MGGS Prospectus Main 2013

Welcome to

MGGS We are very proud of our school and hope this prospectus will give

you an idea of the high quality education provided.

We place a very high value at MGGS on creating a caring community in which everyone feels confident and valued.

This is our priority as we know that young people flourish and

succeed when they feel happy and secure. Our ethos is based on

well-established traditional values, respect for others, and respect

for the process of learning.

Academic excellence and scholarship are very important to us too.

We want all students to feel engaged and excited by learning because

we know there is a strong link between enjoyment and achievement.

Our students are keen to learn and we are able to respond positively to differing needs and strengths with the right balance of support and challenge, enabling all students to experience the pleasure of

achieving personal goals. When they leave the school, our students

are mature and well-qualified young people, confident in their ability

to make a significant contribution to the wider world and ready to

meet the exciting opportunities ahead.

We are proud of the school’s long and distinguished history in

Maidstone, and are committed to the continuing provision of an

outstanding education for all our current and future students.

Every student who attends MGGS has talents: our business is to

find these and foster them, developing a love of learning that will

last a lifetime.

Welcome to

MGGS

We look forward to meeting you.

Mary Smith

Headteacher

nothing but praise for the school. I “loveI have the holistic approach where everything the child does matters.” Parent Maidstone Grammar School for Girls is an “outstanding school.” Ofsted I adore it here and I feel I have developed “hugely as a person.” Year 11 student

The school is passionately committed to “developing students’ scholarship and a love of learning” University of Exeter, Cognitive Education Centre

greatly enjoy all aspects of school “life,Students and this is reflected in their exemplary behaviour.” Ofsted

A tradition of excellence in...

Learning and Achieving

Our students enjoy their learning because it is

stimulating and challenging. We encourage them to be open-minded, to engage with new ideas, to be

creative in their thinking, and always to find the enjoyment in learning. Lessons are lively and interactive, including the use of the latest

technology. Developing self-esteem in their learning is crucial and our students are encouraged to think for themselves – questioning, analysing and

evaluating what they learn across the curriculum.

We are delighted that our work has been

recognised by the University of Exeter through our accreditation as a “Thinking School”. The

university specifically commented on the

enthusiasm of the staff and the “atmosphere of

genuine inquiry and delight in learning amongst the students.”

It is designed to encourage all to develop as

Our standards and expectations are high and we

minds. We all take pride in celebrating the

pride ourselves in supporting students to achieve and fulfil them. We monitor progress closely,

working in partnership with parents at every stage.

The curriculum is rich, diverse and flexible.

independent thinkers with lively and enquiring achievement of our students.

Students of all abilities achieve “exceptionally well” Ofsted

A tradition of excellence in...

Caring and Community

The friendliness of MGGS is one of its finest

qualities. We value highly the welcoming, caring and courteous behaviour of our students and encourage them in the development of self-discipline and responsibility throughout their time at school.

Individual identity and personal development are at the heart of the school and we are well known for the care and support we give to all of our

students. In addition, our wider programme of

study enables all to develop a good understanding of how to lead healthy and responsible lives.

A well-planned induction process ensures that new

students quickly become confident and valued

members of the community. Students feel safe to enjoy their education and relationships between

students across the school are excellent, enhanced

The large sums of money raised each year for causes

House system.

the genuine generosity of spirit of our students.

by the very active and long-established

Experience shows us that students who are well

supported, happy and confident in their work, give so much back to their school and to the wider community.

they have taken to their hearts provide evidence of

quality care and guidance result “in High a strongly inclusive and caring

atmosphere in the school, a place where students feel safe and valued. Ofsted

�

The school has exceeded all our “expectations and has transformed my

daughter’s academic performance and self esteem. She now excels in all areas of school life, thanks to MGGS. Parent

”

I feel very happy at this school and it “makes me feel safe. I feel proud to be a member of the school.” Year 7 student

The creative arts play an important role in the

overall education of our students, adding a richness to the curriculum and encouraging all students to be imaginative and innovative in the way they

express themselves. Visitors often comment on the

stunning displays of artistic work around the school that come from students’ work in Art, Graphics,

Textiles, Media and Technology or from the broader

application of these skills across the curriculum.

The performing arts have always had a strong place at MGGS with students having the opportunity to

perform before audiences within school and beyond.

Our hugely successful House Arts competition has been held annually for at least 75 years and

involves every student who wishes to take part in

spectacular and energetic performances of Drama,

Dance and Music. This particular tradition is a

much-loved and enthusiastically supported aspect

of the life of the school.

Fostering creativity is not confined to the creative arts, however. Our students have highly creative minds and we encourage them to develop

A tradition of excellence in...

Nurturing creativity

imaginative and innovative responses to everything that they undertake. Finding creative solutions to problems and using initiative to find new ways to

approach challenges are transferable skills which students are encouraged to develop across

the curriculum.

I am VERY happy at this school and I “really enjoy my lessons.� Year 9 student

enjoy excellent relationships “withStudents one another and with adults, and have an exceptionally mature and positive attitude to their learning.

Ofsted

”

the annual traditions such as “RagI think Week and House Arts are great and give wonderful school memories.” Parent

We aim to extend and enrich the experience of

students both within and beyond the classroom to

offer more unusual choices such as rowing, archery

Students are encouraged to participate in the full

abroad, also widen and enrich student experience

provide a rich programme of opportunities for all.

Extending and enriching

MGGS experience, with its strong emphasis on

A tradition of excellence in...

As well as most of the traditional sports, we also

community and charity work; dramatic, musical

and sports events; trips, visits and extra-curricular

clubs; special events and themed days.

To give just a flavour of these opportunities,

students have: tried out a new musical instrument

for a day; taken part in a medieval fayre complete with hog roast and apothecary’s stall; competed

successfully in national rowing competitions; made

films of school life; led primary school sports

events; achieved Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze,

Silver and Gold Awards; and sung at the O2.

Gifted and talented students have rich

opportunities to enjoy activities which stretch and challenge their abilities. Our status as a science

specialist school gives further opportunities, such as designing and marketing a new lipstick, studying GCSE Astronomy after school, taking Open

University modules in Genetics or Forensic Science.

Sport is played in a spirit of griendly competition, with appreciation of fitness and health, and with

opportunities to take part at the highest level for

our most talented.

and self-defence. Trips and visits, both locally and and form an important part of our curriculum.

Students are well prepared for further “study; not only are their academic

standards, high, but they also develop as confident articulate individuals. Ofsted

”

enjoy success in “an Students extremely wide range of

extra-curricular activities which include many cultural, sporting and musical opportunities. Ofsted

”

The standards of teaching, “pastoral care and results have been first class.” Ofsted

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Students achieve outstandingly well throughout their time in the “school, and as a result overall standards in external texts and examinations are exceptionally high.” Ofsted adore this school. It’s literally been a second home for me “andI absolutely has made me who I am today. School spirit is amazing and my teachers have done nothing but support me.” Sixth form student

choices about their futures so we make sure they

have access to high quality guidance and up-to-date information. We deliver a comprehensive careers

programme throughout the school and are delighted

that we have been awarded the prestigious Investors in Careers Stage 3 award. Our students leave school

ready to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead wide range of higher education courses and careers.

Our highly successful mixed sixth form offers exciting opportunities for academic achievement and personal development. Having such a large sixth form enables

us to offer a comprehensive range of courses and considerable flexibility in personalising the programme of study for each student.

The school has an outstanding record of success at Advanced Level, enabling students to access

university courses and careers of their choice. An

extensive range of extra curricular activities is also available to our sixth form students. Highlights

include: the organisation of an annual Rag Week,

which regularly raises over £4000 for local and

national charities; an exceptionally large and

successful Duke of Edinburgh’s Award unit; higher and community Sports Leader Awards; English

Speaking Board and Personal Finance qualifications;

Open University modules; a university-style lecture series; the opportunity to act as head and senior

students and as school governors. Find out more

about the sixth form at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls in our sixth form prospectus.

a fantastic 7 years our daughter “hasWhat had! What a wonderful springboard for university and life after education!”

Parent

Raising aspirations

of them – and take their places in an impressively

A tradition of excellence in...

We want students to make informed and confident

A tradition of excellence in...

MGGS in Maidstone The school has been serving the local community since 1888, firstly in the centre of town and from

1939 on our current site. We are proud of the part

the school has played in pioneering education for

girls. From the start there was a focus on ensuring

that girls experienced the full curriculum

including, very unusually, science in dedicated

laboratories. Our beautiful new teaching block, Buckland House, was opened in 2012.

The school has recently built up a fascinating

A tradition of excellence in...

MGGS in Maidstone

archive documenting the role of the school in the lives of so many young Maidstone women from

Victorian times, through two world wars to the

present day. This archive is regularly used by

students at the school in helping them to

understand the social effects of historical

developments. Since the school’s earliest days,

girls, and more recently boys, have progressed into careers in all walks of life – the arts, engineering, medicine, law, journalism, politics and business.

We look forward confidently to continuing this

work with the young people of Kent in the future.

BUCKLAND ROAD MAIDSTONE

KENT ME16 0SF TELEPHONE: 01622 752103 FAX:

EMAIL:

WEBSITE:

01622 681947

central@mggs.org www.mggs.org