Tuesday 7 March 2023

This week it is the turn of Year 9 to complete a set of examinations. After six months of studying for their GCSEs, it is a good time for Year 9 to understand where they are and what they need to be doing going forward. Good luck Year 9. 

Tomorrow is the Year 11 Parents' Evening.  Following the Year 11 mock examinations a couple of weeks ago it is a chance for the parents to hear about how their children are getting on and what they now need to do in these last few weeks of school. I am sure the evening will be a positive one for many; but I am also sure it will be a nudge for others!

Congratulations once again to the senior hockey squad who won their fourth consecutive match last week against a tough Langley School, maintaining their 100% record this season. Good job everyone. 

On Sunday, a few of the RAF cadets took part in the final of the prestigious RAF Air Squadron Trophy. In the past we have won the trophy, so the expectations on the cadets were high. Sadly the cadets did not place, but they did come second in the Command Task, being beaten by only one point.  Thank you to the staff who supported the cadets.

Over the last few weeks, the rugby players have been returning to school after doing well at the numerous Rugby 7s tournaments that take place this time of year. Beating schools such as Dartford Grammar School and The Judd School are significant wins, and are examples that illustrate how MGS Rugby has progressed over the last few years. Well done to everyone involved, and good luck to the senior players who take part in the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s im a couple of weeks.

Finally, I had the absolute pleasure last week in inviting Rafe Lamb and Jessica Riedl to be next year's school captain and school vice-captain. After a rigorous application and interview process, involving 25 applicants and eight shortlisted candidates, these two students demonstrated the qualities that were need to do well in the roles. Congratulations to them both, and well done to the other six shortlisted candidates who did themselves proud.

 

Tuesday 28 February 2023

Following last week’s school captain and school vice-captain interviews, I am delighted to announce that Rafe Lamb and Jess Riedl, both of Year 12, will be taking on the respective roles for the 2023-24 academic year.  Congratulations to them both, and well done to the other shortlisted candidates who did extremely well reaching the final eight. 

Congratulations must also go to the MGS Senior Hockey Squad who won their third game of the season beating Ashford School 5:0.  That is a 100% record so far.  Well done to the players and thank you to Mrs Cook for supporting them.

This week it is the turn of for year 13 students to complete their second set of mock examinations.  With only three months before the A-Level examinations, this set of mock examinations marks the beginning of the ‘business end of the year’.  Good luck to them all, and let us hope the revision for the summer is well underway!

 

Tuesday 21 February 2023

Welcome back to school and to Term 4; I hope you had a good half term break. 

Firstly, I would like to thank the entire school community for supporting the non-uniform day that we had on Friday 10 February in aid of the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.  Since that day we have watched the story unfold, seeing images of both hope and despair of the many millions of people who have been impacted.  Thank you MGS.

We return to school this week with three weeks of internal examinations.  Years 11 and 13 go through another set of mock examinations following their first set before Christmas, and Year 9 complete their examinations during the second week of March.  Good luck to them all.

It is at this time of year when I spend a couple of days interviewing candidates for next year’s school captain and school vice-captain roles. This week I am interviewing eight shortlisted candidates from an original group of 25 applicants to see who will take over from Ethan and Sam from April.  I will announce the two successful candidates in next week’s blog.

Tuesday 7 February 2023

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who attended the MGS Parents’ Association Quiz Night last Friday.  Fun was had by all, with the Hudson family beating the Senior Leadership Team by one point!  Congratulations to the Hudson family.  A huge thank you must go to the Parents’ Association, the sixth form helpers, and to Mrs Friend for supporting the event.

I would also like to congratulate College House for their charity day which I mentioned in last week’s blog.  The charity day on Friday 26 January was for the British Heart Foundation, and after adding up all the money a total of over £2600 was raised.  Well done to College House, and to Mr Hughes, Miss Dimmick and the College House prefects for their efforts.

But a huge congratulations must go to the Senior Hockey Squad who played their first game last Wednesday in over 15 years.  Not only was it their first game, it was also their first win, beating Gravesend Grammar School 4 – 3.  Well done to the players and thank you Mr Saunders and Mrs Cook for training them.

Yesterday, parents of year 12 students attended our UCAS Information Evening: an evening to learn more about the UCAS process that will begin in earnest very soon.  Thank you for coming, and I hope that the evening was informative.

This week we enjoy the Upper School Spelling Bee where our senior students compete against each other to find the best speller amongst them.  Good luck to everyone who is taking part; and thank you to Miss Wilson for once again organising the competition.

Wednesday is another evening for parents, but this time for parents of Year 8 at the Year 8 Parents’ Evening.  It is at this time of the year when year 8 students begin the process of choosing their options, and so Wednesday’s parents’ evening is suitably positioned to help parents and students make informed choices.

And, on Friday, a group of students in years 7 and 8 fly out to Italy to have a long weekend learning more about Pompeii and what life was like for Romans when Pompeii was destroyed in the eruption of Mt Vesuvius.  I am sure they will have wonderful time.  Thank you to Ms Adams for organising the trip. 

Tuesday 31 January 2023

I write this blog from Boston, Massachusetts whilst accompanying 24 students at the Harvard Model United Nations Conference.  Once again, the experience of attending such an event was truly incredible. The students debated world issues on a world stage with 4000 other students from across 60+ other countries. It was an absolute pleasure seeing them do their thing; an experience they will never forget.  Thank you to Mrs Van Mol for organising the trip and supporting the students over the last four months, and thank you to Miss Alloy for joining us both.

Continuing my thanks, I wish to also thank members of the Senior Leadership Team for looking after MGS whilst I was away, and Mr Hughes, Miss Dimmick and College House for organising last week’s charity day.  Even though I could not attend, the day went extremely well, which included Mr Hughes running 30 miles on a treadmill - helping to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.  Thank you College House and well done Mr Hughes.

This week we look ahead to February and LGBTQ+ History Month.  Throughout February we will be flying the rainbow flag on top of the gatehouse as well as putting on a number of events to raise the profile of this very important issue.  It all begins with my assemblies highlighting the history behind the Month.  

On Friday we see the return of the February Parents’ Association Quiz Night.  Due to Covid we had to cancel the 2021 one, and last year the event moved to the summer.  Once again I am quizmaster, and this year’s theme is the number 10.  Do come along.  Doors open at 7pm, with the quiz starting at 7.30pm.

 

Tuesday 24 January 2023

Hello there, Mr Hanratty here.

I am delighted to be the guest author of the Headmaster's blog this week. As you may already know, the Headmaster is attending the prestigious Harvard Model United Nations Conference in Boston, where 24 of our senior students are representing MGS and also have the honour of representing Ukraine at the event. This is a remarkable achievement for the school, as we are the only UK school attending the conference, and it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students and staff.

While the conference is the main focus of the trip, students and staff are also taking the opportunity to explore New York. They will be experiencing American culture and immersing themselves in the diverse and vibrant atmosphere of the city.

Do follow our social media feeds for updates and photos from the trip.

Congratulations to our Senior 1^st XI Football Squad who made history last week by winning the East Kent Premier Division with a game in hand, and going undefeated all season! This is a remarkable achievement that showcases the talent, determination and teamwork of the players, and the support and guidance of our PE Department, and their coach Mr Hughes. This victory is the first in over a decade for the school, and has made the entire school community proud of their achievement.

Last week's Post 16 Open Evening and Open Mornings were a great success. Our sixth form prefects went above and beyond in their roles as tour guides and representatives of the school, and Amelia L (Y12 Tonbridge House) and Lucy S (Y13 College House) did themselves and the school proud in their presentations to our guests at the Open Evening. It is not easy speaking to such large audiences and both Amelia and Lucy did a great job! The events truly highlighted the strong sense of community that exists within the school, and it was inspiring to hear our students and staff speak with pride and passion about the school. These events remind us of why MGS is such a special and unique place to study and work.

Last week, several of our scheduled football and basketball fixtures were postponed. Outside of our Senior 1^st XI Football Squad’s historic 3-2 win against Norton Knatchbull Grammar School, our U14A side had a 3-2 loss against Oakwood Park Grammar School in the Kent Cup and our U15A side had a 1-0 loss in a friendly against Skinner's School. This week, our U15A basketball side has a friendly against NTC, our U16A basketball side has a friendly against Beth's Grammar School, our 2^nd XI side has a league match against Aylesford School, our 1^st XV side has a friendly against Ravens Wood School and the U15A football side has a Kent Cup match against Holmesdale Technical College. Good luck to all those participating in fixtures this week! 

This Friday, College House is organising a Charity Day event to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. The event will feature a cake sale, a re-gifting shop stall, a teacher talent show, and a non-uniform day. Additionally, our Head of College House, Mr Hughes, will be attempting to run 30 miles on a treadmill in Piccadilly on Friday to raise funds. He will also be participating in the London Marathon to support the cause. The school community is excited for this upcoming event and is looking forward to raising money for a good cause.

Tomorrow is an important date for our Year 13 students as it marks the UCAS application deadline. This serves as a reminder of how quickly the academic year is progressing and how soon the exam season will be upon us. Our school motto, ‘Olim Meminisse Juvabit’, reminds us that the hard work put in now will pay off in the future when students look back on their time here. As the exams approach, it is crucial for students to stay focused and motivated, knowing that the outcome will be worth it in the end.

Do have a read of next week’s blog, in which the Headmaster will share his experiences and insights from the Harvard trip. Until then, take care and have a good week.

Tuesday 17 January 2023

Firstly, congratulations to Corpus Christi netball players who won last week’s Inter-House Mixed Netball Competition.  There was a fantastic turnout for the competition, with all four houses well represented and over 35 sixth form students taking part.  Many of the students had never played netball before, but learned quickly and gave their all for their team.  It was also pleasing to see many supporters, lining the court and giving encouragement to those playing, after school had finished. 

Last week we received some pleasing news after an application we made to the Woodland Trust for some new tree saplings.  We have been given 30 new tree and hedge saplings that will help contribute to our green agenda as well as improve the aesthetics of the school site.  We will receive them in March and look to galvanise the students to help plant them.

This week the Year 10 exams, that started last week, continue.  These exams are not only helping the students, parents and us understand where the students are, they also illustrate to the students how examinations work and what the regulations are.  So far, so good.

The main feature of this week is the Post 16 Open Evening, which takes place on Thursday, and the accompanying Post 16 Open Mornings, taking place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  At these events we will be welcoming our own year 11 students and parents as well as many other students and their families from other schools to see if they wish to consider MGS for the sixth form.  The open mornings are appointment only, but the evening event is open door.  Doors open at 4.30pm.

Finally, good luck to the Senior 1^st XI Football Squad who play Norton Knatchbull School in the Kent league on Wednesday.  The game is away, and if they win, we win the Kent league for the first time for over 10 years.  Best wishes to the players and to their coach, Mr Hughes.

Tuesday 10 January 2023

Happy New Year and welcome to my first blog of 2023.  I hope you all had a good Christmas and a well-deserved break.

We returned last week to a three-day week and the tail end of the formal Christmas period.  Normally we look forward to the year ahead and have Christmas behind us, but with the need to postpone the Christmas meal that many students purchased to enjoy in December, the start of the new term had a festive element to it.  It was so good seeing the students enjoy their meals together and wearing their Christmas Crowns, even if it was January.  Thank you to Cucina, our food provider, for putting on a good spread.

Last week we also saw the 1^st XI senior football squad beat Harvey Grammar School 6 - 1 to produce a deciding match against Norton Knatchbull next week to determine who wins the Kent league. The squad has had an excellent season to date, not losing a match in nine games, and so excitement is brewing because MGS has not won the senior league for over 10 years. Good luck boys.

Friday last week we welcomed over 30 families into the school at the first Post 16 Open Evening. Our own sixth form students guided the families around the school to see a typical day at MGS. Three more open mornings take place next week.

Finally this week, year 10 students complete a set of examinations that mark halfway in their GCSE studies. We wish them all well.

Tuesday 13 December 2022

Welcome to the last blog of the term and of 2022 and what has proved to be a challenging end of year.  Thank you for understanding the very difficult situation we found ourselves in with the extreme weather conditions.

Firstly, I would like to thank Major Highway and the cadets for inviting me to the annual MGS CCF Dinner on Friday.  About 30 people, including some Old Maidstonians and invited guests enjoyed an evening together over a lovely two-course meal cooked for us by our catering team.  Thank you CCF.

This week, as we approach the end of term, each house will have an assembly where it has become accustomed to hear from the School Captain and School Vice-Captain about their Christmases, and what they look forward to at this time of year.

I would like to wish you all a pleasant Christmas and peaceful and quiet New Year.

Tuesday 6 December 2022

Firstly, it is always good hearing from Old Maidstonians and how they are getting on after leaving MGS.  Hamish Reilly (OM 2019) took part in the U23 World Triathlon Championship in Abu Dhabi last Friday and won Bronze!  It was Hamish’s first time racing not only at this level championship but also at the Olympic distance, in what was an incredibly hot climate.  We are delighted for Hamish and wish him continued success.

This week we welcome back Year 11 from their mock examinations for the last two weeks of term.  Their examination papers are now being marked by their teachers, and so very soon we should find out how they got on. It is good to have Year 11 back.

Yesterday we enjoyed an hour with Year 12 and their parents at our annual GCSE Certificate Presentation Afternoon.  Students were presented with their GCSE certificates following three years of hard work as well as hearing from key staff and students about the School’s achievements.  Thank you to the parents who were able to attend as well as to the many Old Maidstonians who returned to see their old school once more and to sing the School Song.

The Year 10 Virtual Parents’ Evening is taking place on Wednesday providing an opportunity for parents to hear how their children are progressing through the GCSE years.  Let us hope the evening is a positive one.

Students in Year 8 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 donations in for a number of local homeless charities.  The usual £1 contribution on the gate for non-uniform will also apply.