HT Blog – Tuesday 25 March 2025

 HT Blog – Tuesday 25 March 2025

I start this week’s blog by thanking Corpus Christi House for last Friday’s Comic Relief charity day.  The weather was kind throughout the day, and so that allowed the school community to enjoy the activities that were being laid on.  The staff vs. staff darts competition was the highlight of the day, with many students flocking to the Big Hall at lunch to watch Mr Calvert, Mr Williams, Mr Owens and Mr Taylor (not Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor I hasten to add) battle it out.  As well as this, a large crowd gathered alongside the all-weather pitch after school to watch the students vs. staff football match: an event that students always look forward to; and then in the evening a hall full of students, staff and parents enjoyed a night of rock music at the Battle of the Bands event.  Congratulations to Mr Calvert for winning the darts; well done to the staff team for winning the football match 5 – 4 on penalties); and thank you Corpus Christi House for organising the charity day and for Mr Martin who made the band evening possible.  Good job everyone.

This week is a slightly quieter one for the school compared to last week and next week, but going on just off the South Circular Road in London is the world’s largest schools’ rugby tournament: the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s.  Each year, MGS sends a number of rugby squads to the tournament, and this year is no different.  Led by Mr Saunders and the PE Department, many MGS rugby players have been taking part in numerous 7s tournaments across the term, but with the Rosslyn Park tournament being the tournament to aim for.  Good luck to all the players.  In other rugby news, during a lovely Wednesday afternoon last week, the MGS vs. DGS match to celebrate 100 years of rugby at MGS sadly ended in a 31 – 19 defeat for MGS.  Despite the result, the match was played in good spirits, with all players from both sides enjoying the occasion – even though some had lost their winter fitness!  Thank you to everyone involved in the organisation of the match. 

Saturday is a big day for the school.  Firstly, we welcome many Old Maidstonians back to their old school to enjoy the Old Maidstonian Sport Day and Old Maidstonian Supper.  Over 100 former students will be enjoying a lovely meal, each other’s company, and reminding themselves of what it was like to be a Maidstonian.  But also on Saturday the Senior Football Squad play for a chance to be Kent Champions.  At 2pm in Herne Bay the MGS 1^st XI play the Judd 1^st XI in the final of the Kent Cup.  The players have had a really good run to the final, and this would be the icing on the cake if they came away with the win.  Best of luck to the players, and many thanks to Mr Hughes for supporting the squad throughout the entire season.

Finally, massive congratulations to Dexter of Year 11 and Corpus Christi House who, over the weekend, became U18 British Champion in the Pommel winning a gold medal as well as winning a bronze medal on the Parallel Bars.  Brilliant news; well done Dexter.

HT Blog – Tuesday 18 March 2025

 

HT Blog – Tuesday 18 March 2025

Huge congratulations to Year 9 who won the final of the U14 Kent Cup.  Many Maidstonians gathered on Friday evening at the Gallagher Stadium in Maidstone to watch the players play St Colombus School and compete for the prestigious title of being called Kent Champions.  Well done to the players, and huge thanks to Mr Cooper for coaching the players throughout the season.

Thanks to the dry weather and the members of staff who slept out under the stars as well, Year 9 had a good weekend trekking across the footpaths of Kent completing the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Practice Expedition.  There were not too many tired faces on Monday morning!

Good news within the D&T Department. Anthony in Year 11 and College House successfully got through to the interview stages of the Arkwright Scholarship, which is a fete in itself, and Theo of Year 12 and Corpus Christi House, who in previous years achieved an Arkwright Scholarship, recently secured sponsorship with a major engineering company.  Well done to them both.

On Wednesday this week Maidstone Grammar School acknowledges 100 years of rugby.  Back in March 1925 MGS played its first ever rugby fixture against Dartford Grammar School, beating them 59 – 0!  So, 100 years later, we are welcoming Dartford back to MGS to play us once more to commemorate this special occasion.  Many Maidstonians and Old Maidstonians will be gathered on the side line cheering on the players.  Good luck to everyone involved, thank you Mr Saunders and Mr Seymour for coaching the players, and thank you Mr Walker for delving into the school archives to find out more about that match 100 years ago.

This Friday is the annual Comic Relief Appeal that MGS always supports.  Led this year by Corpus Christi House, much will be going on.  There will of course be the usual non-uniform and cake sale across the school, but this year we have a darts competition taking place at lunchtime in the Big Hall, and after school there will be a staff vs. students football match on the all-weather pitch.  Much fun will be had by all.  Following the charitable events during the day, MGS hosts another of its successful Battle of the Bands events where students and staff who love a bit of rock music will be performing for the gathered crowd and aspiring to be crowned the Band of the Night.  Thank you, Mr Martin, for organising.

HT Blog – Tuesday 11 March 2025

 

HT Blog – Tuesday 11 March 2025

Congratulations to ‘But There is an M and an E’ for winning last Friday’s MGS Parents’ Association Quiz Night.  22 teams were pitted against each other in the annual quiz – this year answering questions under the main theme of ‘There is no Me in Team’.  Fun was had by all, and thanks go to Mrs Hudson and the Parents’ Association, Mrs Friend for supporting me in the organisation, and the sixth form students who helped throughout the event.

 

This week parents of students in Year 7 will learn more about how their children are progressing at MGS at the Year 7 Virtual Parents’ Evening.  This is the first opportunity after nearly seven months for parents to hear how their children are getting on and how they can continue to support their children’s experiences.  I am sure it will be a positive evening. 

 

On Wednesday this week four students in Year 13 and from the school’s debating team will be taking part in the regional final of the ESU Mace Competition at Benenden School.  There will be tough competition, but the success the four students have had in the last 12 months make them strong competitors we wish them well.

 

On Friday, and for some of the weekend, a number of students, supported by a team of staff, will be enjoying the Kent countryside as they complete the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Practice Expedition in and around Meopham.  The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme has been a part of MGS for many years, and so many Maidstonians have in the past gone on to complete the bronze element and achieve something significant.  Let us hope the weather remains fine for them.  Also on Friday, the U14 Football Squad plays in the final of the Kent Cup at the Gallagher Stadium in Maidstone at 7.30pm.  The Squad has had an incredible season and is now only one match away from being county champions.  Good luck to all the players and thank you Mr Cooper for supporting the players throughout the season.

 

Finally, we send our thoughts and sympathies to Harrison’s family and close friends at this difficult time as the community of MGS remembers our Maidstonian who tragically died two years ago this week.  We will always remember him.

HT Blog – Tuesday 4 March 2025

 

HT Blog – Tuesday 4 March 2025

I start this blog by congratulating Mr Hughes and the 1^st XI Football Squad for successfully reaching the final of the Kent Cup.  Following their great National Cup run, the squad had the Kent Cup to contend with, and so last Wednesday Borden Grammar School made the journey over to MGS to play in the semi-final.  The first 80 minutes of the game was tight, culminating in a 2 – 2 score line, but then the last 10 minutes saw MGS put two goals past the Borden Grammar School’s goalkeeper resulting in a 4 – 2 win.  Well done to the players and to Mr Hughes, and now we await The Judd School in the final.

Thank you to the entire cast and crew of this year’s production for three fantastic performances of Allen in Wonderland.  Just before the February half term break MGS was taken to pantomime land with excitable audiences shouting out, ‘he’s behind you’ and ‘oh yes he is’.  Particular thanks must go to Mrs Brooks who led the production over the many months of rehearsals. 

Following last week’s interviews, I am delighted to announce that Alan and Kiera have been invited to become next year’s school captain and school vice-captain.  The eight shortlisted candidates made it very difficult for the interviewing panel, but after much deliberation Alan and Kiera were selected.  Huge congratulations to them.

On Friday this week many members of the school community will be enjoying the annual Parents’ Association Quiz Night.  This year’s theme is, ‘There’s No Me in Team’, so every question is about me!!!  Good luck to everyone who is taking part, and a huge thank you to Mrs Friend who has helped me with all of the administration.

Congratulations to Justice M (Year 11, Tonbridge House) and Haydn C (Year 12, Barton House), who as members of the UK Youth Parliament, recently met at the Houses of Parliament to debate policies for their campaigns this term. Both of them, alongside other youth representatives, passionately debated issues around the voting age, public transport, and political literacy. Well done to both Justice and Haydn, who encapsulate the vital role of the youth voice in shaping national discussions and driving positive change. Well done to them both.