The best way to find out about Gateways and to discover whether this is the right school for your son or daughter is to visit us.
Open Days
We hold Open Days twice a year, usually in May and October, which offer you the opportunity to tour the school and to meet staff informally. There is no need to make an appointment.
Dates currently planned are:
- Friday 5th October 2007, 11am – 3pm
- Saturday 6th October 2007, 9.30am – 12.00 noon
Individual visits
The Headmistress, Mrs Davidson, is pleased to welcome families for visits on an individual basis throughout the school year. This is an opportunity to ask specific questions as well as touring the school’s facilities. Please contact us to make an appointment.
Further information
If you would like us to send you a prospectus, please click here.
The Admissions Process
The admissions process varies slightly depending on the age of the prospective pupil. The first step, in every case, is to complete the registration form which can be found at the back of the prospectus. The aim of the assessment procedure is always to explore the child’s strengths in a friendly and supportive atmosphere and to give them the opportunity to mix with and start getting to know their peer group so they gain a genuine impression of what it would be like to be a Gateways pupil.
THE GATEHOUSE NURSERY (age 2-4)
Children join the Gatehouse Nursery as soon as they reach their third birthday. Session times and days are flexible depending on the needs of parents and child. Both morning and afternoon sessions can include lunch, if required. Once families have visited the school, they are invited to complete a registration form and secure their child’s place on the waiting list. During the term prior to admission, he or she will be invited to spend some time in the nursery to ensure that he or she is ready to join the Gatehouse and benefit from all the opportunities on offer. Following this, we will confirm the offer of a place and the starting date. As the Gatehouse Nursery is very popular, it is advisable to enquire about nursery places well in advance – any time after your child’s first birthday.
PREPARATORY SCHOOL (age 4-11)
Pupils usually join the Preparatory School in Reception (age 4), or Upper I (Year 3, start of Key Stage 2) although we are happy to accept applications for any age group when places are available. Following the completion of the registration form, we invite pupils to spend time with us and we assess them on an individual basis using tests appropriate to their age group. Pupils joining Key Stage 1 (age 4-7) usually spend a morning with us, and those joining the Juniors come for a whole day. The Head of Prep will then give personal feedback on the child’s performance and discuss the possible offer of a place.
HIGH SCHOOL (age 11-16)
Most candidates wishing to join the High School at age 11 will sit our Entrance and Scholarship Examinations, usually held on the last Friday in January. Girls attend for a whole day and sit written papers in Mathematics, English and Verbal Reasoning as well as participating in group activities including Art, ICT and PE. All girls are interviewed by a senior member of staff. We are also happy to accommodate individual entries depending on circumstances, for example relocation. Girls from the Preparatory School normally progress to the High School after gaining satisfactory results in the Entrance Examination. Should any difficulties arise, they are discussed with parents at an early stage. Vacancies occur occasionally in other age groups and we assess girls using age-appropriate examination papers and a personal interview.
SIXTH FORM (age 16+)
We welcome applications from girls wishing to join the Gateways Sixth Form. We normally require a minimum of 6 GCSE grades A*, A, B or C (or the equivalent) for admission to the Sixth Form with a grade A* or A in the subjects for study. There is an admission interview for all candidates. For more information about life in the Sixth Form click here. |