Headmistress First 100 Days Speech

On Monday December 14th Gateways School Headmistress Mrs Yvonne Wilkinson hosted an event celebrating, Barack Obama-style, her first 100 days at the school.

Mrs Wilkinson took up her post in September and met parents and staff at an evening gathering in the school’s Performing Arts Centre. In her presentation, which used the song ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’ as its central theme, Mrs Wilkinson spoke of the warm welcome that she has felt from pupils and staff throughout her first term and of her optimism about the school’s future.

The school underwent an inspection at the end of the November and the positive results of that confirmed, she said, that Gateways is “an outstanding school that is now on the path to becoming a great school”. She congratulated pupils on the school’s excellent academic success in this summer’s A level and GCSE examination results which the school continues to improve on year on year.

She went on to point out, however, that aside from academic rigour a good school is one that also presents its pupils with a wide range of extracurricular and enrichment activities which “develop a zest for life, awe and wonder, adventure and fun”.

In conclusion, Mrs Wilkinson echoed the sentiments expressed by Barack Obama in the speech he made after his first 100 days in office that there are many reasons to be cheerful and there is a bright future ahead but that there is always work to be done. She said: “I am honoured to be able to work with you in the next 100 days, in the 100 days after that and all the 100 days to follow to make sure that Gateways School can be all that it can be.”

Staff and parents were then invited to stay for refreshments during which time Mrs Wilkinson answered any questions arising from her presentation.

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