High School: Extra-Curricular - Gateways School

NEXT STEPS Sixth Form Ages 16-18

Why High School?

One of the key strengths at Gateways, is our average class size of between 14-18 pupils. The benefits of small class sizes are huge; each pupil is given the attention they deserve and the effectiveness of teaching is dramatically enhanced. Our average GCSE class size is 12 pupils.

How To Apply

Extra-Curricular

Activities

Involvement in the wide range of extra-curricular opportunities offered at Gateways is encouraged. Sport, drama, music, community outreach, debating and other clubs and societies allow pupils to develop leadership, communication and team-working skills.

For an extensive list of extra-curricular opportunities at Gateways please click here.

Adventures, Tours and Trips

Educations visits are a regular feature in our High School programme and they give pupils the opportunity to learn in a wider context.

In Upper 3, pupils are invited to an “outward bound” residential weekend, providing a chance for them to learn to work together and enjoy each other’s company. In Lower 4 pupils are offered the chance to go on a cultural trip to a UK city. Other opportunities open to High School include an annual ski trip, a biannual cultural and historical trip, an excursion to London to visit the art galleries and geography field trips. Opportunities further afield include a biannual sports tour.

Duke of Edinburgh

Gateways has an outstanding record on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Gateways is a Licensed Organisation for the delivery of the scheme. Each year a large number of students participate in the Bronze, Silver and Gold award training. At Gateways pupils are able to start the Duke of Edinburgh Award in U4 (Year 9). The Duke of Edinburgh award allows millions of 14-24 year olds the opportunity to complete the award. Participants learn a sense of teamwork, commitment, endurance, independence and employability whilst on the scheme.

The expeditions take place in the Yorkshire Dales National Park between the end of March through to the end of October with highly qualified staff members on each expedition. In order to complete the award, the pupils must complete a practice expedition and then a final expedition for their age group.

In order to prepare the participants for their practice and final expedition, a Duke of Edinburgh cook out during lunch time will take place on the school grounds. Here pupils learn about camp craft and what is best suited to eat on expedition.

At each level there are three additional components to complete in order to achieve your award. These are skill, physical and volunteering – each section provides the participant to gain new skills and responsibilities depending on their interests. These need to be completed for three or six months. At Bronze the expedition time is two days and silver is three. Once these sections and the final expedition has been completed the pupil will receive her award in assembly.

A Day in the life of ...

Jayan in High School

8:40am

I sometimes help out with the lighting in the Performing Arts Centre for assemblies and events. Today was a High School assembly about mental health and I was doing the lighting, so I came in a bit earlier.

9:05am

My first lesson is PE with Mr Davidson. I've been working on my basketball skills looking at my jump shot and lay up. I also have a Games lesson once a week and get chance to play a range of team sports such as rugby, football, hockey and basketball. I enjoy the fixtures against other schools.

11:20am

After break I have physics with Miss Ashurst. I am working on the forces and motion topic. I enjoy the practical work in physics. Today we are investigating Hooke's Law, to find the relationship between the force and extension of a spring.

12.50pm

Depending on what lunchtime club or subject clinic is on, I either go to lunch at 12.50 or 1.10pm. Today I’m heading to the dining room with my friends and then will go outside afterwards. There are always a good range of lunch options and the puddings are nice!

2.00pm

After lunch I go to art and design. We are focusing on textiles and creating tote bags based on the work of artist Victoria Villasana. I’ve chosen a footballer image to heat transfer onto the fabric and I’m hand sewing patterns around the image inspired by Villasana’s Mexican heritage.

3.00pm

My final lesson today is drama which is one of my favourite subjects. We are working on devising which involves creating a unique piece of theatre based off a stimulus. I also enjoy being in the High School productions; this year's musical is still a secret but I can’t wait to find out what it is!

4.00pm

School finishes at 4pm but tonight I'm going to Combined Cadet Force (CCF). We get to do drill and turnout exercises first, followed by team building. I've been on residential camps and outings and learnt lots of new skills.

What's happening in...High School

LATEST NEWS

4th April 2025

Cherryvine – Spring 25

Below is a link to our Spring term issue of Cherryvine. In this issue, we focus on academic leadership and chat with our Deputy Heads, Mrs Prince and Mrs Carver.  We also...

Read more

18th December 2024

Cherryvine – Autumn 24...

Below is a link to our Autumn term issue of Cherryvine. In this issue, we focus on languages, enrichment as well as a round up of this term’s trips and events. Enjoy...

Read more

5th July 2024

Cherryvine – Summer 24

Below is a link to our Summer term issue of Cherryvine. In this issue, we focus on ‘success’, our outdoor education offering, as well as a round up of this term’s trips...

Read more