Clubs
Clubs give our pupils an opportunity to develop a particular skill, talent or interest in a supportive environment. The following clubs are a selection of those currently active in the school:
Gateways Film Society
New to Gateways this year is the Film Society. The aim of the club is to bring together film enthusiasts each month in the PAC to watch a screening of a classic film. The members will then act as film critics discussing the merits of each particular feature. The next feature is a showing of 'The Others' on Wednesday 21 October at 4.00pm in the PAC.
Choirs
The Music Department co-ordinate a number of very successful choirs across the Prep and High Schools, as well as a number of smaller ensembles
Amnesty International
Gateways School has a very active Amnesty International group who were responsible for organising ‘Darfur Day’, to raise awareness of the plight of the peoples of Darfur, and ‘Stand up for Fashion’, a fashion show that raised money and awareness for Amnesty International.
Marvellous Mystics
Supported by one of the English teachers, this group has a passion for exploring poetry and literature.
Environment Club
Supported by one of the Science teachers, the Environment Club have lead the school community in efforts to recycle and reduce carbon footprints. Their outstanding efforts were recently acknowledged when we were the first school in Leeds to be awarded Eco-schools Green Flag Status (the highest award).
Business clubs
In the High School, various business clubs provide opportunities for girls to gain an understanding of how businesses work and how they are marketed:
Leeds Enterprise Advisory Programme (LEAP) is a registered charity that enables students to set up their own companies for a school year to learn business skills, teamwork and problem solving. Pupils raise their own share capital, choose and make or buy a product, write a business plan and market the product. At the end of the year they have to present their company and its results to a panel of business advisers and write an annual report with financial accounts.
Gateways’ 2009 LEAP teams, B.R.I.T. and 4Cast, won six first prizes and two second prizes between them at the final awards night, which was hosted by Alysia Patel (Lower VI), who was a member of last year’s winning team from Gateways, Love2.
4Cast created high-quality umbrellas that were fully automatic in opening and closing, while B.R.I.T produced good quality women’s fashion t-shirts made in England. Both teams of girls had to take part in two marketing competitions – one at the Merrion Centre in Leeds and one at a Valentine’s Fair, write a company report with financial breakdowns and deliver business presentations. In addition, the teams set up stalls to sell their products at craft fairs and other venues during the year.
The Gateways girls’ hard work paid off at the finals with 4Cast winning first prizes for Best Presentation at the Finals, Best Presentation in March and Best Trade Stand at the Leeds Merrion Centre. B.R.I.T won Best Marketing at Trade Fairs, Best Website and Best Administered Company. 4Cast came second in the Best Marketing at Trade Fairs category and B.R.I.T won second prize for their Trade Stand at the Merrion Centre. Both teams were in the top five companies overall.
Mrs Derrig, Head of Enterprise at Gateways, who oversaw the teams’ work and was mentioned as one of four teachers for her outstanding contribution, said: ‘I am extremely proud of what the girls have achieved. They have worked very hard and shown great commitment throughout.’
The Gateways Business Club is the extra-curricular extension of Business Studies, although anyone is welcome to attend. Most recently, girls worked together in teams to submit entries for the Young Direct Marketing Awards. The ‘Green Team’ attended the finals in London and walked away with a Highly Commended prize.
G-Bay is a small canteen open in the dining room during first break. Initially started by one of Gateways’ LEAP groups, G-Bay is now run by the Business Club.