HT Blog – Tuesday 28 October 2025

 

Welcome back to school and to the start of Term 2. I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable half-term break.

Before we look ahead, I want to take a moment to thank the hundreds of students and staff who supported our 11+ Open Evening - the largest event in the school calendar. We were delighted to welcome over 850 visitors to MGS, all of whom had the chance to experience our school in action and witness first-hand the pride we all share in being part of this community. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many guests expressing a strong desire to be associated with the school in the future.

I am proud to acknowledge Mr Rai and Rafael in Year 12 of College House, who were both honoured with a Lord Lieutenant Award last week in recognition of their outstanding service and contributions to the CCF.  I had the pleasure of attending the award ceremony and witnessing their achievements being formally recognised.  Well done to both Mr Rai and Rafael on this well-deserved honour.

As we move into this eight-week term, we face the seasonal challenges of darker evenings and colder days - but also the promise of many exciting opportunities and highlights.

This week alone is filled with key events that showcase the talent, commitment, and spirit of MGS. On Wednesday, our musicians and performers will take to the stage in the Autumn Showcase, celebrating the musical and dramatic talents of our students. Then on Friday evening, the 1st XV Rugby Squad travels to Tonbridge to take on The Judd School in what is always a competitive and eagerly anticipated fixture.

To round off the week, our annual MGS Firework Display will take place on Saturday evening, led by our fantastic Parents’ Association. This much-loved event brings together thousands from across the school and wider community to enjoy an evening of entertainment and spectacular fireworks. Gates open at 5pm, with the display starting at 7pm. Tickets are still available, and we look forward to seeing many of you there.

Alongside these events, we are also beginning to support Year 11 students as they start to look ahead and plan for life beyond GCSEs. Yesterday, we welcomed parents and carers into school for an evening of guidance and discussion around the important decisions that lie ahead. This continues today with our A Level Subject Fair, giving students the opportunity to meet with teachers and subject specialists to explore their options and make informed choices about their future pathways.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the remarkable growth of girls’ sport at MGS. Thanks to the energy and commitment of Mrs Coveney, Miss Dimmick, Miss Chesterton and the wider PE department, girls’ sport is now one of the fastest-growing areas in school life. Just before half term, two of our netball teams competed in a tournament against Gravesend Grammar School, and this week our girls' rugby squad will take part in a competitive fixture. Plans are also underway to introduce volleyball and badminton as part of our expanding Girls’ Sport Programme. A huge thank you to the students who are embracing these opportunities, and to the staff who are making them possible.

HT Blog – Tuesday 14 October 2025

 

It is hard to believe that I am writing the final blog of Term 1—where has the time gone? It feels as though we only just returned from the summer holidays, and yet we are already heading into the October Half Term break.

This week, we have continued to welcome the wider community through our doors, with both our Open Morning and Open Evening events taking place. On Thursday evening, over 400 of our students will be involved in guiding visitors and sharing their experiences of life at MGS. Open Evening is always a highlight of the school year—an opportunity for us to come together and celebrate everything that makes our school so special. It is a day when we can all feel truly proud to be part of MGS.

Our Year 7 trips to Waterstones also continue this week, made possible thanks to the generous support of the Parents’ Association. Their donation has allowed us to buy every Year 7 student a brand-new book. I had the pleasure of accompanying one of the classes last week, and it was a real joy to see their excitement on the walk into town and to hear their thoughtful conversations as they chose their books. A heartfelt thank you to the Parents’ Association for making this experience possible.

In sporting news, our senior rugby squads are enjoying a strong run of form after a challenging start to the season. They have recorded excellent wins over Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School and Cranbrook School in recent days. Let us hope their success continues through the rest of the season—momentum is a powerful thing!

This week also marked an exciting milestone for our Year 7 students, who received their new digital devices as part of our Digital Device Scheme. Every student joining MGS is now issued with a device to enhance their learning and prepare them for future online assessments. With both Year 7 and Year 8 now equipped, we are already seeing the impact this technology is having on classroom learning and teaching.

Finally, I wish to congratulate Harry of Year 10 and College House who won Cadets’ Cadet and the award for NCO Junior Corporal for the Year at an RAF cadet competition at the weekend.  Well done, Harry.

Wishing all our students, staff, and families a restful and enjoyable half term break

 

HT Blog – Tuesday 7 October 2025

 

I would like to begin this week by extending my sincere thanks to the staff, parents, and friends of the school who helped organise and support last week’s Year 7 trip to Bewl Water. I had the pleasure of joining one of the groups for the day—and what a day it was! Glorious sunshine, water-based adventures, and even some surprisingly good axe-throwing skills on display made for a brilliant experience. It was a fantastic opportunity for our newest students to bond and build memories. Thank you to everyone involved in making it such a success.

Congratulations are also in order for our Netball Squad, who played their first competitive fixture of the season last Wednesday—and won in style, beating Mascalls School 29–11. A huge well done to the team, and many thanks to Miss Dimmick and Mrs Coveney for their expert coaching and support.

This week marks the beginning of an exciting fortnight at MGS, as we welcome prospective students and their families for our Year 5 and 6 Open Mornings. Today’s event is the first of several opportunities for visitors to explore our school, meet our staff and students, and get a sense of what life is like at MGS. Our Year 7 students—still only five weeks into their time with us—will be acting as tour guides, proudly showing off their school with confidence and enthusiasm. If previous years are anything to go by, we are expecting a lively and inspiring morning.

Finally, we are looking forward to our first Band Evening of the academic year, taking place this Friday. These events have quickly become highlights in the school calendar, with many of our talented musicians keen to perform on stage in front of their peers. A huge thank you to Mr Martin for once again organising what promises to be an exciting and memorable evening.