HT Blog – Tuesday 20 October 2026

I can hardly believe that we have already reached the end of Term 1. We are now in Week 8 of the academic year, and the October half-term break is just around the corner. It has been a busy and rewarding first term, with so much happening across the school, and it is wonderful to see our students embracing the many opportunities available to them, both in and beyond the classroom.

Firstly, I would like to extend a huge thank you to our Performing Arts Department for last week’s fantastic 777 event. At 7pm in Week 7, our Year 7 students took to the stage to deliver a delightful evening of music and drama for an appreciative audience. From the School Song to Monty Python’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, the evening showcased the enthusiasm, confidence and emerging talents of our youngest students. Events such as these are a wonderful reminder of the creativity and courage our students demonstrate when given the opportunity to perform, and I am sure that everyone who attended left with a smile. My thanks go to all the staff and students who worked so hard to make the evening such a success.

This week, the final Year 7 learning groups will continue to make their much-anticipated visit to Waterstones to choose a book of their own. This lovely initiative, generously supported by our Parents’ Association, helps to nurture a love of reading and gives every student the opportunity to discover a book that captures their imagination. We are very grateful to the Parents’ Association for making this possible and for their continued support of opportunities that enrich our students’ experience of school.

As the week draws to a close, we will also be looking forward to a special sporting occasion: our first Friday Night Lights fixture, with the 1st XV Rugby Squad welcoming The Judd School. Friday Night Lights is an exciting new school tradition, with the floodlights switched on for a handful of Friday evening fixtures throughout the year. These occasions bring our community together, as students, staff and supporters stay after school to enjoy a game of rugby or football against local schools. There is something special about the atmosphere of an evening fixture, and I hope that as many members of our school community as possible will come along to support the team. Best of luck to the players, and a heartfelt thank you to the staff whose time, commitment and enthusiasm make these events possible.

Speaking of rugby, I am delighted to report that our 1st XV has progressed to the next round of the National Vase competition following last week’s match against Sir Joseph Williamson’s School. The game finished in a closely fought 14–14 draw, with MGS progressing under the competition’s away-team rule. It was a tense encounter, and while we can certainly appreciate the disappointment this result may bring to Sir Joseph Williamson’s, there will be considerable relief and excitement on the MGS side. Congratulations to the squad on their determination and resilience. The competition continues, and, as the saying goes, we go again. We wish the team every success in the next round.

There was further sporting success last week, with our 2nd XI Football Squad securing a 2–1 victory over local grammar school Oakwood Park. Fixtures between MGS and Oakwood Park are always keenly contested, making this a particularly pleasing result for the team. Well done to all the players for their effort and commitment, and thank you to the staff who continue to support our students in representing the school with pride. It is always encouraging to see the competitive spirit, teamwork and sportsmanship that school sport can bring out in our young people.

Finally, I am particularly pleased to share some exciting news from our Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Lt. Col. Highway and a small group of our CCF cadets have been invited to Whitehall to represent the CCF at a Remembrance event. This is a tremendous honour and a wonderful opportunity for our cadets to represent both the school and the wider CCF community on such an important occasion. Remembrance provides an opportunity to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who have served our country, and I am sure our students will approach this responsibility with great pride and maturity. My congratulations go to the cadets and Lt. Col. Highway on this well-deserved invitation

 

HT Blog – Tuesday 13 October 2026

I begin this week’s blog by extending a huge thank you to the staff and the many students who supported last week’s 11+ Open Evening. As the biggest event in the school calendar, it is a wonderful opportunity to showcase all that makes MGS such a special place to learn and work. Once again, the Maidstonian community rose to the occasion, acting as fantastic ambassadors for the school and providing our visitors with a warm and enthusiastic welcome. The evening was exceptionally well attended, and the feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive and complimentary. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy to make the event such a success. Thank you all for helping to make MGS shine.

This week, our Year 7 students will be making a short walk into Maidstone to visit Waterstones, where they will have the opportunity to browse the shelves and choose a book they would like to read, courtesy of our wonderful Parents’ Association. We introduced this initiative last year, and it proved hugely popular with our students, so we are delighted that the Parents’ Association has kindly agreed to support it again. Encouraging a love of reading is such an important part of a young person’s education, and there is something particularly special about choosing a book for yourself and discovering where its pages might take you. I hope our Year 7s enjoy exploring the bookshop and finding their next great read!

Continuing with Year 7, Tuesday sees the first of our much-anticipated ‘7 in 7 at 7’ event. In the seventh week of term, at 7pm, our newest Maidstonians will take to the stage to perform a medley of musical pieces, including the School Song, which they have been learning since beginning their MGS journey. The Big Hall will no doubt be filled with proud parents, family members and friends, all eager to see our Year 7 students enjoy their first few minutes in the spotlight. It is a lovely opportunity to celebrate their achievements so far, build their confidence and share in the excitement of being part of the MGS community. I am sure it will be a memorable evening for everyone involved, and look forward to seeing our newest students take centre stage.

Before the musical celebrations begin, the Parents’ Association, led by Sarah Hudson, will be host a Cheese and Wine Evening to welcome our newest parents into the MGS community. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to get to know one another, meet members of the Parents’ Association and learn more about the important work they do to support the school. The contribution of our Parents’ Association is invaluable, and the time, enthusiasm and generosity of its members help enrich the experiences and opportunities we are able to offer our students. My thanks go to Sarah and the team for all they do, and for helping our newest families feel part of the wider Maidstonian community.

Finally, on Friday, MGS will host its first Band Evening of the academic year. Thanks to Mr Martin and our Performing Arts Department, these evenings have become increasingly popular over recent years, bringing together staff and students with a shared love of all things rock and pop. They are a fantastic celebration of musical talent, creativity and collaboration, providing our performers with the opportunity to share their passion for music in a lively and supportive environment. There is always a wonderful atmosphere at these events, and I am delighted that this tradition continues to thrive. Thank you to everyone who has helped organise the evening, and to all those who are supporting our musicians. I am sure we are in for a fantastic night of music and fun.

HT Blog – Tuesday 6 October 2026

I would like to start this week’s blog by congratulating our senior football and rugby squads on their excellent performances in the first round of their respective national competitions.

Our rugby team produced an outstanding performance against King’s School Canterbury, securing a well-earned 27–14 victory.  At the same time, our footballers also provided plenty of drama, eventually securing victory on penalties after an entertaining 2–2 draw. A huge well done to everyone involved - players and coaches alike. These results are a wonderful reflection of the commitment, hard work and ambition of our senior sports teams. We now look forward to the next round and, as ever, we go again!

This week at school is dominated by one major event: our 11+ Open Evening.

On Thursday evening, more than 1,000 prospective pupils and their parents and carers will walk through the corridors of MGS, exploring our classrooms, meeting our staff and pupils, and beginning to consider whether they might one day become a Maidstonian themselves.

This is always one of my favourite events of the school year. There is something particularly special about opening our doors and giving prospective families the opportunity to experience MGS for themselves. An Open Evening is about far more than impressive facilities or displays of pupils' work; it is about capturing the character of our school and demonstrating what makes this community such a special place to be.

For many of the Year 5 and Year 6 pupils visiting us, this will be their first real glimpse of secondary school life and an important moment in their journey towards making one of the biggest educational decisions they have faced so far. Our role is therefore not simply to show them what we do, but to give them a genuine sense of what it feels like to be part of MGS.

Thursday's event is not, however, our only opportunity to welcome prospective families this week. Our Open Morning on Tuesday provides another important opportunity to showcase the school, but with a rather different perspective. Taking place during the normal school day, visitors will be able to see MGS as it really is: pupils learning, teachers teaching, corridors bustling and the everyday life of the school unfolding around them.

These events are very much a whole-school effort. From the pupils who act as guides and ambassadors, to the teachers and support staff who prepare classrooms, activities and presentations, there are an enormous number of people working behind the scenes to make these occasions successful. I would therefore like to offer a huge thank you to everyone involved. I know how much time, energy and enthusiasm goes into preparing for these events, and I am incredibly grateful for the way in which the whole MGS community comes together to show prospective families what we are about.

Finally, I want to take the opportunity to thank Oliver in Year 11, who led the organisation of last Friday evening's World Scout Jamboree Quiz Night.

Only two weeks ago, it looked as though we might have to cancel the event due to interest. However, once again, the wider MGS community demonstrated exactly what makes this school such a wonderful place. Through the support and generosity of staff, families and friends, the event was able to go ahead - and what an evening it turned out to be. Twenty teams battled it out in a fun-packed evening of general knowledge, with plenty of friendly rivalry, laughter and, of course, some highly competitive moments along the way. It was fantastic to see so many members of our community coming together to support such a worthwhile cause.