Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LE
Tel: 0113 2886345 Fax: 0113 288 6148
Email: gateways@gatewayschool.co.uk
9th September 2011
Dear Parents
It has been a real pleasure getting back into the swing of School again. School has settled well and I have enjoyed welcoming everyone back.
We have welcomed three new members of staff; Miss Lindsay Taylor to lead the Drama Department, Mr Andrew Copeland joins the Prep Team as Head of Prep PE and Games and Mr Andrew Trotman who joins the marketing department on a one year placement. We are also delighted to extend a warm welcome to 52 new girls and boys of all ages who have joined us. We had hoped to be joined by 5 international girls in the High School having secured the Tier 4 status of ‘a highly trusted sponsor’ with the UK Borders Control Agency; what a pity, therefore, that their relocation and accommodation arrangements have prevented this at this time. We shall keep in touch with them!
I am extremely proud to announce that our public examination results were excellent once again, the girls, and their teachers, have much to celebrate. At A2 level, 46% of all passes were awarded A* or A grade with 81% A* to B grades and 100% pass at A* to D. In this year of competitive university entrance, 92% of girls secured their first choice university and are preparing to head off to Warwick, Durham, Imperial College, London, Edinburgh and even Idaho in the States! At AS level the girls achieved an 11% increase on last year with 65% A to B grades. August brought celebration for the Upper Sixth girls as they attended Graduation Dinner. It was a very positive evening for the girls and their parents and everyone enjoyed an excellent meal prepared by Brian and his team – especially the pudding! We have just received our Value Added figure from the University of Durham for Post-16 qualifications, confirming, once again, the very positive difference that our teaching and learning makes to the attainment and achievement of our girls.
At GCSE, 100% achieved 5A* to C grades, including Maths and English and 55% of all entries were passed at A* to A grades. 13 subjects, including Maths, English Literature and English Language, achieved a 100% pass rate. In ICT, 95% of grades were at A* and A in ICT with 68% at A*. In geography 93% of grades were at A* and A, with 60% at A*. 24% of all candidates gained straight A*/A grades. In addition, our first 'early entry' for Lower 5 girls studying GCSE Religious Studies yielded really impressive results; 25% of girls achieved A* and 96% achieved grade B or above.
During the summer break there has been some exciting new developments to our facilities. A state of the art Dance Studio has been created in the Sports Hall Gallery and Miss Fox will be introducing dance into lessons and extra-curricular programme. We have also created a new Sixth Form Study in the Dower House equipped with new PCs; in fact 46 new computers have been installed throughout the School with plasma TVs being installed in Youngers Hall and the Sixth Form cellars. A new Listening space has been created out of an old locker room in the Dower House and a new PE office has been created in Youngers. We have restored some of the lovely old wooden floors in the Dower House, and for the safety of all, we’ve installed a new alarm and security system with CCTV (externally) throughout the School. We have also erected the first ever rugby posts at Gateways! We are grateful for the tireless work of the Maintenance Team.
Next week, Upper 5 students will have the opportunity to experience further Sixth Form life and curriculum. We hope this informs positively their future choices. I look forward to meeting individually with all our Upper 5 students to discuss their progress and future choices in the weeks ahead.
Well done to the pupils and parents who travelled 220 miles coast to coast on our annual cycle ride. Once again this year we were able to support the Theo Trust by inviting three Russian children to join the ride. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and cycled every inch of the way. I know Flamborough Head was a welcome sight and my thanks to go to everyone involved for their support.
Our new prefects are going to be great school leaders. Last week they undertook a two day training session with enthusiasm and bags of chocolate! I enjoyed a very pleasant evening with the girls on Thursday.
The new Physical Education kit is very impressive and well-liked by the girls. Pupils have returned wearing their uniform with pride, although as in other schools, we are watching the hemlines of skirts very closely! Thank you for supporting us in ensuring your daughter’s skirt is of the appropriate length. A parent has recently asked me to consider introducing black trousers as an optional item of school uniform. I would welcome your views, please. I shall ask School Council to discuss this also.
The full list of staff can now be found on the School Website – www.gatewayschool.co.uk. Should you require any further information please contact the School Office.
Thank you to parents and girls in Lower 4 and Upper 4 who joined us yesterday evening for our first in the series of Curriculum Evenings; I trust it was informative. I would draw to your attention that these sessions are primarily for parents although, should childcare be problematic, your children are welcome to accompany you. On Wednesday and Thursday of next week there are the Sixth Form and Lower 5 evenings respectively, I look forward to welcoming you.
We are all looking forward to another great year at Gateways.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Y Wilkinson
Headmistress