Tuesday 29 June 2021

This week each year group will compete an afternoon of sport to replace the annual School Sports Day.  Sadly, due to the restrictions, we are having to run five separate sporting events in order to keep year groups in their bubbles.  The students involved are taking part in rowing, volleyball, table tennis, Frisbee, handball and badminton.  All of the sports generate house points which will be added up at the end of the day to see which house has won their year group.  Good luck to all four houses.

Also this week, due to the restrictions, we are running three open mornings for those year 11 students from other schools who wish to join the MGS Sixth Form in September.  Sadly, we were not able to have them join our own year 11 students last week for the Pre Sixth Form Induction Week, so these open mornings will hopefully go some way in sharing to the students what we do here.  Our own students will be on hand to guide them around the school.

And finally, Simon Coppard (OM 2018) took part in the Olympic Trials last Friday in Manchester.  Simon is an outstanding athlete currently studying at Loughborough University, and throughout his time at MGS his main event was 1500m; and this was the event he ran in last Friday.  We could well be seeing him at a future Olympic Games. 

Tuesday 22 June 2021

At the start of this week we welcomed Year 11 back into school to attend the Sixth Form Induction Week.  All week the students will familiarise themselves with aspects of being in the sixth form: a number of A-Level lessons, some independent work in the school library, and some free time in the sixth form common room.  It is good having them back.

This week we also see the continuation of the Year 12 UCAS exams.  Speaking to a number of the students last week the exams seem to have gone well and they were happy with what they had written.  Results will be released in the coming weeks.

And finally, congratulations to Alfred Moison of Tonbridge House who has helped write ‘In Conversation With…’: a book that explores the world of Michelin chefs, fine dining and wine making.  This is so impressive as, not only is Alfred still a student at MGS, he is only in Year 7!  Well done Alfred, and I expect more is to come from you in the future.

Tuesday 15 June 2021

Firstly, I would like to thank Samantha Croucher of College House who led the organisation for last Friday’s charity day.  The aim of the day was to raise money and awareness for Lend with Care, a charity that provides loans for small businesses in the developing world.  Students arrived in non-uniform and were met by a sweet stall at the front gate.  Later, they all enjoyed buying ice lollies in the warm weather as well as perusing through a huge collection of donated books and DVDs.  It was lovely to see a number of students with an ice lolly in one hand and a selection of books in the other.  Well done Sam; and an extended thank you to the prefect team who supported her.

Also on Friday, the out-going senior CCF cadets enjoyed a formal meal in the school refectory to acknowledge their time, celebrate their efforts and thank the many adult volunteers who support the cadets week in, week out.  It was a pleasant affair in the cooling, evening sun. 

This week is the start of a two-week period where we see Year 12 sit their UCAS exams: a set of exams across all subjects which will help teaching staff predict their students their UCAS grades.  The year group has been working hard over recent weeks, so best of luck to them all.

Tuesday 8 June 2021

Welcome back everyone to Term 6 and the final six weeks of the academic year; I hope you all had a good half term break and enjoyed the glorious weather.

The week begins with Year 12 having two days off timetable completing some essential work on the UCAS process as well as hearing about some key issues that affect teenagers and young adults.  In other parts of the school years 7, 8 and 9 begin the week completing end of year tests reviewing what they have learnt over the year and seeing what impact, if any, remote learning has had. 

In addition, on Friday we are having a non-uniform charity day to raise money and awareness for Lend with Care: a charity originating from CARE international UK which allows individuals to make small loans to individuals in developing countries so they can start their business and work their way out of poverty. It was founded in 2010 and so far, over 60,000 people have helped change the lives of those in need.  We look forward to having another charity day back at school.

Tuesday 25 May 2021

Friday last week we said goodbye to Year 13 and it was a probably the best leavers’ day in my lifetime at MGS.  Spirits amongst the year group were perfectly judged, and it was clear that the students will really miss us.  Thank you to the entire year group for being a very special bunch of people.  Good luck and best wishes to them all.

This week is a moment in the story of MGS where we turn over to a new chapter.  As we slowly progress out of lockdown and restrictions are lifted we are able to return to elements of the old MGS.  We have now gone back to a normal timetable with a single break and lunch, and now students move around the school for each of their lessons.  Measures are still in place to keep year groups in some form of bubbles, particularly during unstructured time, and students have been informed how they should move round the school in a sensible and safe manner, but the opportunity to see each other and appreciate that we are one small part in a much larger community is wonderful.

This week we also see our first ‘big event’ in the Hall to raise money for a charity we are supporting. “Lend with Care” is a charity originating from “CARE International UK”. It allows individuals to make small loans, starting at £15, to individuals in developing countries so they can start their business and work their way out of poverty.  Today we are staging a ‘Staff Wars’ event which will see staff pitted against each other in a number of different challenges.  My money is on Mr Hughes who is taking part in the Keepie Uppie Challenge against Mr Terrell.  I would like to thank the group of business studies students, led by Samantha Croucher of College House, who has organised the event. 

Tuesday 18 May 2021

This week is the last week for Year 13.  For many of them they have been at MGS for seven years, so Leavers’ Day on Friday will be a bitter-sweet occasion.  Before that though they have their final assessments to complete.  Good luck to them all, and I look forward to the Leavers’ Assembly on Friday where I am sure there will be tears.

This week we are also putting together the final touches to our new arrangements that will be in place from Monday 24 May.  From next Monday, we are adjusting a number of measures that we have had inn place all year to return the school to some form of normality.  Teachers will be teaching in their own classrooms, students will travel around the site to get to their lessons, and we go back to having a single break and single lunch during the day.  This is something to be looking forward to.

Congratulations to College House who won the first ever inter-house netball tournament.  Year 12 students took part in this high-spirited event which saw both boys and girls play together.  It is always fun watching the boys try and bring the rules of basketball into the game!  Thank you to Mr Hughes, Mr Highsted, Miss Wilson, Miss Dimmick and Mrs Coveney for supporting.

I wish to acknowledge the many students I see every day bring their cricket kit to school to take part in our after school cricket clubs.  Thanks to Mr Davies, Mr Calvert, Mr Rivers and Mr Johnston the profile of cricket has drastically increased across all age groups.  It is so good to see many students take part and see them using our new cricket nets alongside the all-weather.

Tuesday 11 May 2021

We start the week with one fewer year group in school.  Year 11 left last Friday after finishing all of their final assessments, and now they have gone the focus for the next two weeks will be on Year 13 and ensuring they do as well as they can in their final assessments.  This is their last push so good luck to them all.

Much of the work over the next couple of weeks will be to prepare the students and staff for Monday 24 May: the day when we return to our normal timetable and to when teachers teach in their own subject areas and classrooms.  Since September teachers have been moving around the school site, teaching their classes in year group zones.  But with fewer students in school from Monday 24 Monday we are going to be moving to a point where students move around the site and have their lessons taught in departmental areas. Certain precautionary measures will be put in place to minimise risk, but this is something we have been looking forward to for a while.  It illustrates a big step forward to normality.

Tuesday 4 May 2021

Firstly, welcome back following the long weekend.  The May Day Bank Holiday weekend has always been my favourite bank holiday weekend of the year, and with the good weather, particularly on Saturday, it made for a pleasant extra break in the middle of a busy term.

Last week we enjoyed the last three inter-house football tournaments for years 7, 8 and 9.  Like all of the others they were strongly contested and played in good spirits. Congratulations to Barton House for winning both A and B competitions in Year 9; to Corpus Christi and College houses in Year 8; and Corpus Christi and Barton houses in Year 7.  All of these results get plugged into the overall House Cup Competition that will be awarded at the end of the academic year.  Thank you once again to the PE Department and to Mr Highsted for overseeing the events.

This week we welcome back Year 13 for their last three weeks of school.  During that time they will complete essential final assessments in each of their subjects before jetting off for a long summer holiday.  The hard work is not yet over, but some light at the end of the tunnel is slowly becoming visible. 

We also say goodbye this week to Year 11 who have come to the end of their time at MGS (for the moment).  They will complete all assessments by Friday and then leave having 17 weeks of holiday ahead of them!  Use it wisely, boys.

Finally, Haydn Price of Year 13 will be doing a 1.4 mile open-water swim in the Bournemouth 'Pier to Pier' on Saturday 3 July.  Haydn has started training, and gratefully welcomes donations towards the British Heart Foundation here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/haydn-price1?experiments=b2c_054_show_hide_fitness_totaliser%2Cb2c_059_donate_to_yourself_v3&isMobile=true&successType=StaticDonateButtonClick

Tuesday 27 April 2021

 Firstly, I wish to thank the PE Department for staging a series of inter-house football tournaments over the past few weeks.  So far we have seen years 10 to 13 compete for their respective bragging rights, with this week seeing years 7 to 9 compete for theirs.  Congratulations to College House for winning both the A and B competitions in the Year 10 tournament, and to Tonbridge and Barton for winning the A and B competitions respectively in the Year 11 tournament.  Good luck to years 7, 8 and 9 this week.

Thank you and well done to the students of Year 10 who took part in some Duke of Edinburgh training at the weekend.  Spirits were high, as I am sure the boys were eager to be outside enjoying each other’s company after the year we have had, and the feedback from the duty staff was excellent.  Thank you to Ms Adams and Ms Alloy for organising the experience.

This week Year 13 continue with their mock exams, with Year 11 beginning to sit some of their final assessments.  I am sure at the moment there are a number of anxious students and parents out there - and we really do understand the pressures that everyone is going through - but the hard work will pay off and soon there will be a very long summer holiday to enjoy.  Good luck to all students taking any kind of assessment.

To begin recognising the eventual farewell to Year 13 the year group has its leavers’ photograph this week.  Tomorrow morning the entire year group will be smartly dressed and will stand together for the penultimate time.  The photograph will be treasured by many for years to come, so let us hope the weather is good for them.

And also this week the Year 7 Parents’ Evening takes place. Since September parent consultation evenings have been delivered online with great success, so let us hope that this time our Year 7 parents have a positive experience.

Tuesday 20 April 2021

Welcome back to school and to the start of Term 5; I hope you have all had a well-deserved break.  I hope the Easter break provided a chance to catch up with friends and family as well as provide an opportunity to enjoy elements of the lifting of some lockdown restrictions.  Sadly, on Friday 9 April we received the news of the death of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.  The Union Flag was flown at half-mast on top of the School Gatehouse throughout the eight-day period of mourning. Our thoughts have been with HM The Queen and the rest of The Royal Family during this very sad time.

We return to school this week with two weeks of exams for Year 13.  Just like the exams for Year 11 before the Easter break, these exams will form an important part of how we as a school assess the students for their final examination grade.  Best of luck to Year 13.  Year 13 now have only five weeks before they leave MGS.  Over that time they will complete these exams, complete any other final assessments that are required, and prepare themselves for their leavers’ day, which will be on Friday 21 May.  The last day for Year 13 is always an emotional day as many students form a connection to MGS that is very special.  Let us not wish those five weeks away!

To contrast, Year 11 have only three weeks remaining.  Their last weeks will also include any final assessments that are required as well as their own leavers’ day.  Many students from Year 11 will return to the sixth form, but after the year they have had, I am sure emotions will be high.  Year 11 leave on Friday 7 May.

Speaking of Year 11, today after school the Year 11 Inter-House Football Tournament takes place.  We have already seen years 12 and 13 complete theirs, so tonight it is Year 11’s chance to show us what they are made of.  Good luck to the players and thank you to the PE Department for arranging.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the English Department and Ms Wilson for leading on our Read to Succeed campaign.  The campaign’s main agenda is to promote the love of reading across the school - part of it being a number of members of staff videoing themselves talking about their favourite book or making a book recommendation to the students.  Thank you to the staff who have contributed and to Ms Wilson for leading on the campaign.