Good luck to Year 11 over the coming weeks.

On Saturday we can all look forward to enjoying a fine fireworks display put on by the MGS Parents’ Association.  Yes, this annual event always proves to be a popular one with many from the school and wider school community coming together to enjoy.  Thank you in advance to the many helpers who make the event possible, particularly Mrs Hudson, who continues to support MGS in her capacity as chairman of the Parents’ Association.

Finally, I would like to thank the many members of the school community who joined together just under two weeks ago at the 11+ Open Evening.  We opened our doors to the wider community on Thursday 25 October to welcome those potential Maidstonians and their families to see what life is like at MGS.  It was once again a very busy and popular evening with many positive comments being shared with us.  A huge thank you to the School Captain and School-Vice Captain for organising the prefects and many student helpers.