Year 6 Live “1-to-1” Appointments & Virtual Tour of our School

It is our personal touch that matters most to MGGS!

We are inviting Year 6 Parents/Carers and their daughters interested in being our
next Year 7 in 2021 to find out more about what makes MGGS special.

Live “1-to-1” Appointments 

We encourage you to book an individual live “1-to-1” appointment with members of the Leadership Team as well as our specialist teaching staff to discuss what matters to you most and answer any questions you may have.

Complete the online booking form here to book your individual live “1-to-1” appointment.  Once you have entered your details and submitted them, we will send you an allocated time for your online appointment.

We look forward to welcoming you and your daughter virtually to MGGS in the very near future.

Read our GDPR and Data Protection Policy.

Virtual Tours Coming Soon…

“It gives me real pleasure to invite you to look at our online open events for 2020.  Clearly, we are sad that you are not physically able to come and visit our beautiful site and to see our school and our students.

However, we hope that the videos we have made available will give you a good understanding of MGGS and the education we provide.”

https://youtu.be/9fWOiqPUtxg

Best wishes

Miss Deborah Stanley

Headteacher

We are continuing to embed the changes that have been put in place. I am pleased to see students working well and making the most of every lesson.

Now we have had a week of students in school we are reviewing our new systems and will issue updated guidance next week. I would like to make clear of the following two points:

• Students cannot go back to their lockers at the end of the day. They need to ensure this is done at lunchtime.
• In KS3 students mainly stay in their classroom, but we appreciate students in KS4 and KS5 move within their areas from lesson to lesson. Students may wear masks when moving along corridors, even within their own year group area, as well as in all the communal areas

We are sad that we cannot routinely invite parents or other external visitors onto the school site for the foreseeable future. We will continue to communicate with parents via email and/or telephone calls. Should it be necessary to have a face to face meeting we are aiming to place these out of school hours.

It is our intention to continue to run House Arts this year. Students today had virtual house assemblies within their separate year groups. 2020 it is the turn of Music and the theme is ‘hope’. The whole event this year will be virtual and pre-recorded. It will be House Arts as the school has never seen before, but trust that both the production of each house video and the watching of the videos will again showcase the amazing talent of our students, together with the strong community spirit that is an integral part of MGGS.

In spite of lockdown and golf courses shut for the first half of the season, Ellena MGGS’s champion came out more determined than ever in the few remaining competitions. She competed in all weathers from extreme heat to torrential rain and gale-force winds!  Her results were as follows:

• Qualifying for the final of The Junior European Open again.
• Breaking the course record at Kings Hill Golf Club with a Gross 69 – 3 under the Par of the course.
• Winning the Gross Club Championship at Tudor Park for the 4th year running.
• 8th in the U16’s at The Faldo Series in Wales.
• Tied 32nd out of 144 competitors in The English Women’s Amateur Open Stroke Play.
• Tied 15th out of 132 competitors in The English Girls’ U18 Stroke Play.
• Last week she played with her coach in a Pro-Am competition and they came 10th.

Her success has enabled her to reach a number of future goals she had set herself:

1. Her 1st National competition.
2. Her first English Women’s competition.
3. Making it into the final in a National competition.
4. Shooting a round under Par in a National competition.
5. Halving her handicap again.

Ellena is now playing off a handicap of 2

Ellena still has a few competitions to play, as some got rescheduled due to lockdown, and is training hard to hopefully gain more good results.

The National Centre of Computing Education Hub at MGGS has a new programme of computing CPD courses for primary and secondary teachers. There is a range of courses covering the curriculum from key stages 1 to 4, and teachers can choose to attend face to face or remote (virtual) sessions. There are bursaries of £220 per day for eligible courses and schools too. If you are interested in finding out more about the courses and support available from the Computing Hub, follow them on Facebook or Twitter @CompHubKent or email teachcomputing@mggs.org.

The courses in term 1 and 2 are available to book now at www.teachcomputing.org/courses and dates for Kent courses are on the programmes attached.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AGke4h9SHVsjjMw14IpuN7ngjhs6bKVe/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wfl5YzFCgPMmF1wSGbDjRpFkBG3lf4Ym/view?usp=sharing

Over the summer holidays Queen’s College, Oxford ran a mini competition for learners of French and German. Students were asked to translate a short piece of literature. We sent off a number of entries for French and German from our keen linguists at MGGS and I am pleased to tell you that Rashmi K, a former MGGS student, has been awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ prize from the judges. Congratulations to Rashmi, who is now continuing her study of Modern Languages at Bristol University.

Year 6 Live “1-to-1” Appointments & Virtual Tour of our School

It is our personal touch that matters most to MGGS!

We are inviting Year 6 Parents/Carers and their daughters interested in being our next Year 7 in 2021 to find out more about what makes MGGS special.

Live “1-to-1” Appointments 

We encourage you to book an individual live “1-to-1” appointment with members of the Leadership Team as well as our specialist teaching staff to discuss what matters to you most and answer any questions you may have.

Complete the online booking form here to book your individual live “1-to-1” appointment.  Once you have entered your details and submitted them, we will send you an allocated time for your online appointment.

We look forward to welcoming you and your daughter virtually to MGGS in the very near future.

Read our GDPR and Data Protection Policy.

Virtual Tours Coming Soon…
“It gives me real pleasure to invite you to look at our online open events for 2020. Clearly, we are sad that you are not physically able to come and visit our beautiful site and to see our school and our students.

However, we hope that the videos we have made available will give you a good understanding of MGGS and the education we provide.”

Best wishes

Miss Deborah Stanley
Headteacher

At the end of the first two weeks of term it is good to reflect on the arrangements that have been put in place. Student attendance has been similar to this time in any autumn term, which is pleasing to note.

Clearly, the current arrangements are putting increasing pressures on teaching staff with lessons and schemes of working having to be amended. I am pleased that students have adapted and are working well despite the restricted number of rooms. This is challenging especially for subjects that need specialist rooms.

As with all plans, once over 1200 students are in school, we can observe how things can be improved. We are therefore making a few changes to the one way system. This only affects the main building and is to reduce student flow in pinch points as well as reduce contact between year groups in communal areas where possible.

The staggered lunchtime is working well, as well as managing when students can access the canteen. There is capacity for far more students to use the canteen within their year group time slots and I would encourage students to do so, if they wish.

Next week is Bike to School Week – posters (see below) have gone up around the school giving details of a competition to win a brand new bike by taking part!  Please also see below a parent flyer for information on how to download a family guide.  There is a covered bike rack at the front of the school where bikes can be locked and left securely.  Students who cycle into school should dismount at the school gate and walk their bikes round to the bike rack.

MGGS are delighted to share the news that our Modern Foreign Languages department has received The Prince’s Teaching Institute Subject Leadership Mark. The mark has been awarded for colleagues’ achievements in promoting challenge, enthusing students, and enhancing teachers’ subject knowledge.

Congratulations to all of our MFL teachers!

It has been a real privilege this week to visit some lessons and see how both staff and students are adapting to our new ways of working. Practical demonstrations are being given in Art lessons to show students new techniques, Drama rooms have been modified to ensure students are using all available space within them. Mini white boards, hands up and computers are being used for students to submit work and for teachers to assess the progress students are making. I have been pleased to talk to students in Year 7 and Year 8 this week about how they have found the start of term and how they have very quickly become used to the new routines and, above all, are enjoying being back in school.

We currently have 129 Easyfundraising supporters who have helped the MGGS Development Trust to create ‘The Woodland Garden ~ Our space to remember and reflect’, to refurbish the Mary Smith Library and to bring performances back to our stage by contributing towards the replacement of the ageing power distribution system in the Main Hall. Imagine what we could do with more supporters! Every little really does help and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has registered us as their cause.

If you haven’t yet signed up to Easyfundraising, it is very simple to do and you can raise money for us everytime you shop online without costing you anything extra. Register using this link.

Mrs Lila Brewer

Alumni Relations and Development Trust Officer

A huge congratulations to 82 Year 10 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh participants on completing and passing their Bronze Expedition last weekend.

With new Covid 19 safety measures being adhered to and awful weather conditions, the girls just got on with it and did themselves and the school proud. Well done!!

In the new world that we are now living in, assemblies are pre-recorded videos which students watch in their form rooms. This week I shared with students parts of the Headteacher’s annual school report from 1915-1916. Miss Kidd, the Headteacher, reflected on the regulations and restrictions that were currently in place during the First World War and it appears they were increasing in severity. Within it are clear messages that we each can apply to today.  She started her speech with: ‘I feel that whatever else has to be left out of this afternoon’s proceedings owing to the darkening regulations, we must spare a moment to thank all to whom thanks is due.’ 

Her speech clearly reflects the time and context in which she lived. MGGS at that time had a Junior School for both girls and boys. Towards the end of her speech she said the following:

‘Before I close girls and boys I want to remind you of the lessons we can learn at this time from the brave men on the other side of the water. Their lives speak to us of the value and glory of three things: discipline, duty and sacrifice. We cannot fight as they can, but we can each of us fight against all within us that makes impossible these things: the submission to discipline, the fulfilment of duty and readiness to sacrifice what we cherish most for the sake of what is noblest and best. 

As to submission to discipline: I do ask you all to be ready to submit cheerfully to rules and regulations made for the good of the body to which you belong whether this body be your home, your school or your town. The readiness to obey without questioning what may seem to be trifling commands, … all these things will make you strong and self controlled women such as England needs.

As regards duty – be wise as to what is your duty; it is not always the thing you would rather not do. Take counsel with those wiser than yourselves before you decide what is your duty.

And lastly, sacrifice. Never has the call to sacrifice in every direction been so pressing. There are many ways in which the girls and women of England can answer this call. Government has for nearly two years been urging us to economise in food, fuel and clothes…

Then there is the sacrifice of your time and leisure in the service of others, be ready to answer that call to the best of your ability. See to it too that yours is always an efficient sacrifice.’

In comparison to 1915-16, the current rules and regulations of today, both in school and in society, seem a very small burden compared to those in place over 100 years ago. At the end of this first month back at school I have been impressed with how well students have adapted to the changes in the school and have made a real focus on working hard in lessons. Non sibi sed omnibus!

If you shop Amazon Prime Day deals on 13th & 14th October, you can make a difference: Simply shop at smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1141948-0 or with AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app, and AmazonSmile donates to the school!

We were delighted to learn that on Saturday 26th Daisy in Year 11 and Agatha in Year 12 @MGGS_ competed in the adult sprint triathlon at Hever Castle. Both students are members of Ocean Lake Triathlon Club.

There have not been many competitions this year due to COVID-19 so the girls were eager to put their lockdown training into practice.  The swim distance was reduced from 750m to 400m as the temperature of the lake was so low at just 12 degrees. Then out onto the road for a 20km hilly ride followed by a tough 5km run around Hever Castle grounds.

Agatha finished 3rd and Daisy 8th out of a strong field of over 100 competitors.  They both showed fantastic stamina and strength of character in very cold conditions.  Well done Daisy and Agatha MGGS is very proud of you both!

The National Centre of Computing Education celebrated the first 1,000 graduates of the Computer Science Accelerator programme and we’re delighted that three MGGS teachers have achieved their CSA qualification. The CSA professional development programme increases subject knowledge and boosts schools’ ability to deliver GCSE computer science. Congratulations to Mr Walker, Dr Apps and Ms Jebagnanam for joining the #CSA1000!

The MGGS Computing Hub is running a selection of CSA courses next term. If you are currently teaching Computer Science or are considering adding this as a second specialism, we can support you through your professional learning journey. Contact Mrs Gall at teachcomputing@mggs.org for more details or follow the Computing Hub on Facebook or Twitter @CompHubKent.

Year 7

Year 7 took part in their first focus day; they were very excited to be able to use their Chromebooks which were issued last week. Part of the focus of the day was linked to their transition to secondary school and they looked at issues around what makes a good friend and how to manage their emotions. With more independence travelling to and from school, they had a session on road safety which allowed them to consider the danger points close to school; most notably using the bridge to cross the London Road, knowing where it is safe to cross Buckland Hill and remembering to think of other pedestrians when walking along the pavements around the school. There were also sessions on E-Safety and cyberbullying which considered how to behave responsibly online and where to go for help and support.

Year 8

This week Year 8 students took part in a Focus day related to core values and politics. The first half of the day was dedicated to looking at British values, democracy and rights, responsibilities and laws. Throughout these sessions the students gained lots of information about how the political system works in this country and why it is important to live in a democracy. There were also some very lively debates and discussions. In the afternoon the students were tasked with creating a campaign relating to different topics around schools and the wider community. They researched their topics and then presented them to the rest of the class with the aim of persuading them that their campaign was the best. As in any democracy, the winners were decided by a vote. All of the form tutors were very impressed with how mature the students were when presenting their campaigns and also how passionate they were about their cause!

Year 9
Year 9 students on focus day learned, developed and demonstrated their knowledge in a variety of areas. The key foci were Managing Conflict, Substance Use, E-Safety and Gangs. 

Students were able to understand how to overcome differences through discussion and examples from TV shows, which hopefully they will put into practice. Students were able to grow their knowledge through group tasks of what substances there are and the classification and the consequences. Additionally, they applied their new understanding of gangs and disregarded the stereotyped norms. Finally they were also able to demonstrate their knowledge of E-Safety through creative tasks.

Year 10

Year 10 began their focus day considering their vision for future careers and considering how to put plans in place to achieve their long term goals. They went on to explore what makes a healthy relationship by being able to recognise signs of abuse and how stereotypes can have an impact on individual relationships and in the wider world. Students then went on to discuss and learn about consent, peer pressure and how to stay safe online. 

Year 11

Year 11 spent half of the day working with an outside company, Learning Performance, looking at effective revision strategies to help them prepare for their exams in the future. Students felt that these sessions were very beneficial and gave them some useful tips about how to revise. The other half of the day focused on Post 16 options, allowing the students to look at colleges, sixth forms and apprenticeships to help them prepare for the application process. The students also had the opportunity to spend some time using Unifrog which gives them information about University courses and Careers. They also spent a session looking at employability and discrimation within the workplace, students found this very interesting and informative.

October is Black History Month in the UK, an event which has been celebrated nationwide in the UK for more than 30 years. The month was originally founded to recognise the contributions that people of African and Caribbean backgrounds have made to the UK over many generations. However, the month has expanded to include the history and important contributions made by black people more generally. MGGS wants to ensure that the achievements of black people and minority ethnic groups in Britain will be talked about and celebrated beyond a single month and are working to make certain this remains an on-going topic for discussion across our curriculum, throughout the year.

If you would like to further explore key events and issues raised during BHM, please see resources relating to this topic below:

*BBC World Service Podcast: Witness History: Witness Black History –  https://open.spotify.com/show/722vbB8JrFU1VNayZH93Pu

*Black History Month in Britain: Women you should know about – https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/41433196

*Black History Month magazine and website: https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/

Recommended reading from the History Department (for older teenagers):

CLR James – Beyond the boundary

CLR James – The Black Jacobins

Senator John Lewis – Walking in the Wind

Ira Berlin – Many Thousands Gone

Eugene Genovaise – Roll Jordan Roll

Stephen Tuck – The night that Malcolm X spoke at the Oxford Union

Please also see a reminder of our Black Lives Matter reading list published by our Librarian, Mrs Hill: https://www.mggs.org/wp-content/uploads/Black-Lives-Matter-Reading-List.pdf