Gateways School Review 2026: A Quiet Excellence Between Leeds and Harrogate

Gateways School in Harewood, Leeds has a clear sense of identity shaped by its setting and community. When Nancy Simpson and Lillian Cox opened Gateways in September 1941 with just 15 pupils in a converted house in Alwoodley, they were responding to a specific need: parents who wanted their children educated close to home whilst the country was at war. That founding instinct, to know each child individually and educate them with care, persists today across the 16-acre campus where 519 pupils aged 2 to 18 thrive in deliberately small class sizes averaging 14 to 18 pupils.

Gateways sits in the top 25% for GCSE results (rank 2462, FindMySchool data) and in the top 25% for A-levels (rank 384 in England, FindMySchool ranking). The school's non-selective admissions policy means it draws families from across Leeds and beyond, all choosing a deliberately small independent school where the ambition is clear but the pressure is tempered by genuine pastoral care. The school was named by The Telegraph in 2014 as the 3rd best small independent school in the UK, and it has just won the Nursery World Award 2024 for Best Early Years Provision in a School, a testament to its early years excellence that rivals much larger establishments.

The school's physical setting is distinctive: 16 acres in a village setting between Leeds and Harrogate, with the original Dower House still very much at the centre, surrounded by modern buildings that have been added thoughtfully over decades. Students describe the environment as a working campus that feels part of the wider community rather than isolated from it. The buildings include modern facilities, laboratories, theatre spaces, and specialist teaching areas, yet retain the charm of a place that has evolved rather than been transplanted whole from somewhere else.

Dr Tracy Johnson, the Head Mistress, has led the school since coming to the role in recent years. Under successive leadership, the school has maintained its core identity: forward-thinking in outlook yet rooted in traditional values. The school's ethos is articulated in three core values that apply throughout: Growth, Wellbeing, and Success. This is not empty language at Gateways; the values appear consistently in how the school approaches teaching, pastoral care, and decision-making.

The tone of the school is collaborative and purposeful rather than frantic. Because class sizes are capped deliberately, teachers know pupils well. As the ISI inspection noted, this intimate scale is not accidental cost-cutting but a deliberate educational choice. The 2023 regulatory compliance inspection confirmed that the school meets all standards, and the earlier 2018 full inspection awarded Excellent grades for both Pupil Achievement and Pupil Development. The school has just implemented full co-education in its sixth form, with boys now progressing all the way through from Year 7 (admitted from September 2019), marking a subtle but significant shift in the school's character over the past five years.

GCSE Performance

Gateways ranks 2462nd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the solid middle band, in line with the middle 35% of schools across England. The school's Attainment 8 score of 47.9 exceeds the England average of 45.9, suggesting that pupils are achieving well in their eight best-graded subjects. The average EBacc points score of 4.14 is fractionally above the England average of 4.08, indicating consistent performance across a range of subject disciplines.

The school does not enter all pupils for the English Baccalaureate, reflecting its smaller, more bespoke approach to subject selection. Students follow the National Curriculum framework, with teaching across science taught as separate sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) rather than combined, allowing greater depth in each discipline. Results are solid across the standard range of subjects, with pupils regularly achieving grades across the full spectrum.

A-Level Performance

Here the picture becomes clearer. A-level results at Gateways are notably strong. At FindMySchool ranking 384 in England for A-level performance (FindMySchool data), the school places in the top 25%, well above England average. The 2023–24 cohort achieved 42% at A*/A grades and 67% at A*-B grades, with 85% achieving A*-C across all entries. These figures significantly exceed the England average of 24% at A*/A and 47% at A*-B, positioning Gateways firmly in the top tier for sixth form outcomes.

The school offers 20+ A-level subjects, including classical languages (Latin and Greek), a broad sciences curriculum, and humanities across history, geography, and English literature. Students regularly progress to Russell Group universities, with a cohort in 2023-24 reporting 60% proceeding to university study overall. The strength of A-level results is partly a reflection of careful pastoral guidance on subject choice, the school works closely with Year 11 pupils and their families to ensure subject selections align both with university ambitions and with genuine student interest.

Pupils at Gateways experience teaching that is both academically ambitious and personally attentive. The ISI inspection found that teaching allows for good progress aligned with national expectations, and the small class size is explicitly identified as enabling teachers to attend closely to individual needs and learning styles. The curriculum follows the National Curriculum framework in the prep school, with clear progression into GCSE and A-level in the secondary phase.

From the earliest years, the school emphasises thinking skills and reasoning. In the prep school, pupils learn Spanish and Mandarin alongside English and mathematics, broadening language exposure from age 7 onwards. Music is taught as a discrete subject, with all pupils learning an instrument in class; about one third progress to extra-curricular instrumental lessons from Year 3 onwards. Art and drama are core subjects, not optional enrichment, reflecting the school's commitment to creative education.

By the secondary phase, the curriculum is increasingly structured but remains flexible in how it responds to pupils' developing interests. The school uses setting in mathematics from Year 7, recognising that pupils progress at different rates in quantitative subjects. A-level choices are preceded by careful advising to ensure pupils understand what the subjects demand and how they align with sixth form and university plans.

The pedagogical approach emphasises independent thinking and sustained academic engagement. Teachers across the school are subject specialists with strong qualifications, and they deliver their subjects with clarity and evident expertise. Pupils report that lessons move at a good pace and that they are challenged to think deeper rather than simply recall facts.

Pastoral structures are clearly embedded across the school. Key Stage phases have dedicated Pastoral Leads who oversee the emotional and social wellbeing of pupils. Form tutors work with class groups throughout the year, and the school's explicit commitment to a "kind and inclusive environment" is evident in behaviour data and pupil feedback. The small school size means that pupils are known well by multiple staff members, not just their form tutor; this distributed knowledge of each child underpins the school's capacity to intervene early if a pupil is struggling.

The school has a counsellor on site one day per week, available to pupils who need additional emotional support. Behaviour is reported as calm and purposeful; the ISI inspection noted that safeguarding policies and procedures are compliant with statutory requirements. Bullying is addressed through clear policies and restorative approaches when incidents occur.

Wraparound care is available for pupils in the prep school, with breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care running until 6:00pm. This flexibility is valued by working parents and allows pupils to participate in afternoon clubs and activities. Senior pupils often stay later for involvement in sixth form activities or external enrichment.

The extracurricular programme is extensive and carefully curated to offer depth rather than shallow breadth. The school publishes extensive activity lists across music, drama, sport, and academic enrichment, and pupils are encouraged to engage with at least some activities each term.

Music and Performing Arts

Music is genuinely central to school life. All pupils in the prep school learn an instrument in class; uptake of extra-curricular instrument lessons is high, with specialist staff providing tuition across the range of orchestral instruments plus piano. The school supports the development of ensemble musicianship through a range of ensembles and orchestras, with regular performances throughout the year. Choral singing is significant, with school productions and festivals providing regular platforms for performance. The school has a bespoke theatre designed in the round, reflecting serious commitment to drama pedagogy, students mention that this specialist space transforms what's possible in theatrical production and rehearsal.

Drama appears prominently in the extra-curricular calendar. The school hosts annual productions at Christmas and at the end of the academic year, with recent productions involving substantial casts and orchestral accompaniment. Students also participate in theatre visits, with Year 6 pupils attending a West End show as part of their London residential trip in the summer term. Drama is taught as a discrete subject from Year 5 onwards in the prep school and as a GCSE and A-level option in the secondary phase.

Sports and Physical Activity

Sport is compulsory in the main school, reflecting the school's belief that regular physical activity underpins wellbeing and team development. Football, netball, hockey, and rounders are the main seasonal sports, with fixtures against local schools and regular inter-house competitions throughout the year. The school has floodlit facilities allowing evening matches during darker months. Rugby, cricket, and athletics feature seasonally. An annual ski trip is offered, and there are biannual netball tours and sports expeditions that take pupils further afield.

The school's sports provision emphasises participation and skill development for all rather than elite pathways for the few, though talented pupils are identified and extended through representative fixtures and specialist coaching.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Gateways is a Licensed Organisation for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, with pupils able to start in Year 9 (Upper 4). The school runs Bronze, Silver, and Gold programmes, with a substantial cohort participating each year. Expeditions take place in the Yorkshire Dales National Park between March and October, led by highly qualified staff. Pupils complete practice expeditions followed by assessed final expeditions, with campcraft training and meal planning as integral elements of the programme. The school has an outstanding track record in the scheme, with many pupils progressing to Gold level.

Clubs and Societies

The extracurricular menu includes traditional academic clubs alongside newer interests. Students report involvement in debating and public speaking societies, chess, coding clubs focused on programming and robotics, and creative writing initiatives. The school's publication programme includes the school magazine (Cherryvine) and year group newsletters, providing platforms for pupil voices. Community outreach is structured into the school, with pupils across ages involved in supporting local and international charities throughout the year.

Subject-based enrichment is available: mathematics competitions, science clubs exploring beyond the curriculum, and language clubs extending the languages taught in class. Arts enrichment includes photography, specialist art club for advanced students, and maker spaces where students experiment with design thinking and practical creation.

Residential Experiences and Trips

Pupils in the prep school have their first residential experience in Upper 1 (Year 3), typically at an outdoor pursuit centre where they develop team-working and leadership skills. Year 6 pupils participate in a London residential where they combine sightseeing with a West End theatre experience. In the secondary school, Upper 3 pupils (Year 9) participate in an "outward bound" weekend, and Lower 4 pupils (Year 10) have a cultural trip to a UK city. Further afield, the school offers biannual cultural and historical trips to Poland, London gallery visits for art students, and geography field trips. Expeditions for older pupils have in recent years included visits to Cambodia, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, providing genuine experiences of different cultures and social contexts.

Gateways charges tuition fees across all phases. Annual fees in 2025-26 are £12,488 for Reception through Year 2, rising to £14,759 for Year 3, £15,030 for Years 4-6, £19,902 for Years 7-8, and £20,025 for Years 9-11. The sixth form (Years 12-13) fees are available on the school website. All fees are reviewed annually and exclude lunches, trips, and external exams.

A commitment fee of £500 is payable on accepting a place, and this is non-refundable. Parents can pay fees termly or via monthly instalments through a third-party payment plan. Meals, school trips, music lessons, and other extras are charged separately; families should contact the school for a detailed breakdown of additional costs.

The school offers scholarships in some subject areas at entry to Year 7 and Year 12. These are merit-based awards for academic, music, sport, or art achievement or potential. Specific details of scholarship values and the application process are available through the school's admissions office. Means-tested bursaries are available, reflecting the school's stated commitment to supporting talented families who might not otherwise be able to access independent education. The ISC directory notes that "means-tested bursaries are available," though specific percentages receiving assistance are not publicly detailed. Families interested in bursary support should discuss this directly with the school at the admissions stage.

For families with multiple children at the school, there is a siblings discount: 5% for the second child, 10% for the third, and 15% for the fourth and subsequent children.

Gateways operates a non-selective admissions policy across all phases. Entry to the school is by completion of an admissions form and observation of the child in the school environment. There are no entrance tests or academically selective criteria. This approach reflects the school's philosophy that it seeks to educate motivated families rather than screen out any particular cohort. The school considers applications on a rolling basis, and availability depends on spaces in each year group.

Entry points are at age 2 (nursery), Reception, Year 1, Year 3, Year 7, and Year 12. Most pupils enter at Reception or Year 7, though the school welcomes pupils joining at any stage if spaces are available. The school's admissions policy prioritises families who actively seek the school's approach, and the non-selective stance seems to work well in practice; the school retains most pupils from entry through to Year 13.

For students entering the sixth form (Year 12), there is an expectation that pupils will have achieved at least GCSE grades 5-6 in their chosen A-level subjects, though the school is flexible in assessing readiness based on individual profiles. Some pupils join the sixth form from other schools, bringing fresh perspectives and enriching the senior student body.

The school's early years provision begins at age 2 and is integrated into the broader school structure. The Nursery World Award 2024 for Best Early Years Provision in a School reflects external recognition of the quality of teaching and care in this phase. Mrs Carol Bartle leads the Early Years, and the approach balances government-recommended early years learning with the school's broader ethos.

The school is FEEE (Free Early Education Entitlement) funded, meaning families can access government-funded hours (15 or 30 hours depending on eligibility) for children aged 2, 3, and 4. Parents pay for any additional hours beyond the funded entitlement, and the school can advise on how to apply for government funding. Progression from the nursery to Reception is seamless, with most children continuing at Gateways, though parents are free to explore other options.

Gateways is located in Harewood, a village between Leeds and Harrogate on the A61. The school benefits from a rural setting with good transport connections to the city. The nearest bus stops are within walking distance, and parents report that the location is accessible by car with adequate parking. For families using public transport, regular bus services link Harewood to Leeds city centre and surrounding areas.

School hours are 8:50am to 3:20pm for the main school, with breakfast club available from 7:30am and after-school care running until 6:00pm for prep school pupils. Senior pupils often stay longer for sixth form activities or enrichment programmes.

The school follows the standard English academic calendar with three terms. Holiday dates are published on the school website. The school remains open during some school holidays for optional club and enrichment activities.

Small school limitations. With fewer than 600 pupils across all phases, Gateways offers a family atmosphere that some families genuinely prefer. However, pupils have fewer peers than at larger schools; friendship groups are smaller, and the social landscape is more visible to all. For some families this is an asset; others feel their child benefits from anonymity and a larger peer group. Visit the school and meet some pupils to assess whether the size feels right.

Location and travel. The village setting is pleasant but means the school is not as accessible by public transport as urban alternatives. Families relying on buses may find journey times longer than at city-centre schools. Conversely, the rural setting appeals to families who value green space and quietness.

Selective sixth form entry. Whilst the main school is non-selective, progression to the sixth form requires strong GCSE results. Pupils who do not achieve at least grade 5-6 in subjects they wish to study at A-level will need to discuss options; some may not meet the school's expectations for sixth form entry. This is not unique to Gateways, but families should be aware that secondary entry does not guarantee sixth form continuation.

Fees increase significantly at Year 7. Whilst prep school fees are modest by independent school standards, the jump to secondary school (nearly £8,000 per year more) is substantial. Families should plan for this when considering long-term commitment.

Bursary limitations. The school states that means-tested bursaries are available but does not publish percentages or maximum levels of support. Families relying on financial aid should enquire early whether the school can support their circumstances; there is no guarantee of bursary assistance.

Gateways School delivers a genuinely personal education within a carefully maintained small-school setting. GCSE and A-level results are strong and reliably above England average, reflecting both the quality of teaching and the school's careful attention to each pupil's learning needs. The atmosphere is calm, purposeful, and genuinely inclusive, the non-selective admissions policy means the school attracts motivated families from across the socioeconomic spectrum who value educational quality without the pressure-cooker intensity of more competitive schools.

The school is best suited to families who prioritise knowing the school staff, value small class sizes and individualised attention, and who live within reasonable commuting distance of Harewood. It is an excellent choice for families seeking rigorous academics without the entrance exam stress of selective grammar schools, and for those who value pastoral care and personal development alongside academic results.

The main drawback is cost: independent school fees place this option out of reach for many families, despite bursary availability. The rural location is an advantage for some (green space, quietness, community feel) and a limitation for others (travel time, fewer urban amenities). Parents should visit the school to assess whether the size, setting, and ethos align with their child's needs and their family's values.