Tuesday 11 January 2022

Welcome to my first blog of 2022.  Happy New Year to you all.  I hope you all had a good Christmas break and an opportunity to catch up with friends and family. 

The new term started last week with us testing those students who consented to have a lateral flow test.  I was delighted when I heard that we had tested the entire school in just one day, which meant that the disruption that it undoubtedly causes was kept to a minimum.  Many thanks to the testing team, which included a number of parents who came in to support.

Sadly, last week we had to cancel our Year 8 Information Evening and our Post 16 Open Morning due to the ongoing restrictions we are all experiencing, but alternative measures and events have already been put in place to provide the essential information that we wish to share.  Details of these will be shared soon.

This week is a relatively quiet week except for Year 13 who have their first set of mock exams.  All schools are being asked to run Plan B alongside Plan A, so Year 11 and Year 13 will be completing three sets of examinations over the course of the year to help their teachers, if required, give Teacher Assessed Grades in the summer.  Good luck to Year 13.

Tuesday 14 December 2021

Welcome to my last blog of 2021 - I cannot believe we have reached the end of the calendar year already.  I am sure, like me, you are looking forward to the upcoming festive period, particularly considering the restrictions we had to endure last year.  Once again I wish to thank the staff and students for bringing life back to MGS since returning to school since September – it has been so good seeing the energy and buzz around the place. 

Reflecting on last week, I would like to thank College House for organising last Friday’s Christmas-themed charity day.  Students and staff enjoyed the Christmas market in the Quad, sang along to numerous Christmas songs being played over the school Tannoy, and enjoyed the many cakes and gingerbread sweets on offer.  Everyone enjoyed the day and raised loads of money for charity.  Thank you for the support.

On Saturday the school rugby squads enjoyed the last weekend fixture of the season.  It has been so good having the rugby fixture programme return this year, but there is still one more game of the season: 1^st XV MGS vs. Oakwood this Wednesday.  Good luck to the players.

Yesterday we congratulated Year 12 at the GCSE Certificate Presentation Afternoon.  Students in Year 12 who were at MGS last year received their GCSE certificates in this formal event where the students came up on stage in the Hall to receive a round of applause from their peers.  In amongst the presentations, speeches were made by Mr Martin, Mr Rivers, and two students, before singing the School Song at the end.  A good way to finish the year.

This week there are of course a number of Christmas events to finish off the term.  Today and tomorrow the students enjoy their Christmas meal cooked for them by Cucina; on Thursday the MGS Christmas Concert and Carol Service takes place at 7pm at All Saints Church; and then on Friday I will be leading the Christmas assembly across the airwaves before everyone going home for a well-deserved break. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

Tuesday 7 December 2021

Firstly, a huge thank you to all the School’s rugby players who came out to play the biggest game of the season, The Judd School.  Following last week’s mixed performances against Dartford Grammar School I expect some players approached The Judd School with a little bit of trepidation.  Sadly, many of the results did not go our way, but a big well done to the U15 squad who came away with a win. 

And also at the weekend, four boys from years 9 and 10: Alan, Jack, Alex and Theo all competed in the final of the National Cross Country Competition in Newquay.  Out of the 28 schools that competed, the MGS team came 16^th, which was a fantastic result.  Well done boys, and thank you to the parents who made the long journey down to support them.

This week Year 11 return to normal lessons after two weeks of mock examinations.  Teachers are now busy marking the papers, with results being shared before Christmas.  Let us hope they do well. 

The Year 12 Virtual Parents’ Evening is taking place today providing an opportunity for parents to hear how their children have progressed at the start of their A-Level studies.  This is the first parents’ evening of the year, and just like last year, we are delivering it through our new School Cloud system which seemed to go down well last year.  Fingers crossed the technology works!

Students in Year 8 this week are involved in two days of activities that will help them think about future careers and in doing so get them to consider what GCSE subject choices they wish to make.  We have run these two days of activities for Year 8 for a number of years now and we have found they really help the students think about what they want to do after they leave MGS.

And on Friday we are hosting our Christmas Charity Day where students will be encouraged to wear a Christmas jumper, buy goodies from the MGS Christmas market, and bring food donations in for a number of local homeless charities.  The usual £1 contribution on the gate for non-uniform will also apply.

Tuesday 30 November 2021

To begin this week, I would like to return to the Odd Socks Day and the Children in Need charity days that both took place a couple of weeks ago.  At the time of writing last week’s blog we had yet to understand the total amounts of money raised, but now we do.  So, for the Odd Sock Day on Monday 15 November we raised just over £450 for the Anti-Bullying Alliance, and for Children in Need on Friday 19 November we raised just over £2600.  These are two fantastic figures that total just over £3000, which is the highest sum of money raised in one week at MGS in my time as headmaster.  A huge thank you to everyone who supported the two days, and to the students and staff who made them both happen.  Well done MGS.

Last Tuesday was a special moment for MGS as we completed our 100^th sporting fixture of the academic year.  The U15 and U14 football squads both came from 2-0 down to beat Oakwood Park Grammar School and Maplesden Noakes 3-2 in their respective cup games.  In addition, the U15 rugby squad secured a 25-25 draw against St Lawrence School to qualify for the next round of the National Vase Competition.  Well done to all the players and staff involved, and whilst the results mean very little in the grand scheme, the memories of the games will remain with the students for a very long time.

Over the weekend, eight Maidstonians competed in the Cambridge University Schools Debating Competition. This was conducted over Zoom this year and we missed out against Eton of all schools! This is an elite academic competition that only very few states schools are involved with, and our students put in an excellent performance, as well as gaining valuable experience for their upcoming university interviews. A particular mention must be given to Jessie P of Year 13 who demonstrated exceptional leadership behind the scenes in preparing all the students.

This week is a slightly quieter week for us before we build up to the end of term.  Year 11 continue with their mock exams all week and I drive down to Newquay in Cornwall on Friday to accompany the four students who are taking part in the National Intermediate Cross Country Final at the weekend.  Good luck boys.

 

Tuesday 23 November 2021

Firstly, I wish to thank the staff and students who ran last Friday’s Children in Need charity day.  From selling cakes to the hungry masses to the 8-hour Badminton-athon to burn off the calories, we all had great fun and raised a lot of money for the charity.  Thank you to everyone who supported the day.  Particular thanks to Sam, James, Henry and Freddie of Year 13 who played badminton for the full eight hours. Good job gents.

This week we begin a two-week period of mock examinations for Year 11.  They have been working really hard to prepare for these examination and we wish them well for a positive outcome.

A few pieces of good news in MGS sport:

Congratulations to the U18 basketball squad who played and beat Gravesend Grammar School 34 – 30 at a match last week.  It was an exciting match which clearly ended in our favour.  Well done to the squad and thank you to Mr Ashenfelter for leading the team.

Well done to the U15 XI football squad who took part in a tri-school competition last Wednesday with Aylesford School and Maplesden Noakes School, beating them both 2 – 1 and 1 – 0 respectively.  The boys’ efforts were tremendous, producing a strong sense of camaraderie amongst them.  Well done boys, and thank you to the many boys from Year 10 who stayed after school until gone 5pm to watch.

And congratulations to the 2^nd XI football squad who beat Oakwood Park Grammar School 2 – 0 in the District Cup.  The local derby is always a tense affair, and on this occasion we came away with the win.  Well done boys.

Tuesday 16 November 2021

Firstly, I would like to thank the CCF cadets and adult volunteers who attended the Maidstone Remembrance Service at the weekend.  Over 70 students and staff representing MGS paraded through the town to finally reach the War Memorial to coincide with the two-minutes silence.  Thank you all.

Secondly, I wish to congratulate the Boys' Intermediate Cross Country Squad who came second in the Regional Cross Country competition last week. Finishing in second place means that the boys have qualified in the National Final later in the year to be held at Newquay School, Cornwall. Well done boys.

Following the theme of cross country, many of our boys have enjoyed taking part in the inter-house cross country competitions that are currently taking place. Corpus Christi and Barton were 1^st and 2^nd respectively in Year 11, Barton and College in Year 10, College and Tonbridge in Year 9, and Corpus Christo and College were 1^st and 2^nd in Year 7.  Year 8 have yet to complete theirs.  Well done to all.

This week we our focusing our attention on acknowledging the national anti-bullying campaign that sees schools promote a culture of kindness and tolerance within their communities. To start the week off we yesterday enjoyed coming into school wearing odd socks or wearing a tie that was different to what we would normally wear. The students and staff had some fun, but the message of kindness and tolerance is an important one, and one that is already well established in the school.

On Friday we have the second of our school charity days, this time acknowledging the BBC Children in Need Appeal. A variety of activities will be going on around the school that the students can take part in, along with the selling of cakes and the wearing of non-uniform.

And finally, we are delighted to have received the positive news last week that we successfully achieved planning permission to build another floor on top of the current pavilion.  The new floor will house the MFL Department, providing much needed space for an expanding school.  Work will hopefully start in the new year.

Tuesday 9 November 2021

Firstly, I wish to thank the MGS Parents’ Association and all of the staff and students who helped support the MGS PA Firework Display on Saturday.  We were delighted that so many people were able to come to enjoy the event, and the weather held off to make it an enjoyable evening. Thank you to everyone who came along.

Thank you also to the students and staff who took part in the weekly rugby fixture against Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School and to the many parents who came along to watch.  Results were mixed, but it was once again an enjoyable occasion just being able to watch school sport once more.

Yesterday we held our inaugural mixed senior girl's netball inter-house tournament.  This was the first year we have been able to allow students from both Year 12 and 13 to participate collectively. The netball programme and opportunities available has gone from strength to strength over the last couple of years with fantastic support from Miss Dimmick and Mrs Coveney.  It was great to see participation from all houses yesterday in what was a competitive and well fought battle, played in the right spirit. There were some standout performances and lots of talent on display. The final game of the tournament between Corpus Chirsti and College houses had huge ramifications, as the winner would claim first overall place.  In a tense, back and forth affair, College House ran out as eventual winners after claiming an 8-3 victory. The girls now shift their focus and attention to their first competitive inter-school match taking place later this month with more fixtures scheduled later in the year.  

There one key event this week is the Remembrance Service which will take place on Thursday.  2021 is an important year as it marks the 100^th anniversary of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.  Sadly, due to Covid restrictions we will be unable to hold a normal service; instead announcing it over the school tannoy system. 

Tuesday 2 November 2021

Welcome back to Term 2, I hope you have a good half term break. 

 This week years 11 and 13 are having an organisation called VESPA speak to them about how they can improve their studies as they prepare for their future exams.  It is an organisation that bases its recommendations from evidence-based research and shares them in a clear, practical and on-the-ground way.  We hope the students value the opportunity.

On Saturday we are delighted to be hosting once again the MGS Parents’ Association Firework Display.  Due to last year’s restrictions we were unable to run the event, but this year it returns.  Gates open at 5pm with the display starting at 7pm.  Tickets are available in advance and on the gate.  Do come along and enjoy a spectacular display.  Entrance is via the Mote Park gate at the back of the school.

Tuesday 19 October 2021

I cannot believe we are already approaching half term.  It does not seem we have been at school for seven weeks.  The term has continued to be a good one, and one where we have seen life return to MGS.  Only on Saturday were we able to welcome many parents and visitors on site to enjoy the annual rugby fixture against Cranbrook School.  With it being the last game before the half term we made it more of an event, offering refreshments and conversation after the games.  A huge thank you to the players, staff, parents, and Old Maidstonians who made it an enjoyable day.

As well as the rugby at the weekend I also wish to thank the performers, staff and parents who supported the Autumn Showcase last week.  It was the first live concert for nearly two years and was full of high quality talent that has been eager to shine for a very long time.  Well done to everyone, and thank you to Mrs Brooks and Mr Bourne for hosting.

Today we again open our doors to the wider community and welcome families of prospective students to see the school at work at our Year 6 Open Morning.  Last Friday, at our first open morning, we were incredibly busy, so I am sure today will be no different.  The week of open events culminates on Thursday when we welcome everyone in again at our Year 6 Open Evening.  At that event the entire school will be open to walk around, see the many exhibitions that we put on, as well as hearing from me about what life is like at MGS.  As always the people who sell MGS are the students; they are a credit to their school as well as to themselves, and are our ambassadors.  Thank you to everyone who will be helping.

And finally congratulations to Oliver of Tonbridge House who competed in two Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitions at the weekend: The Somerset Open and The All Stars Welsh Pro.  He successfully won two golds and a silver medal in No Gi and Gi, competing against some of the top children in the country.  Well done Oliver.

Tuesday 12 October 2021

This week we reach a time when we can again open our doors to the wider school community. 

Last night we welcomed parents of year 9 students to attend the postponed Year 9 Information Evening.  Due to the fuel shortages a couple of weeks ago it was wise to postpone the event so as not to ask parents to make an unnecessary journey at that time.  With car petrol tanks replenished it was good to run the event last night.  We hope the evening was useful.

On Thursday, we welcome parents and friends of the school in to enjoy the Autumn Showcase.  Led by the Performing Arts department a host of players and performers will entertain the audience with their talents.  The evening starts at 6.30pm and will take place in room 95.

And on Friday we are holding our Year 6 Open Morning: a chance for boys in years 5 and 6 accompanied by their parents to see the school at work and decide whether they wish to come to MGS in the future.  Sadly, we were not able to host such an event, so we are delighted that we can, this year, have it return.