Tuesday 16 April 2024

Welcome to my first blog of Term 5; I hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

Yesterday, the 24 students and five staff who trekked to Everest Base Camp over the Easter holiday returned to the UK. We all had an amazing experience, and one that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Thank you to everyone who made it possible. Today is their first full day at school, and even though it was an incredible trip, it is so good returning to MGS and to routine. 

Just as we return though, a group of geography students and staff make the trip down to Swanage to complete essential A level fieldwork. We wish them safe travels and a rewarding week of activities. 

This week we begin to look forward to our 475 celebrations. The main week of celebrations for the school is next week, but on Friday we host the CCF Dinner and on Saturday we welcome back over 130 Old Maidstonians to the annual OM Supper. As well as these two events, an Old Maidstonian and former school captain will be in school all week capturing life at MGS now. Back in 1971 a video was produced to capture the life of the school then, and because we are celebrating the school's 475th birthday, the time has come to do the same again. Many aspects of the school will be recorded to reflect the essence and spirit of MGS, and so we look forward to seeing what is produced in the coming months. 

 

 

 

Tuesday 26 March 2024

Welcome to the last blog of Term 4.

Last week we enjoyed a ‘friendly’ one-off football match where we saw the MGS 1^st XI play the MGS 2^nd XI.  As we near the end of the season it was good to see fellow Maidstonians enjoy a friendly match to round off what has been a good year for both teams.  Spirits were high, fun was had by players and spectators, and we even saw guest appearances from Mr Hughes and Mr Smith who put their boots on and joined in.  Thank you all for an enjoyable event.  Also last week a number of students who study drama enjoyed a matinee performance of Life of Pi at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley.  A good time was had by all.

On Monday we welcomed back a number of Old Maidstonians who left in the summer last year to the A Level Certificate Presentation Evening.  About 60 OMs from last year’s Year 13 cohort returned to collect their A level certificates and enjoy each other’s company.  It was good to see them again.

Tuesday is the last day in school for me, four of my colleagues and 24 year 12 students before we leave for Nepal and trek to Everest Base Camp.  This trip has been two years in the making, and so I am delighted to be joining my fellow Maidstonians on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  We will bring back many photos and treasured memories. 

Good luck to Gabby of Year 13 who is representing England at the U18 Six Nations tournament this week.  We have followed her success over the last two years, and this opportunity to play for her country is a fantastic one.  Well done.

Finally, as this is the last blog before the Easter break, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a pleasant holiday and a well-deserved rest.  See you in a few weeks, and don’t eat too many chocolate eggs!

 

 

Tuesday 19 March 2024

Firstly, I wish to thank everyone for supporting last Friday’s charity and non-uniform day.  The amount raised for Mid-Kent Mind is yet to be finalised, but once again, the generosity from Maidstonians was very much appreciated.

At the weekend, the CCF Army Section took part in a Military Skills Competition against other CCFs in the South East. They took part in a variety of activities including military knowledge, shooting, radio communication and casualty evacuation. The MGS team continued to show their general ability to adapt to situations and performed well overall in the tasks finishing mid-table. Feedback was generally positive from the directing staff and lots of useful feedback has been provided allowing for development in preparation for the prestigious Cambrian Patrol competition in the summer term 

Today, parents of year 7 students hear from their child’s teachers about how their child has got on since joining MGS back in September. The Year 7 Virtual Parents’ Evening is an opportunity to hear how our youngest Maidstonians are progressing and how they are seeing MGS as their second home.  I am sure the evening will be a positive one.

This week we see a number of our rugby squads take part in the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens tournament.  Rosslyn Park Sevens is the largest school rugby tournament in the world and has been around since 1939.  It is always hotly contested with many very strong rugby schools attending.  Best wishes to the players, and thank you to the staff for accompanying.

This week is also the last full week before 24 year 12 students, accompanied by five staff, fly out to Nepal to begin their trek to Everest Base Camp.  Over the course of 19 days, the students fly to Kathmandu and then onto Lukla, before beginning the nine-day hike up and four-day hike down, before spending two more days in Kathmandu before flying back.  Best wishes to them all.  We look forward to hearing all about it when they return.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge Lieutenant George, an Old Maidstonian who left MGS in 2015.  Whilst he was at MGS, George took part in the CCF and always wanted to make the Royal Navy his career.  He is now commanding officer of HMS Trumpeter, and has just recently invited current MGS Royal Navy cadets onto a P2000 to show them around and tell them about his career to date.  Thank you George, and huge congratulations for making commanding officer.

Tuesday 12 March 2024

I start this week’s blog by remembering fellow Maidstonian Harrison, who sadly died in tragic circumstances one year ago.  On Friday last week, Harrison’s closest friend, Oliver, shared a few words with his year group about his friend and what life has been like for him in the last 12 months.  As well as this, on Friday of this week we use the charity day to raise money for Mid Kent Mind: a charity that supports the young people of Maidstone and surrounding areas.

On Thursday this week we welcome 30+ visitors to MGS to speak to many of our students at our annual careers event.  Students will be able to choose two different career talks to attend, ranging from engineering to finance, and law to medicine.  Thank you to the 30+ visitors, many of whom are Old Maidstonians, who have offered to come in to share their experiences.

Well done to Amelia and Joe, both of Year 13 and Tonbridge House, who competed in the final of the Oxford Schools Debating Competition at the weekend.  To reach the national final and have a chance to debate against some of the finest schools in the country and at one of the finest universities in the world was such an honour.  Across the four debates they achieved three 2^nd places and one 3^rd place.  The two of them should be very proud indeed.

Huge congratulations to Theo, of Year 11 and Corpus Christi House, who has been invited to interview for the prestigious Arkwright Scholarship for 2024.  From a group of seven year 11 students who applied, Theo was the only successful candidate – which goes to show the expectations and calibre expected for the next generation of upcoming engineers.  We are very proud of all seven students who participated this year, who will now forge ahead on their own path in design or engineering careers.

Tuesday 5 March 2024

Firstly, thank you to the MGS Parents’ Association for staging another enjoyable evening last Friday at the annual quiz night.  Thank you to the many parents, governors, students, Old Maidstonians and friends of MGS who came along to test their general knowledge.  Congratulations to Quizzy Rascals aka the Senior Leadership Team for winning the quiz, and thank you to the members of the Parents’ Association, the year 12 helpers, and to Mrs Friend for supporting.

At the weekend a number of our CCF cadets were out and about.  A group of Royal Navy cadets, accompanied by Ms Alloy and Mr Pinn, enjoyed the sights of Dartmouth taking part in a multi activity weekend at Britannia Royal Navy College, and two teams of Army cadets competed in mini military army skills competition against Skinners’ School in Ashdown Forest.

Over the last couple of weeks a number of squads have represented MGS at various Rugby Sevens tournaments across Kent.  Most mornings I see a mix of students, including a girls team, dressed in their MGS rugby kit to go off somewhere to play the fast-paced game.  Thank you to the players for representing the school, and to the staff who support them.

Today is the Year 9 Virtual Parents’ Evening.  It provides a chance for parents of year 9 students to hear how their child is getting on after embarking on their GCSEs six months ago.  I am sure it will be a positive evening for many.

On Thursday this week it is World Book Day, so throughout the week Ms Merrett, our literacy lead, will be leading a series of assemblies accompanied by students sharing their thoughts on their favourite books. 

On Friday I accompany two year 13 students to Oxford to take part in the final of the Oxford Schools Debating Competition.  Joe and Amelia, who both lead the Debating Club, have been debating together for nearly two years now, and are a force to be reckoned with.  In Oxford I am sure they will meet some strong competition, but it will be an absolute pleasure see them do their thing.  Good luck to them both.

Tuesday 27 February 2024

Firstly, well done to the Year 12 Everest walkers who completed two 20km walks over the weekend in preparation for the Everest Base Camp trip that is now only five weeks away.  On both Saturday and Sunday a group of 25 Maidstonians could be seen walking the footpaths of the North Downs getting very wet and muddy in the process.  Not long to go now before they depart.

This week is a slightly quieter week for us following a busy return to school last week.  The highlight for me last week was awarding the roles of school captain and school vice-captain to the two new incumbents.  Huge congratulations go to Isaac and Noah who were successful in the two-day interview process.  The two of them will now work with Rafe and Jess over the next couple of months before they officially take over in April.

This Friday is the annual MGS Parents’ Association Quiz Night.  This year’s theme is MGS 475: every question will have something to do with the letters M, G or S and the numbers 4, 7 or 5.  Knowledge of MGS is not required!  Tickets are still available so do come along.  Quiz starts at 7pm in the Big Hall.

20 February 2024

Welcome to Term 4 and the half-way point in the school year.  I hope you have had a good half term break and found an opportunity to recharge.

I start the term spending two days interviewing the eight shortlisted candidates for the roles of next year’s school captain and school vice-captain.  Eight Year 12 students were successful before the half term break in progressing to the final stages of the process, and so by Thursday this week we will know the next two incumbents.  Good luck to them all.

I also start this term by saying thank you to the staff and students involved in this year’s school production.  Three evenings in the week before the half term break audiences enjoyed being thrown back to the 1980s in The Wedding Singer.  A huge thank you to the musicians, cast and crew and to the members of staff who supported the production, led this year by Mrs Brooks and Mr Bourne.  Here’s to next year!

Finally, huge congratulations to Gaby of Year 12 who has just become the National Schools Equestrian Association County Dressage Champion achieving 2nd place in the Restricted Class and 1st in the Open.  She has now qualified to compete in the County Championship to be held in May at the All England Show Ground Hickstead.  Well done Gaby.