I want to start by extending heartfelt thanks to Mr Hanratty and Ms Dansey for their wonderful contributions to our weekly blog while I was away. Their voices and reflections were greatly appreciated by our community.
Over the past week, I had the absolute privilege of accompanying 16 of
our Year 12 students to the Harvard Model United Nations Conference. This
remarkable experience brought out the very best in our delegates: confidence,
insight and thoughtful diplomacy. A huge thank you to our students - and
especially Mrs Van Mol and Mr Andrews - for making this such a memorable trip.
The snow-covered streets of New York and Boston were magical to behold, even as
temperatures dipped to -20°C! The enthusiasm and intellectual engagement at the
conference truly embodied the spirit of MGS.
We are also bursting with pride for our 1st XI Football Squad, who have
secured their place in the semi-final of the National Cup! Their journey up to
Brentwood School last Wednesday resulted in a fantastic 4–2 victory - and they
returned to school in high spirits, rightly celebrating this superb
achievement. Congratulations to every member of the squad and to Mr Hughes for
his leadership and dedication.
Continuing our sporting highlights, the U15 Rugby Squad travelled to
Monmouthshire for their National Vase quarter-final. Though the final score
didn’t go our way (26–12), this resilient group have had a season to be proud
of - reaching the last eight and showing true grit and sportsmanship every step
of the way. Thank you to Mr Cooper for his support all season and Mr Pettit for
his invaluable Saturday morning refereeing.
In CCF news, our cadets returned to school on Monday with smiles (and
maybe a few muddy boots!) after a brilliant day on Saturday at the Mereworth
Woods training camp. This annual event gives many of our younger cadets their
first real taste of life in the field and has sparked enthusiasm and confidence
across the group. We look forward to seeing them build on this experience in the
weeks ahead.
Our debating teams also brought their best to the Cambridge Schools
Regional Debating Competition, hosted here at MGS. We were delighted to welcome
Cambridge University back as organisers for another year - and once again, our
students rose to the challenge with creativity and eloquence.
Looking ahead, this week offers valuable opportunities for parents and
carers to engage with us. Year 8 and Year 11 parents and carers will be joining
us for the second virtual Parents’ Evening on Wednesday - a great chance to
connect with teachers and celebrate your children’s progress. And Year 12
parents and carers are invited to school on Thursday for an informative session
with our Sixth Form Team on the upcoming UCAS process. We hope both evenings
are enjoyable, supportive and full of positive conversations.