Maidstone Grammar School

Maidstone Grammar School
Motto Olim Meminisse Juvabit
"One day it will be pleasing to remember." from the Aeneid 1.203
Established 1549
Type Foundation Grammar School
Headteacher Mr M Tomkins
Chair of Governors Mark Rolfe
Location Barton Road
Maidstone
Kent
ME15 7BT
England
Coordinates: 51°15′55″N 0°31′52″E / 51.26538°N 0.53108°E / 51.26538; 0.53108
Local authority Kent
DfE number 886/4522
DfE URN 118835 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Staff 120
Students 1,273
Gender

Boys (11-16)

Mixed (16-18)
Ages 11–18
Houses      Challenger
     Churchill
     Endeavour
     Invincible
     Hurricane
     Spitfire
Colours Blue, Yellow.
Publication The Maidstonian
Former Pupils Old Maidstonians
School Song "Gaudeamus"
Website www.mgs.kent.sch.uk

Maidstone Grammar School (MGS) is a grammar school in Maidstone, England. The school was founded in 1549 after Protector Somerset sold Corpus Christi Hall on behalf of King Edward VI to the people of Maidstone for £200. The Royal Charter for establishment of a grammar school was also granted at this time.[1]

Admissions

The school takes boys at the age of 11 and over, by examination, and male and female pupils at 16+ on their GCSE results. The school currently has almost 1200 pupils and approximately 120 members of staff. The school holds both a Language College award and a Healthy School award. It is situated just off Loose Road (A229), west of Mote Park and the Mote Park Leisure Centre.

Buildings

The main school building surrounds 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, this building currently houses maths, history and art departments. There are over 100 classrooms, twelve science laboratories, a language laboratory, seven computer centres, music rooms, a lecture theatre, gym and sports hall and a canteen(refectory). A new 'Applied Learning Centre', with new editing suites, was completed in the 2010–11 school year, with a similarly styled 'Food Technology' and Sixth Form block having been opened in September 2011.

Houses

A house system was inaugurated in 1899 with three houses: School, East Borough and West Borough.[2] By c.1900 these houses were revised based on local geography, with East House being for those boys east of the river, West House for those boys on the western riverside, and School House for townspeople and boarders.[3] In September 2007 the school continued this tradition with the introduction of six school houses, these named after military vehicles: Challenger (purple), Churchill (yellow), Endeavour (red), Hurricane (green), Invincible, (blue), and Spitfire (white).

Sixth Form

The sixth form is one of the largest in the south-east of England. Each year the school takes up to 200 students into Year 12, including about thirty external pupils of mixed gender from any school according to their GCSE results. The sixth form teaches AS and A2 courses.

Sport

School sport participation includes rugby, football, field hockey, cricket, rowing, athletics, handball, and basketball.

Combined Cadet Force

The school has a Combined Cadet Force, with Navy, Army and RAF sections accepting students on a voluntary basis when they reach year nine. The Cadet Force, in particular the Army section, has roots in the Royal Engineers. The Navy section is affiliated with HMS Collingwood, a land establishment in Portsmouth, the Navy section is the senior service after the creation of the CCF in 1906.

School Song

In 1908 Rev C. G. Duffield (headmaster from 1898 to 1913), wrote words in Latin to the music of music-master Dr H. F. Henniker for Gaudeamus, the school song. The words, based on verses in Virgil’s Aeneid, are still sung on special occasions.[4][5]

The Maidstonian

The Maidstonian is the school's annual publication of reports, articles, news and original contributions. Originally a simple 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 member of staff who has left or who joined the school that academic year, reports from the CCF, Music Department, sports teams, and diaries from foreign trips. Original contributions are of mainly poetry, prose and artwork.

Future Developments

The school has recently created a development fund, funded by parents. The school plans to extend its pavilion and knock down and rebuild a Performing Arts Centre and create more science labs. The old CCF Scout Huts and Lab Hut 93 have also been demolished. It recently refurbished its main toilets and added automatic doors to the boys' entrance.

Notable Maidstonians

Former pupils of the school are called "Old Maidstonians" and include:

Art, Music & Literature

Media, television & film

Military

Politics & government

Religion

Science & academia

Sport

Other

Notable staff

References

  1. "School Sites » Maidstone Grammar School". www.mgs.kent.sch.uk. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  2. Brownfield G.The Maidstone Grammar School a record 1579-1965,Phillips
  3. Streatfield F, an account of the Grammar School in the Kings town and parish of Maidstone in Kent, Rogus and B,1915
  4. "MGS School Song", Old Maidstonian Society. Retrieved 29 October 2014
  5. "School Song", Maidstone Grammar School. Retrieved 29 October 2014
  6. "Paul Lewis – Biography". Debretts. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  7. Heart Radio
  8. Ben Babington-Browne
  9. "Air Vice-Marshal Mike Hedgeland obituary". Telegraph. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  10. Clare Horton. "Head of Shelter, Adam Sampson, quits to helm new consumer watchdog | Society". theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  11. Scotland (15 August 2008). "Biography of William Saunders". Universitystory.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  12. http://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/steve-restarick-13866/

News items

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