I begin this week’s blog by congratulating our 1st XI Football Squad on their outstanding victory against Dulwich College in the last 32 of the National Cup. This much-anticipated fixture was finally played at the third time of asking, and the large crowd that gathered was certainly rewarded for their patience. The team produced a dominant and disciplined performance, securing an emphatic 6–0 win. We now look forward with excitement to the next round of the competition, which is due to be played shortly against The Forest School, London.
It was also a very
successful day for our 2nd XI Football Squad, who progressed to the semi-finals
of the Kent Cup following a hard-fought 3–2 victory against Beths School. Their
match took place immediately before the 1st XI National Cup fixture, making it
a memorable and uplifting day for the whole MGS community. The success
continued later that week when the U15 Rugby Squad beat St George’s School, London
22 – 16 to progress into the quarter-final of the National Vase. What was particularly lovely was the senior
rugby players who are waiting to play the semi-final in their National Vase
competition stayed behind after school to support their fellow
Maidstonians. My sincere thanks go to
them, and to the PE Department for their excellent coaching, organisation and
support in helping all of our teams achieve these impressive results.
This week sees the
continuation of the Year 13 mock examinations, while our Year 10 students make
their final preparations ahead of their exams beginning next week. These
assessments are an important milestone in the academic calendar, providing
valuable feedback for students, parents and staff alike. They allow us to
reflect on the progress made so far in A Level and GCSE courses and to identify
the next steps needed to ensure every student is well prepared for the
challenges ahead.
I would also like to
wish the very best of luck to our Year 11 Music students as they complete their
solo performance examinations as part of their GCSE qualification. These
performances represent the culmination of many hours of dedicated practice,
technical development and musical interpretation. Performing individually under
examination conditions requires not only musical skill but also confidence,
resilience and composure, and I have been extremely impressed by the commitment
shown by our students in preparing for this important component of their
course. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and look forward to
celebrating their achievements.
Finally, at the
weekend, 16 of our Year 12 students, accompanied by Mr Andrews, Mrs Van Mol and
myself, will be travelling to the United States to attend the 2026 Harvard
Model United Nations Conference in Boston. MGS is the only UK school
represented at this prestigious event, and it is a tremendous honour to be
invited to take part. I am confident that the students will gain an exceptional
educational and cultural experience, developing their debating, diplomacy and
leadership skills while representing the school on an international stage.