GATE HOUSE Information for Parents Gate House Dean Close School Shelburne Road Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL51 6HE Tel: 01242 258015 Gate House Information Housemaster Mr Matthew Wilkes Email: [email protected] (preferred method of contact) Mobile: 07469 140585 Duty Office Mobile: 07884 667294 House Email Address: [email protected] (for general admin) History Gate House is literally right at the Matt Wilkes has been at Dean Close for four years and will heart of the school and is situated start as Housemaster in Gate in September 2018. He has been above the main entrance. The Head of Biology at Dean Close since he arrived in 2014 and House has a proud history and has stepped down from the role in June this year. He is currently, always been a very desirable place and will remain, the Director of Studies for Sixth Form. Prior to this, he spent eight years at Lancing College in West Sussex to be. Since 2008 it has become as a teacher of Biology and Assistant Housemaster. He is even more special by becoming a married to Dr Amy Wilkes, who teaches Chemistry at the The Sixth Form only House. This cre- Cheltenham Ladies’ College. They have a young son, Xander, ates a unique atmosphere, where who. attends DCPPS Squirrels Nursery and are expecting their the boys are encouraged to grow in second child in July 2018. independence and responsibility within a supportive environment. Gate House has been expertly guided by Romey Tottman for Gate boys are always determined to the last nine years and Matt, his family and the tutor team are looking forward to continuing to nurture the warm, accept- do their best and are encouraged to ing, and cosmopolitan feel of the House. take a full part in the many extra- curricular activities on offer at the The Gate boys are encouraged to take pride in their work and School, as well as focusing on their in their House and to participate as much as possible in the studies. All students of Dean Close many extra-curricular opportunities on offer at the School. are known as Scholars. The Gate tutor team and the Gate boys are very much looking forward to welcoming your son into our community. Gate House Information Statement of Boarding Principles and Practice “It is our aim to provide a full and balanced life in the caring, family atmosphere of a Christian Co- educational school, to enable young people to develop relationships and fulfill their potentials as individuals in a secure and happy environment and thereby learn to play their full part in Black Tie Dinner 2016 society as a whole” Gate Tutors and Matron With this in mind it is important to The Housemaster will be your first point of contact with all matters build a three way relationship concerning your son. However, your son will also be looked after by our between you, your son and ourselves. Resident Tutors, Matron and our House Tutors. Every student in school Please feel free to contact us at any is also allocated a personal tutor who will meet with them every week to time, particularly if you have any discuss their academic progress and their general welfare. concerns about your son. He may tell you things he does not tell us and vice-versa. We are here to help, so please do keep us informed if your son has any worries. The best way to contact us is via e-mail, but please do phone us at any time if you need to discuss any issues. Matt Mobile: 07469 140585 House Mobile: 07884 667294 Zach Suckle Andrea Shaw email: [email protected] Assistant Housemaster Matron [email protected] Resident Tutor [email protected] [email protected] Paul Harvey Mr Hardaker Mr Sumner Mr Jenkins Physics Head of BusEc Head of MFL S&C Coach Gate House Information Heads of House & the Upper Sixth The Upper Sixth 2018-2019 The Head of House and House Ben Avery Head of House Prefects will have a variety of roles to help Eason Ma Deputy Head of House run the House smoothly and this in- James Boden Max Chatterji cludes helping your son to settle into Sam Crichton Gate. The year the House will be ably led Harvey Dickenson by Ben Avery who will be a friendly face in Kene Ene your son’s first few days and weeks. How- Kaven Hou Leo Li ever, the whole of the Upper Sixth will act Chris Qi as mentors and support over the course Jack Shi of the Lower Sixth. Buddy System Each boy entering Gate will has been assigned two Upper Sixth ‘buddies’. Their email addresses have been provided in the welcome letters and new joiners are strongly en- couraged to contact them before the start of term. The aim of this is to allow the boys to get to know each other and form bonds and relationships before the new academic year begins. This may also give them the chance to be put in contact with each other over the course of the summer. The Upper Sixth will hopefully be able to answer any questions or concerns your son may have. Saturday night House evening Zorb Football 2017 Gate House Information IMPORTANT INFORMATION Gate House Matron, Andrea is nor- mally on duty Monday to Friday Medical Form and from 7.45am until 3.45pm and Medicines alternate Saturday afternoons from 1.00pm until 6.00pm. She will help your son settle in and Please make sure you complete will be around the House to chat the medical form about your and answer any questions he may child and return this to the have during the day. Andrew will school as soon as possible and deal with minor repairs to clothing Matron, Andrea and any issues with rooms should certainly no later than 1st August be reported to her. 2018. Your son will not be able During week day If your son feels unwell, she will to start at the school until we mornings Matron will assess and either arrange for them have this form. visit each room at to visit the Health Centre or take 7.45am to make sure care of them in House. the boys are up and Other than prescribed medicines ready to go to the Andrea is the first point of contact which the school should be Dining Hall for regarding school holiday and travel breakfast. arrangements for your son. informed about, pupils are NOT to bring their own Laundry and naming of personal items medicines to school. Once a week clothes are collected from Gate for washing in the school laundry. The clothes are returned to the house at A school Doctor has an early lunchtime the same day. All clothes must be colourfast and suit- abl e for machine washing and drying. There are also two wash- morning Surgery each day and ing machines and tumble dryers in the House which the boys can there is a Registered Nurse on use throughout the week for urgently required items. duty in school throughout the day. The Health Centre is It is essential that all clothes have nametapes sewn onto them. Please send spare labels to Matron who will arrange to sew labels situated on the school site with onto any new clothes acquired during term time. It is possible to beds should it be necessary for order name tapes from the School shop. your son to receive special care Dry cleaning of suits and delicate items can be arranged through either during the day or night. the School shop and charged to your school account. All boys must also bring a named single bed sized duvet, and two single sized duvet covers. Gate House Information Exeats, Half Terms and Holidays PLEASE NOTE Please ensure that arrangements are made well in It is a legal requirement for all overseas advance for boys not returning home during pupils, including those over the age of exeats and half term holidays to stay with their guardian or host family. It is essential that you 18, to be looked after by a guardian inform the school at least two weeks in advance of over the age of 25 when staying in this each break of where your son will be staying. country during the holidays. When arriving back from exeats and half terms, boys are not allowed into the boarding house until 6.00pm but should be back by 9.00pm at the latest. END OF TERM Term dates and exeat dates are listed on the school Please make arrangements well in advance, website: www.deanclose.org.uk especially if flights need to be booked, for your son to leave school on the dates shown in the school calendar. The school is unable Pupils are expected to be in school for the whole of to accommodate any pupils during the main term time; any early departures or late arrivals at holiday and exeat periods. school have to be authorized in advance by the Deputy Headmaster. GUARDIANS Every overseas pupil must have appointed a guardian in the UK before starting at the School and must complete and return the Guardian Form with their de- tails. The guardian plays an extremely important role for our overseas pupils. They must be over the age of 25 and will be responsible for the pupil for holiday periods, half term breaks and exeats. The guardian must also be able to look after pupils at short notice in the event of illness or if a pupil is suspended.