Maidstone Grammar School

Tomorrow, Wednesday 17 June, MGS is coming together to support one of our own.

Mr Ashenfelter, our art teacher, Barton tutor and basketball coach, has been selected to represent Great Britain (65+) at the European Basketball Championships in Athens this summer.

To help get him and the team there, Barton House prefects are running a full day of fundraising activities in school.

🏀 All-day basketball marathon
🎯 Shooting competition with a signed GB basketball
🍰 Bake sale supported by our caterers Cuccina
🎟️ Raffle featuring:
• An original Mr Ashenfelter painting, Blue Lightning (worth around £350)
• A basketball-themed cake

Tickets (£1) are available in school this week but if any alumni or members of the MGS community would like to take part in the raffle, please email:
📧 [email protected]

You can also support the team here:
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bartonhouse

A brilliant example of students giving back to a teacher who has given so much to them.

It is an important and reflective week at MGS as our Year 11 and Year 13 students complete their final examinations. We are incredibly proud of the determination, resilience and support they have shown throughout this journey.

Elsewhere, school life continues in full flow, with athletics and cricket fixtures, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, academic challenges and creative experiences for younger students. We also look forward to marking 120 years of the MGS Cadet Force, celebrating a tradition that has shaped generations of students.

You can read the full Headteacher’s blog for all the details.

https://mgs-maidstone.blogspot.com/2026/06/ht-blog-tuesday-16-june-2026.html

The Lost C**k House Cup

An email from alumnus Jeff Wilkinson (1962) has prompted us to share this in the hope that the MGS community can help.

“I did try and locate the cup whilst I was archivist but no-one seems to know where it went to.”

For decades, the C**k House Cup was the principal prize at Maidstone Grammar School, awarded to the house finishing first in the annual competition.

The tradition predates the Cup.

The term “C**k House” appears in The Old Maidstonian as early as 1922, when the winning house celebrated with a tea. By 1927, the title had been formally established and, in 1936, P. A. W. Howe presented the C**k House Cup, first awarded in the School Hall that January.

The competition was largely based on sport, with the outcome usually decided in the summer term. In the late 1930s, Corpus Christi rose to prominence, dominating the competition for much of the next two decades.

Winning the Cup culminated in the C**k House Supper, a long-established tradition that brought staff and pupils together for an evening of speeches, performances and celebration, with the Cup at the centre.

By the late 1950s, the C**k House Competition remained a central part of school life. Records then become more elusive in the 1960s, with the competition changing form around 1970. At some point during this period, the Cup disappeared.

It has not been located since.

Today, the house system continues, with current standings still tracked and College presently leading, as shown on the school website. The competition remains. The original Cup does not.

Can you help?

Do you remember the C**k House Cup
Do you have photographs of house competitions or prizegiving
Could it still exist in a private collection

Please comment below or get in touch if you can help.

📷 Headmaster A. J. Woolgar (1924–1941), in post when the C**k House Cup was first awarded in 1936.

A reminder that our MGS Art Exhibition takes place this evening

🕓 4:00pm – 6:00pm
🏆 Speeches and prizes at 4:30pm
📍 Main Hall, Maidstone Grammar School, Barton Road
🎟️ No ticket required

This year’s exhibition showcases a wide range of student work, from detailed photographic studies to more experimental and conceptual pieces. Alongside this, there are creative reinterpretations of familiar forms, including textiles and sculptural work that challenge expectations and invite closer inspection.

The variety on display reflects the freedom students are given to explore their own ideas and develop their own style.

We would be very pleased to welcome you.

Well done to our Year 9 students who successfully completed their Bronze The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award assessed expedition last weekend.

A total of 68 students took part, exploring the Kent countryside near Tunbridge Wells and camping overnight at Adamswell Scout Campsite. Despite some challenging weather, all showed great resilience, teamwork and determination.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an important part of life at MGS, helping students develop confidence, independence and practical skills through a combination of volunteering, physical activity, new skills and expedition experience.

For parents of students currently in Year 8, this offers a valuable opportunity as their children move into Year 9.

Well done to all involved.

It may be a slightly calmer week at MGS, but there is still plenty to celebrate. As exams continue, we are proud of the resilience and determination shown by our Year 11 and 13 students.

The highlight of the week is the opening of our annual Art Exhibition, showcasing the creativity and talent of our students. Alongside this, there is plenty happening behind the scenes as we continue to look ahead and develop as a school.

You can read the full Headteacher’s blog for this week’s update.

https://mgs-maidstone.blogspot.com/2026/06/ht-blog-tuesday-9-june-2026.html

Today is International Archives Day, and we are celebrating the archives that preserve the history of our MGS community.

Our archives are far more than a collection of photographs and documents. They are a growing record of the school, built over time through shared stories, memories and contributions from the generations who have been part of MGS.

We are incredibly grateful for the care and dedication given to our archives. We remember former archivist Jeff Wilkinson (1962), whose work helped preserve so much of our history, and thank Graham Walker (2018), who continues this work today as our current archivist.

Some of the most meaningful additions come from our community itself. Families and alumni continue to share items from their time at MGS, helping current students connect with the past.

Our Archives Room remains an important resource for students and staff, and alumni are very welcome to visit by appointment.

Looking ahead, we are excited to offer more ways to connect, including opportunities for alumni to share their own “MGS Moments”.

If you are an alumnus and would like to get involved, please contact [email protected].

Because every memory helps shape the story of MGS.

A fantastic achievement for Ryan P, who competed at the Destination Dance National Finals last weekend.

After qualifying in multiple categories, Ryan achieved first place in his Tap Solo, becoming the national champion for his age group. A brilliant result and a reflection of his hard work and determination.

Well done, Ryan 👏

We are looking forward to hosting a Quiz Night at MGS on Friday 26 June in support of Maidstone West Scouts and the World Scout Jamboree 2027.

While this is not a school‑run event, we are very pleased to support our students and the wider community. The evening will help one of our students, Oliver C, as he raises funds to take part in this global experience.

It promises to be a fun and relaxed evening with:

Quiz
Raffle
Refreshments included

Teams are already being put together, including some competitive entries from our Sixth Form, and we would love to see members of our wider community get involved.

If you would like to enter a team, please contact:
[email protected]

We were very sad to hear of the passing of former MGS Governor Paul King at the end of May, aged 47, following a long illness.

Paul served as a Governor from 2020 to 2024 and was also a valued parent in our community. He stepped down following his illness, a decision that was not taken lightly, as he very much valued his role supporting the school.

We are grateful for Paul’s commitment to MGS and the difference he made during his time with us. He will be remembered for his kindness and the quiet way he supported those around him.

Donations in Paul’s memory are kindly welcomed for Heart of Kent Hospice via the link in his obituary. https://www.funeralguide.co.uk/obituaries/144447

Our thoughts are with Lucy and all Paul’s family and friends at this difficult time.