This
week’s entry is written by me, Ms Dansey. As the Development and Alumni
Officer, I have the privilege of keeping students past and present connected
with the school and with one another. It is my pleasure to share this week’s
update.
As
we move into the first full week of February, there is a renewed sense of focus
and purpose around the school. The days may still be short, but the atmosphere
across the community remains bright, with students and staff working with
determination across all areas of school life.
This
week marks the second half of the Year 10 Mock Examinations, and we would like
to commend our students for the mature and thoughtful way they have approached
the process so far. These assessments provide valuable insight into progress
and next steps, and we are grateful to colleagues for the support and guidance
they continue to offer throughout the week.
We
were also delighted to welcome back our Year 12 students yesterday following
their participation in the 72nd Annual Harvard Model United Nations Conference
in Boston. HMUN is one of the most respected international relations
simulations in the world, bringing together thousands of students from more
than 50 countries to debate global issues, practise diplomacy, and collaborate
across cultures. This year’s conference continues a proud tradition for MGS. We
have been running a delegation for around twelve years, and it remains a
privilege to be invited. MGS is the only school in England selected to attend, a testament to the dedication of our staff and the calibre
of our students. Over four days, our delegates took part in high‑level
committee sessions, stepping into the roles of world leaders and policy‑makers
as they negotiated solutions to complex international challenges. The
experience develops confidence, critical thinking, teamwork, and public
speaking - skills that will serve them well far beyond their time at school. We
are immensely proud of the way they represented MGS on this global stage and
look forward to hearing more about their experiences in the days ahead.
The
CCF Recruit Camp takes place this week in Mereworth Wood, offering our newest
cadets the opportunity to develop their skills, build confidence, and
experience the teamwork that sits at the heart of the contingent.
Rehearsals
for Spamalot continue to gather pace as we look ahead to the performances on
24th–26th March. It is always a pleasure to see students committing themselves
so fully to the creative process, and we look forward to watching the
production take shape. Advance tickets are now on sale via ParentMail.
We
also look forward to a full programme of sporting fixtures this week. On
Tuesday, our 1st XI Girls and 2nd XI Girls face Sevenoaks School, while our
Boys’ U14A team play Forest School and the U14B team meet The Malling School.
Later in the week, our Boys’ U15A rugby team travel to Haberdashers’ Monmouth
School, and our U16A basketball team take on Southborough High School. Friday
also sees our Boys’ U14A football team play Cornwallis Academy. Alongside
these, our previously scheduled fixtures continue across football, basketball,
table tennis, and rugby. As always, we wish all students the very best and
thank staff, coaches, and families for their continued support.
I
would also like to take a moment to share some internal updates and extend our
thanks to colleagues across the school. Thank you to the staff who supported
the third Everest Practice Walk on Saturday. We also had an exceptionally busy
week of sport, with 29 fixtures taking place - thank you to our PE and sport
staff for making this possible. A special congratulations goes to our 1st XI,
Mr Hughes, and his team, who have progressed to the quarter‑finals of the U18
National Cup following an impressive 4–2 win over Forest School away. They now
face Brentwood School on Wednesday, and we wish them the very best.
Other
major fixtures this week include the U14 Football National Cup Last 16 today and the U15 Rugby National Vase Quarter‑Final on Friday - both away matches,
and we send our good luck to all involved. Our Basketball Programme also
deserves recognition, as every year group from Year 7 through to Year 12 has
qualified for the Quarter‑Finals of the Kent Basketball Tournament, taking
place in March. This is a remarkable achievement, and congratulations go to all
students and staff involved.
Thank
you as well to Mr Calvert and the Maths team for supporting the UKMT
Intermediate Mathematics Challenge on Wednesday, and to Ms Adams for her work
with our senior debate team. Haydn C and Leo S in Year 13 represented MGS in
the Oxford Schools’ regional final against more than two dozen teams, mostly
from independent schools, placing an impressive third and progressing to the
semi‑finals of this prestigious competition.
I
would also like to extend my thanks to those members of our Alumni community
who have offered to support our forthcoming careers events, donated memorabilia
to our school archives, and to our Old Maidstonians and Parent Association for
their continued support in helping to maintain and strengthen our MGS
community. Your involvement makes a genuine difference, and we are deeply
grateful.
As
ever, we remain proud of the way our students embrace the opportunities
available to them - academically, creatively, and through service and sport.
Their commitment, alongside the dedication of colleagues, continues to
strengthen our community and the values we share. We look forward to another
purposeful and rewarding week at MGS.
I
wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t also mention that we are in the process of
developing our new MGS Connect platform, designed to help alumni, students,
staff, and the wider school community stay engaged and connected. If any MGS
Alumni are interested in joining, they are warmly invited to sign up here, and
I will be in touch in due course: https://mgs.kent.sch.uk/connect
