Tuesday 30 January 2024

I begin this week with a huge thank you to the entire Senior Leadership Team who led the school in my absence last week, and to Mr Hanratty for writing last week's blog. I returned yesterday following a week accompanying 24 Year 12 students who attended the Harvard Model United Nations Conference in Boston. We had an amazing time sightseeing in New York as well joining 3,600 other students from across the world at the conference. A massive thank you to Mrs Van Mol for leading the trip, and for Miss Alloy for joining us both. 

Congratulations to Amelia and Joe of Year 13 who successfully progressed to the national finals of the Oxford Schools Debating Competition.  Last night eight students from years 12 and 13 took part in the regional round, four of whom having just returned from the Harvard trip, and Amelia and Joe, who have led the MGS Debating Club all year led by example and broke through.  Well done to everyone who took part

This week the Year 13 mock exams continue. Starting last week Year 13 students are completing seven days of exams to assess where they are four months before their A Level exams in the summer. I hope the opportunity to find out where students' strengths and weaknesses is welcomed.

Today we welcome parents of Year 8 to attend their virtual parents' evening - hearing from subject teachers about progress as well as recommendations for GCSE options. 

On Thursday, with it being the first day of February, the school begins its acknowledgement of LGBTQ+ History Month, which this year has a theme of healthcare and medicine. Once again the Pride flag will be flying on top of the gatehouse, display screens across the school will be showing images of renowned figures in the field of medicine and healthcare, and some form time activities will be adapted to acknowledge the month. 

Also on Thursday it is the deadline for applications for the roles of School Captain and School Vice-Captain for 2024-25. A number of Year 12 students have thrown their hat in the ring, but will need to wait until next week to see if they have been shortlisted for the interviews the week after half term. Best wishes to all who apply.

 

Tuesday 23 January 2024

Hello there, Mr Hanratty here, in the absence of the Headteacher who is currently in the USA with our Year 12 students and staff members representing the school at the prestigious Harvard Model United Nations Conference in Boston. Prior to the conference this weekend, the staff and students are staying in New York, immersing themselves in the sights and sounds while enjoying everything the city's culture has to offer.

We are honoured to be the only UK school attending this conference, a testament to the hard work, commitment, and impact of our staff and students year after year. We send our best wishes to all the students and staff participating in the conference, and we will be sharing updates and photos from the trip on our social media profiles later this week and next.

Last Thursday, our Sixth Form Open Evening took place. A massive thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the event. A particular thanks must go to those staff and students who worked outside in the freezing temperatures to support the event. A special thanks must also go to Megan J (Year 12 Barton House) and Vice School Captain Jess R (Year 13 College House) who proudly spoke about the School and shared their Sixth Form experiences with our visitors during both presentations in the Big Hall. We are delighted to report a record number of applications to join the Sixth Form, and submissions are still coming in before the deadline this Thursday.

This Thursday also marks the start of our Year 13 Mock Exams, scheduled to run until Monday 5 February. It has been heartening to see how seriously Year 13 have taken their preparation for these exams and they are working hard to put their best foot forward. A special thanks to all the staff providing last minute revision sessions for Year 13. These exams serve as a valuable indicator of how Year 13 students will fare in their upcoming exams starting in May. Best wishes to Year 13 in their final preparations and during the exams – you've got this!

Also this Thursday (there is a lot going on this Thursday), a number of staff and students will travel to Queen’s College, Cambridge. We regularly visit universities as a part of careers and destinations programme, and our students and staff always return with positive feedback, and an extra bounce in their steps. On the subject of Cambridge, we extend our best wishes to our prospective Cambridge candidates, hoping for the best as they await confirmation of their offers tomorrow.

We have a wide variety of fixtures scheduled for this week: this afternoon, our U13A basketball team will compete against Wrotham School at home, while our U14B football team will also face Wrotham at home. Tomorrow, we have two football away fixtures, with our 1st XI playing against Judd and our 2nd XI against Oakwood. On Thursday, our 1XI hockey squad will play away at Ashford School. The sporting week will conclude with four football sides (U13A, U13B, U12A, and U12B) competing against Ewell Castle School at home. Best of luck to all those participating.

In last week's fixtures, the U14A football team secured a 3-1 victory against Wrotham on Monday. Despite an unfortunate loss in U16A basketball against The Canterbury Academy (67-70) on Tuesday and a 1-1 draw for our U14B football side against The Howard School last Thursday, Friday brought success for our U16A basketball team with a 74-51 scoreline against Wrotham School. Unfortunately, our U14A football side experienced an unlucky loss against Ravens Wood School (3-5). The Saturday fixture resulted in a 1-4 scoreline favouring Hurstmere against our U14B football side. Congratulations to all for their efforts, and a massive thank you to the staff and families who supported these fixtures.

Do have a read of the Headteacher’s blog next week, where he will undoubtedly provide an update on their exciting trip stateside. Until then, take care and have a good week.

I begin this week’s blog with two very sad pieces of news.  Firstly, friend and Old Maidstonian Paul Oldham passed away last week following a long battle with cancer.  Paul was a huge supporter of the School, despite leaving MGS back in 1963, and was integral in the recent redevelopment of the War Memorial Library.  We send our condolences to his friends and family.  The second piece of the upsetting news is the sad death of Mary Pettit, wife of former headmaster Dr Philip Pettit, who died just after Christmas from a short illness.  Mrs Pettit was associated with MGS for over 50 years - since her husband became headmaster in 1972 and seeing her grandson achieve a place here a few years ago.  We also send condolences to her close and wider family.

In contrast to this sad news, huge congratulations must go to Rafferty Pedder (OM 2013 – 2018) who made his professional football 1^st team debut last Saturday for QPR in the third round of the Men’s FA Cup against Bournemouth.  Well done Rafferty.  Also, following this football theme, the 1^st XI football squad beat Sir Joseph Williamson School 10 – 0 in the Kent Cup, a team that they lost to earlier in the season in the East Kent Premier League.  Well done to the entire squad.

At the weekend the students and staff trekking to Everest Base Camp in April went on their third practice walk, this time west of Sevenoaks in the Ide Hill area.  The 24km walk enjoyed the Greensands Way, Chartwell House, and the small town of Westerham.  Everyone returned with no blisters and a smile!

This week we open our doors to the wider Maidstone community and welcome prospective sixth form students to our Post 16 Open Evening.  Throughout the evening there will be opportunities to hear from key staff about life at MGS as well as speak to current sixth form students about their experiences.  We hope that everyone has an informative evening. 

Following four months of after-school rehearsals, preparations for this year’s school production have now moved into the Big Hall.  The Wedding Singer takes place in the first full week of February, and so last week and this week’s all-day rehearsals are a significant step to the main event.  Do come along on Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 February at 7.30pm for an enjoyable evening.

On Sunday, 24 Year 12 students, accompanied by three members of staff, fly out to the United States to attend the Harvard Model United Nations Conference.  Following three sight-seeing days in New York the group travels to Boston and to the Conference to put into practise what they have been working on since September.  It will be an amazing experience for the students, and one that will become a memory they cherish for a long time.

 

Tuesday 9 January 2024

Even though we returned to school last week, welcome to the first full week of 2024.  With Mr Hanratty being absent from school last week, this week we will be enjoying his New Year assembly, presented to each house.  Once again, we can say Happy New Year.

I continue this blog by commiserating the senior football players as last Wednesday they sadly lost their game in the last 16 of the National Cup.  The team were 2 – 0 up within 15 minutes, but went on to lose 4 – 3 to Newham College, Brighton.  It was a disappointing result, but the players and coaches should be very proud of what they achieved both on and off the pitch. 

Last Friday I launched the process of finding the next school captain and school vice-captain to Year 12.  It is this time of year when we begin the search, and by the start of Term 4 we will know the next two incumbents.  Best wishes to all who decide to apply.

Today after school the Year 11 Parents’ Evening takes place.  Parents will hear from subject staff about how their children are getting on, and how they should use the next four months to position themselves well for the GCSE examinations. 

Also this week we open our doors to the wider community for the first of three Post 16 Open Mornings.  On each morning prospective sixth form students will have a tour of the school and hear from their guides about what it is like being a Maidstonian as well as studying A-levels at MGS.  These mornings will be followed by the Post 16 Open Evening on Thursday 18 January.

Tuesday 2 January 2024

Happy New Year and welcome to the first blog of 2024.  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break and a well-deserved rest. 

I start the new term with news that on Friday 8 December, at our annual Christmas-themed charity day, we raised £1,206.38 for Homeless Care, an organisation that supports the homeless and vulnerable in the Maidstone area.  Thank you to everyone who supported the day.

During this four-day week there are two main events: the rescheduled Year 13 Parents’ Evening and the Year 8 Information Evening.  The Year 13 Parents’ Evening provides a chance for parents to hear how their children are getting on, and the Year 8 Information Evening provides parents with greater detail and understanding in the upcoming GCSE options process.  Both events take place on Thursday.

However, the biggest event of the week is Wednesday’s football match, which will see the senior 1^st XI football squad compete in the Last 16 of the National Cup.  The players have done so well in getting this far, and there is only 90 minutes between them and the quarter-finals.  Good luck to them all.

Tuesday 5 December 2023

Firstly, I would like to congratulate the 2^nd XI football squad who last week won the East Kent Premier League.  This is a massive achievement for the players and the school.  In other football news, on Wednesday the 1^st XI football squad take on Wilson’s School in the last 32 of the National Cup.  The squad has done so well in getting this far, but with it being the last 32, the competition is bound to be pretty strong.  Good luck to all the players and thank you to Mr Hughes for supporting the squad all season.

Yesterday we had the pleasure of presenting those Year 12 students who were at MGS in Year 11 with their GCSE certificates at our annual GCSE Certificate Presentation Afternoon.  Joining the year group were a number of parents as well as Mrs Ceri Norey, chair of governors.  Congratulations to all those who received a certificate.

Today, parents of Year 13 hear from their child’s teachers at the Year 13 Parents’ Evening.  With six months to go before the A level examinations, now is a good time to prepare for the final push and utilise the mock exams in January to understand what needs to be done.

On Wednesday and Thursday this week Year 8 take part in a two-day activity to understand what their futures might look like beyond MGS.  Called the Year 8 Careers Days, students will complete a series of task and hear form a number of people about what opportunities are out there and what GCSE subjects they should consider to support their strengths. 

Tuesday 28 November 2023

I had the pleasure last week to hear from three Year 10 students about their passion for karting.  Their goal is to compete in the British Schools Karting Championships as MGS, which is a first for the school.  I hope that we can support the students, and that they do well in what could be a new development for MGS.

At the weekend the weather was kind to those students and staff who enjoyed walking the footpaths of Kent in preparation for the Everest Base Camp trip in April.  Yes, it was cold, but the sunshine and clear blue sky made it an enjoyable few hours.  Thank you to Mr Rai for leading the walk.  Also at the weekend a group of about 40 students, accompanied by four members of staff, enjoyed a couple of days in Cologne experiencing its Christmas market.  I am sure lots of Stollen was bought!

This week there are a number of sporting fixtures across a number of different sports.  Following the results at the weekend against Dartford Grammar School, a couple of U13 rugby squads play The Judd School, the senior football squads play The Harvey Grammar School, and the Year 7 basketball players take on Rainham Mark Grammar School.  Good luck to them all.

On Thursday two polarised worlds come together to enjoy a day in Bath.  The Classics and Business Studies departments take a number of students and drive west to the Roman city to visit the Roman Baths and consider how it has developed its business as well as protect this important Roman site.  I look forward to hearing how the Venn diagram of these two subjects combined!

Tuesday 21 November 2023

Firstly, I would like to thank the Senior Prefect Team for leading on all of the arrangements for last week’s Children in Need charity day.  The 8-hour badminton-athon, the huge cake sale, as well as the non-uniform gate contributions, collectively raised over £2000. Thank you to everyone who supported the day.

Congratulations to some of our football squads who won their respective games last week.  The U13 and U15 teams beat The Lenham School 6 – 0 and 1 – 0 respectively, and the 1^st XI beat Buckswood School 5 – 3 in the National Cup.  Well done to all the players and thank you to the staff who continue to support the squads.

Continuing the congratulations for our sporting teams, MGS Rugby had a really good day on Saturday, not losing any of the matches against St Olave’s School.  Highlights were the 1^st XV 2^nd XV squads winning their respective games 29 – 0 and 68 – 0.  Well done to all players

Turning to this week…

This week Year 11 students return from their mock examinations to continue with their GCSE studies, but eagerly await the results in how they did.  On Thursday evening we will be enjoying a performance by some Year 9 drama students, and on Saturday the students going on the Everest Base Camp trip in April will be taking part in their second practice walk along and around the footpaths of the North Downs.

Tuesday 14 November 2023

Firstly, thank you to Lt Col Highway for making the arrangements for last week’s Remembrance Service at school and thank you to the 70+ CCF cadets and adult volunteers who took part in Sunday’s Remembrance Parade in Maidstone.  The Act of Remembrance will always be important to Maidstone Grammar School.

This week we are acknowledging two charities.  Yesterday we invited students and staff to wear odd socks and unusual ties to acknowledge Anti Bullying Week, and on Friday the annual charity day to raise money for the BBC Children in Need Appeal takes place.  On Friday, as well as the usual non-uniform, we will also be selling cakes and putting on a sponsored sporting event.  Thank you to the students and staff for organising both days.

Tuesday 7 November 2023

Firstly, I would like give a huge thank the MGS Parents’ Association and all the staff and student helpers who supported Saturday’s firework display.  The weather prior to the display was somewhat challenging, but the rain stopped and the winds eased to allow for an enjoyable evening.  Thank you also to the many hundreds of you who came along to enjoy the display.

Also, at the weekend the MGS rugby players took part in the fixture against Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School.  Congratulations to the entire rugby contingent as for the first time this season we brought home wins for each of the squads.  The U13 and U14 A and B squads who were all at home and the U15 and senior squads were away.  Well done boys for what is a very strong rugby school. 

Today after school Year 12 parents hear from their child’s subject teachers at the Year 12 Virtual Parents’ Evening.  It is the first parents’ evening of the academic year, but for Year 12, it provides an early indication of how they are progressing with their A Level studies.

On Friday the community of MGS pauses for two minutes at our Remembrance Service and remembers those fallen Maidstonians who have died in conflict or in serving their country.  This year we acknowledge the 80^th anniversary of the Dambuster Raids, 75 years of the Windrush Generation and the 60^th anniversary of the end of National Service.