This week marks a moment of real significance in the life of our school community. For our Year 11 and Year 13 students, the long journey of GCSE and A level examinations is finally drawing to a close. Over recent months we have watched them revise with determination, support one another with kindness, and rise to the challenge with admirable resilience. As they sit their final exams, we celebrate not only their hard work but the character they have shown along the way. I hope each of them steps into the summer with pride, confidence, and the deep satisfaction of having given their very best.
Beyond the exam
hall, the school is alive with the energy that summer always brings. The
sunshine promises perfect conditions for a vibrant week of sport, and our
fields will be full of movement and ambition. Athletes from Years 7 to 10 will
represent MGS in the Athletics District Final, carrying with them the spirit of
teamwork and healthy competition that defines our sporting ethos. Meanwhile,
our cricketers look forward to fixtures against Skinners’ School and Gravesend
Grammar School - matches that always bring out the very best of skill,
camaraderie, and school pride.
Adventure also
calls to those undertaking their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Expedition. As they
navigate the footpaths of the New Forest, they will be tested not only on their
practical skills but on their teamwork, perseverance, and independence. We wish
them every success as they work toward a fully assessed and completed
expedition. At the same time, our Year 12 chemists will be stretching their
academic muscles in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, a demanding and
prestigious test that rewards curiosity, deep thinking, and scientific flair.
We are also
delighted to share that Initiate Theatre will be visiting MGS this week to
deliver a special performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for our Year 7
students. This engaging introduction to Shakespeare promises to bring the
magic, humour, and imagination of the play vividly to life. Experiences like
these not only enrich our students’ understanding of literature but also spark
creativity and curiosity - qualities that sit at the heart of an MGS education.
While our
students push boundaries in classrooms, laboratories, sports fields, and the
great outdoors, the MGS Parents’ Association is preparing a very different kind
of celebration. Their George Michael Tribute Night promises an evening of
nostalgia, music, and community spirit - an opportunity for parents, staff, and
friends of the school to come together and enjoy the timeless soundtrack of the
1980s and 1990s.
Amid all this
activity, we also pause once again this year to celebrate a remarkable
milestone: the 120th anniversary of the cadet movement at MGS. Few traditions
run as deep or have shaped as many Maidstonians as the Combined Cadet Force.
This week, Col. Highway will address the whole school during the Quad assembly,
reflecting on the enduring importance of the CCF and the countless students who
have grown in confidence, leadership, and service through their involvement.
The celebrations will culminate on Friday with a CCF 120 BBQ in the School
House Garden - a gathering of past and present cadets, staff, and friends,
united in pride for a legacy that continues to strengthen our community.