- About MCS
MCS ranks among the top independent secondary schools in The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2024, placed seventh nationally and third in the Southeast. - Admissions
Approximately 1 in 10 pupils receive a bursary or scholarship. We are committed to ensuring an MCS education is open to the brightest pupils, no matter their personal circumstances.
- Junior School
“The Junior School is a very busy and happy school and here, a smile goes a long way.”
- Senior School
28 of our pupils achieved 10 or more 8 or 9 grades in 2024. - Sixth Form
Over 25% of our Sixth Form pupils take up places at Oxford and Cambridge every year.
- Supporting MCS
Your donations contribute over £150,000 a year to bursaries as well as building an endowment to fund bursaries for the future.
- About MCS
MCS ranks among the top independent secondary schools in The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2024, placed seventh nationally and third in the Southeast.
- Admissions
Approximately 1 in 10 pupils receive a bursary or scholarship. We are committed to ensuring an MCS education is open to the brightest pupils, no matter their personal circumstances.
- Junior School
“The Junior School is a very busy and happy school and here, a smile goes a long way.”
- Senior School
28 of our pupils achieved 10 or more 8 or 9 grades in 2024.
- Sixth Form
Over 25% of our Sixth Form pupils take up places at Oxford and Cambridge every year.
- Supporting MCS
Your donations contribute over £150,000 a year to bursaries as well as building an endowment to fund bursaries for the future.
“The Great British Sewing Bee may have returned to the TV, but frankly my sewing skills are just not quite up to their standards to make my own mask from scratch. Instead I made a mask from an old double cuff shirt, taking off the cuff which, along with 2 elastic bands, made this mask with no skill required.
I got the idea from my wife Mary, whom many of you might remember helping on school ski trips or with Callender House events. After 43 years in the NHS, including being a Sister in ICU and latterly leading the back care team, she has been recycling my shirts, sewing them to make masks to send to family and friends when she noticed the usefulness of the button holes in the single cuffs. The idea developed from there.
I don’t want to deprive the NHS of masks, nor do I particularly want multiple non-environmentally friendly disposable ones, so this reusable and washable mask currently suits me rather well.
Be warned, this summer’s fashion statement will be a shirt with matching mask – get ahead of the trend!
Instructions here.
(This only works with double cuff shirts designed for cufflinks)
- Carefully cut off the cuff from the sleeve
- Fold over so the cufflink holes line up
- Put the elastic band through both holes and then through itself
- Repeat on the other side
- Put mask on with the folds on the inside
Whilst it is NOT a medically approved mask, it should provide some protection for yourself and others on your visit to the shops. As you know, the outer surface can become contaminated, so try to avoid fiddling with it when on. When you get home put it straight in the wash, wash your hands, and use the other cuff whilst it is being laundered.
I’m sure that with your ingenuity, and some sewing skills and elastic etc. that improvements can be made, but until there is a steady supply of purpose made masks many of us will need to continue to improvise.
And the shirt? If it was one you liked, then roll up the sleeves and you have a wearable, matching shirt, but if you are budding sewing bee, shorten the sleeves and turn it into a summer short sleeved shirt.
Happy crafting!
Mr C.
