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...
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. This is evidenced by our Value Added data which regularly places Gateways in the top ten of all schools nationally. Our average GCSE class size is 13 pupils.
How To ApplyInvolvement 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.
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 to Poland, an excursion to London to visit the art galleries and geography field trips. Opportunities further afield include a biannual netball tour and an expedition (open to older members of the school community), which is recent years has involved visits to Cambodia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
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.