Girls School

It is our absolute belief that girls achieve academically, and develop a confident maturity and independence in an all-girls’ environment. This belief is supported by extensive research and proven academic results.

Why should you consider Gateways all girls’ high school for your daughter?

• It is well documented that girls and boys learn differently. Gateways creates learning environments that best suit the learning styles of girls, particularly at Sixth Form level. For example, teaching is collaborative and co-operative; risk-taking is encouraged; alternative solutions are taught rather than single answers; explaining is often done through stories; creativity is developed; training is given in public speaking; and girls are taught how to manage conflict from an early age.
• It is well documented that boys dominate teacher time in co-educational environments. Gateways ensures girls are heard and valued for who they are.
• Gateways prepares girls for a mixed-gender society by allowing them to develop higher self esteem and greater self confidence; enabling them to achieve better results; and offering more opportunities for leadership.
• Pupils at Gateways are able to develop confidence in their own abilities as individuals, and not define themselves by their gender.
• At Gateways, girls hold all the senior leadership positions. All the scientists are girls, all the mathematicians are girls, all the musicians are girls, all the sportspeople are girls. This creates an environment in which girls feel they can succeed at anything they choose to.
• Girls select subjects free from gender bias at Gateways. A survey in 2004 showed that, compared to girls nationally, in all girls’ schools over 70% more girls took A level maths; over 50% more girls took a science at A level; over 90% more girls took a physical science (physics or chemistry) at A level; over 80% more girls studied French, German or Spanish at A level.
• Eight of the top 10 places in the 2006 Sunday Times Parent Power were all girls’ schools. In the Daily Telegraph's GCSE league tables for 2007, seven out of the top 10 schools were all girls' schools. This is evidence that all girls’ schools like Gateways achieve strong academic results.
• Over 95% of girls leaving all girls’ schools move onto Higher Education after A Levels. At Gateways 100% of 2007 graduates went on to Higher Education (as indicated in our destination of leaver’s table below, two girls went on gap years, but have subsequently accepted university places for 2008), 95% of whom received their first or second choice of university.
  (Adapted from information available on the Girls’ School Association website, www.gsa.uk.com)
• We are also pleased to provide you with a link to the Mydaughter website. This is the first website dedicated to providing information, expert opinion and useful advice on all aspects of raising and educating happy, fulfilled girls. Visit this site to find out how to help your daughter negotiate those tricky friendship problems and how to choose the best school for her. You can also read articles by experts and ask them questions; raise issues in the forum or respond to others' concerns.  To read the latest newsletter please click here.

‘We always find the pupils from all girls’ schools get much more out of our opportunities because of their lack of inhibition and bold endeavour, but this particular group was exceptionally delightful to teach and spend time with.’
Staff from Outward Bound after Gateways Lower IV form participated in April 2008.'