Maidstone Grammar School
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| Maidstone Grammar School | |
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| Olim Meminisse Juvabit | |
| Established | 1549 |
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| School type | Grammar School |
| Headmaster | Mr Neil Turrell, BSc MA FCollP FRSA |
| Location | Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom |
| Students | ~1200 |
| Teaching staff | ~70 |
| Website | www.mgs.kent.sch.uk |
Maidstone Grammar School is a secondary school located in Maidstone, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1549. The school takes boys at the age of 11 and over by examination and boys and girls at 16+ on their GCSE results. They can take boys into other years if they are suitably qualified and there are places available. The school currently holds over 1200 students and over 70 teachers.
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[edit] Building
The main school building is around a Tudor-style quadrangle with a cloister on one side. A new block was added in the 1960s. A sixth form and arts and crafts block was added in 1981. This newer building completes a second quadrangle. In 2005, a new refectory and teaching block of 15 classrooms was built. As well as over 100 classrooms, there are twelve science laboratories, a language laboratory, seven computer centres, a set of music rooms, lecture theatre, gym and sports hall.
[edit] Sixth form
The sixth form is one of the largest and most successful in the South-East. Most students stay on after 16. Each year the school takes up to 200 students into Year 12, including around thirty girls, accepting students from any school according to their GCSE results. The size of the sixth form means they can offer AS and A2 courses in a wide variety of combinations, as well as the International Baccalaureate as an alternative to A levels.
[edit] Careers
The careers programme starts with Year 8 students taking part in the Real Game. All students from Year 9 upwards get careers advice, individually and as part of the PSHE and Tutorial Programmes. The school works closely with a careers consultant and with Careers Management Kent and Medway. All Year 9 students attend a careers fair and take part in group sessions to help make the right choices for GCSE and learn about the world of work. In Year 10 they try to identify your skills and aptitudes. In Year 11 the students have access to individual interviews with the careers consultant, who gives them impartial advice and an action plan. In addition the school offers the Morrisby Profile. They provide detailed advice for the majority, who wish to pursue academic courses in the sixth form. There is an alternative programme for Year 11 leavers. In Year 12 form tutors give students advice on university and employment options. There is a week of Work Experience. In the past students have shadowed MPs, barristers, solicitors, accountants, architects, engineers, policemen, journalists and doctors. They have also worked with Rolls Royce, Meridian TV, ITN, and Hoverspeed. They have travelled as far a field as Paris and even Hong Kong. Also, students attend a Higher Education Fair. In Year 13, university applications are made, and those who do not apply to university receive appropriate advice. The school library has a careers and higher education section with computer, video and paper resources, as well as the prospectus of every university in the United Kingdom. All are shown how to use these, and a librarian is always on hand to assist. The school has many well-established contacts in industry, commerce, the professions and higher education.
[edit] Sport
Sport is an important part of school life at MGS. There are five full time specialist PE teachers who manage teams in a variety of sports. The school has a lot of help from other staff as well as parents and friends. All have helped the school achieve the excellent results in recent years. Recent seasons have particularly been good for rugby, football, field hockey, cricket and athletics and many league and cup trophies have been won.
[edit] Combined Cadet Force
The school has one of the oldest Combined Cadet Forces in the country (founded 1906). It has an Army, Navy and RAF section and accepts students on a voluntary basis when they reach year nine. All sections have been successful over the years with many national and local titles being won. RAF cadets have gained flying scholarships and private pilot's licences. Army cadets have won scholarships at Welbeck and Sandhurst. Naval cadets have won places at Dartmouth. The school's shooting team has been very successful. Cadets can take part in activities such as abseiling, first aid, map and compass work, climbing, canoeing and sailing. On the last CCF summer camp the contingent won 2 out of 5 competitions and are hoping to achieve the same or better on the next one. The RAF section has also shown skill in competitions, winning the Ground Training Tournament 5 times out of the 10 times it has been held. This year's team has got through to the national final, and is hoping for another success.
[edit] Drama
The school's major productions in recent years have included West Side Story (most recently); Measure for Measure; Dr Faustus; The Real Inspector Hound; The Importance of Being Earnest; Lord of the Flies; Scrooge, the musical; Les Miserable School Edition; and West Side Story. They have also produced The Wind in the Willows; Me and My Girl; and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Hazlitt Theatre. This years show is Little Shop of Horrors please contact the school to book tickets
[edit] Music
Music plays in important role in school life. Many pupils play instruments, and ensembles exist for beginners and advanced instrumentalists. The orchestra has in the past performed Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Schubert's Unfinished Symphony and Dvorak's Symphony From the New World. The Concert Wind Band follows an equally ambitious programme, playing theme tunes from the movies and popular standards. The school choir has performed requiems by Fauré and Rutter, Orff's Carmina Burana, and Britten's St. Nicholas. On the lighter side, there are the Jazz and Blues Band and many pop groups working in the department.
[edit] School Song
The school song, Gaudeamus, was written in 1908 by music-master Dr HF Henniker, ARAM to Latin words by the Headmaster at the time, Rev CG Duffield, MA [1]. It continues to be sung today, at Speech Day and other occasions, and is well remembered by those who attended the school.
Gaudeamus
Scholam concinamus nostram
Maidstonensi urbe impostam,
Rege Eduardo, ante hos tam
Longos annos conditam.
Maidstonenses gaudeamus
Laudibus, et efferamus
Scholam nostram, quae oramus
Sempiterna floreat.
Forsan olim meminisse
Nos juvabit, et vixisse
Dignos illis quos fuisse
Gloriamur socios.
Maidstonenses gaudeamus
Laudibus, et efferamus
Scholam nostram, quae oramus
Sempiterna floreat.
[edit] Trips
Recent years have seen visits to France, Germany, Spain, Greece and Canada. They have regular French, German and Spanish exchange partners. Groups of senior students have gone on World Challenge Expeditions to Uganda, India and the Himalayas, Peru, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan and an expedition to Bolivia is being prepared. Most recently, the school trip to China took place in October 2006, incorporating a visit to Xing Zhi Middle School in Baoshan District, Shanghai. The trip was highly successful and both schools have established a firm link, with students from Shangai planning to visit Maidstone in July 2007. For Year 7 there is a European Experience day and for Year 8 an IT Activity weekend in the Summer term.
[edit] The Maidstonian
The Maidstonian is the school's annual publication of reports, articles, news and original contributions. Originally simply a record of every member of staff, as well as each pupil and his form, The Maidstonian has evolved into a publication that is written by pupils, for pupils. Editions include information about any staff that left or joined the school that academic year, reports from the CCF, Music Department, sports teams as well as diaries from foreign trips. Original contributions, mainly poetry, prose and artwork, feature heavily. The "Quote-Unquote" section remains a firm favourite with students and staff alike.
[edit] Alumni & famous teachers
Famous alumni of the school include
- James Burke, the popular science TV presenter
- David Chater, the ITN journalist
- Richard Beeching, who oversaw the closure of many railways in the 1960s
- Shaun Williamson, former EastEnders actor who played Barry Evans in the BBC soap
- Daniel Blythe, the writer
In addition, William Golding, author of Lord of the Flies, taught at the school between 1938 and 1940.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Maidstone Grammar School Website, School Song, accessed 27 July 2006
