- 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.”
MCS ranks among the top independent secondary schools in The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2024, placed seventh nationally and third in the Southeast.
- Senior School
39 of our pupils achieved 10 or more 8 or 9 grades in 2023. - 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.
39 of our pupils achieved 10 or more 8 or 9 grades in 2023.
Your donations contribute over £150,000 a year to bursaries as well as building an - 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
39 of our pupils achieved 10 or more 8 or 9 grades in 2023.
- 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.
We are delighted to welcome new Head Chef, Gabriele Di Piazza to MCS. Having given him a little time to settle in (!), we sat down with Gabbi to find out a little more about his career and his exciting plans for catering at the school.
Why did you become a chef?
I grew up in a small town in Tuscany. As a child, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, who was always cooking – everything was made from scratch, and more often than not, with vegetables grown in the garden! My love of food led me to enrol at culinary college after finishing school and the rest – as they say – is history!
What attracted you to the role at MCS?
I first worked here in 2021 and I absolutely loved it! Everyone was so warm and friendly and the atmosphere in the kitchen was fantastic. When I heard that the school was looking for a new Head Chef, it was a no-brainer and I jumped at the opportunity!
"We have a healthy, nutritious and sustainable menu and use herbs in our cooking that are grown on the main site!"
GABRIELE DI PIAZZA, HEAD CHEF AT MAGDALEN COLLEGE SCHOOL, OXFORD
What’s your favourite meal to cook?
Being Italian, I love homemade pasta. And meat. I also really enjoy cooking street food – fajitas, enchiladas, chili etc. However, if I had to choose just one meal – it would definitely be lasagne! No surprises there…
What are your plans for catering at MCS?
There will be a focus on continuing to provide a first-rate service, and while the menu is already well-balanced, I plan to add more vegetables and other fresh produce moving forwards.
How do you ensure that your kitchens are as sustainable as possible?
This is a big passion of mine – and I know that the school and Sodexo are active in this area too. We work hard to reduce wastage – particularly by re-using food where possible and by using Leanpath’s platform which its helps in tracking food waste and using that date to predict future consumption level. We have a healthy, nutritious and sustainable menu and use herbs in our cooking that are grown on the main site!
Thank you, Mr Di Piazza, – we very much look forward to tasting your lasagne at a lunchtime soon!
