Methodist College Sixth Form Brochure 2023

Sixth Form at Methody 2023

Welcome from the Principal

Thank you for considering Methodist College for your Sixth Form journey.

The information in this brochure will give you an indication of what life at Methody is like, but it is difficult in a booklet to communicate fully everything that goes on in the College and, more importantly, the genuine family atmosphere that provides the context for everything we do. Methody is undoubtedly a large community of learners, but it is one where every individual is important and everyone is valued.

Our vision for the next generation of pupils is simple, and is encapsulated in a line from the school song: Let Methody Flourish. At Methody you will be encouraged to be a curious, enthusiastic learner who approaches study with a seriousness of purpose, one who gets involved in the life enhancing opportunities provided by the College in and out of the classroom.

The learning environment at Methody will allow you to develop the character, grit and determination that will help you to think critically and act ethically; with “the will to do and the soul to dare.”

The staff here are committed to providing a level of personal care and support which gives our pupils the security, confidence and opportunity to develop their diverse talents and skills. We are proud of both the achievements of our pupils and our ethos which promotes high levels of attainment and mutual respect between pupils from diverse cultures and backgrounds. It is in this rich, happy environment that all of our pupils are encouraged to develop a sense of responsibility, mutual tolerance and respect and to pursue excellence in all of their activities.

J Lendrum Principal

Why Choose Methodist College

The College has an outstanding reputation for academic excellence and also an impressive record of achievement in music, drama, sport and many other extra- curricular activities. This allows our pupils to express themselves and develop their talents wherever their interests lie. In all of our activities the school seeks to prepare our pupils to be able to lead a meaningful and purposeful life.

Methodist College traditionally attracts many applications from pupils wishing to transfer from other schools, both secondary and grammar.

Pupils are attracted to the College for a number of reasons:

• Over 30 subjects offered with a wide range of combinations available.

• Full range of enrichment activities

• Supervised study

• Extensive extra-curricular provision

• Focused careers advice and guidance

• Exam success

• Games (optional)

Sixth Form Entry

Entry to Sixth Form is dependent on achieving good grades in six or more subjects at GCSE.

Details on the admissions criteria for Sixth Form including those interested in attending the College who currently live outside Northern Ireland can be accessed on our Admissions page of our websitemethody.org/admissions.

Sixth Form Entry

What to do once you receive your GCSE Results:

GSCE results will be published Thursday 24 August 2023, once you have your results you should:

• Contact the College to advise us of your GCSE results.

• If you are away on holiday at this time make arrangements to have the results sent in.

• The College's Careers Service will contact you in the afternoon or evening of 24 August to let you know if a place is being offered.

• Admission is dependent on grades, subject choices and places available.

• Selected applicants will be interviewed by the careers staff to discuss AS choices from Friday 25 August onwards. Please bring verification of your GSCE results to this meeting.

Careers Information and Advice

The support and guidance provided in sixth form is extensive and sophisticated. They are exposed to more representatives from the worlds of academia, business, media and a range of professions. Our careers staff are always on hand to discuss each pupil’s career goals; offering honest and informed opinions that enable pupils to make up their own mind about their future.

Each year the College holds a Law Conference, Medical Symposium and Engineering Conference. We also stage a bi-annual careers fair in the College, which senior school pupils attend. Through the sixth form enrichment programme there are additional opportunities for pupils to gain experience of the world of work through our excellent contacts with companies such as Catalyst Inc. and Citibank. All Lower Sixth pupils also complete a week’s work shadowing after their summer exams.

The Careers education, information, advice and guidance delivered at Methody aims to provide the pupils with opportunities to develop the skills and acquire the knowledge necessary to make considered, well-informed decisions at key transition points in their school career.

Sixth Form Life

Sixth Form Centre

The Sixth Form Centre, which is known as the Worrall Centre, is a significant building overlooking the College quad.

The Sixth Form Centre covers four floors and contains study and computer facilities, a recreation area and a coffee bar. There is a generous provision of lockers. Management is in the hands of a committee of students - the Sixth Form Forum - and staff and the Centre is presided over by a Warden and an assistant.

A Study Supervisor also ensures that a good study atmosphere prevails. It aims to be a place within the confines of the College where senior pupils can assume greater responsibility for their own work so that they make the transition from school to life beyond Methody more easily.

Social and Extra-Curricular Life

Young people in Sixth Form at Methody have the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of activities and events.

These are great fun to be part of, but participating also gives students something extra to write about when completing their Personal Statement for their UCAS Forms as part of their university application process.

Involvement in Clubs & Societies provides opportunities for experience in leadership. Many of our Sixth Formers act as a academic or pastoral mentors to junior pupils.

Sixth Form Events include:

• Annual 'Methody's Got Talent' contest.

• The Methody Formal.

• May Day Marathon - usually entering over 25 teams.

• Fundraising Events - raising £1000s for charity.

Sports & Games

We have a range of Sports & Games available for Sixth Form at Methody, including:

Athletics

Badminton

Basketball

Cricket

Cross Country

Dance

Fencing

Football

Golf

Gymnastics

Hockey

Judo

Netball

Rowing

Rugby

Squash

Swimming

Tennis

Waterpolo

The Community Service Group

The Community Service Group is a timetabled option for pupils in Sixth Form who can choose it in lieu of Games.

Work undertaken by pupils includes helping with Cubs and Brownies, in a Day Care Centre and assisting in charity shops to name but a few.

Romania Society

School Aid Romania is a cross-community venture that seeks to help those in need, in Romania.

Methody have been involved in this project since 1990. Every year pupils travel to Romania with St Patrick’s College Maghera to support families living in poverty, those in residential care and young people and children in schools and orphanages.

Each year pupils fund raise for the trip. All the money raised goes directly to the poorest of families, orphanages, old people and homeless people.

The College India Society

Each Year Methody raises money to help the ASHA Slum Project in Delhi. Main activities include:

• Planning fundraising for ASHA

• Making cards using designs provided by the women in the slums

• Finding out more about India and the work of ASHA in the slums.

Every 18 months a group of students and teachers go to India to help with the Project.

Clubs & Societies

Biology Society

Book Club

Chapel Choir

Chess Club

Christian Union

Club Gaeilge

Current Affairs Society

Debating Society

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Film Club

Geography Society

Girls’ Choir

Guitarist Club

Hewitt Society

India Society

Irish Traditional Group

Law Society

LGBTQI+ Society

Model United Nations

Moneybox

Orchestra

Politics and Current Affairs

Pyschology Society

Rewilding Society

Robotics Club

Romania Society

Russian Club

Senior Choir

Senior School Show

SENTINUS

Spanish Club Swing Band

The Sixth Form Experience

We asked our new Lower Sixth pupils what they enjoyed about Methody...

Why did you choose to come to Methody?

Methody was attractive to me because of the many extra-curricular activities, such as sports, music, drama and more, as well as the large selection of A Level and vocational subjects that weren't offered elsewhere. However, I think the thing that attracted me to Methody the most was the fact that it has such a cosmopolitan community, and I really wanted to get a grasp of different cultures and meet people from various places and make lifelong friends.

What helped you settle into life at Methody?

I found all of the students very welcoming, I have become great friends with lots of them, and many of them have told me that it feels like I have always been there which is so nice to hear. I wasn't scared to get involved with everything and the Music Department has so many different groups which has also helped me settle in really quickly. It is easy to integrate into Methody in Sixth Form as there as so many new sixth formers and existing pupils are also starting new classes and, in some cases, new subjects.

What have you enjoyed most about Methody?

I'm really enjoying the freedom that being a sixth form student gives you at school as well as the opportunities that Methody has to offer. Something that I love about Methody is that it is very clear that the students have a voice here and that the school does everything in its power to find solutions where there is even the tiniest of complaints so that everyone is happy.

What was your biggest challenge in Methody so far?

The biggest challenge was settling in and making new friends as the school is quite intimidating at first due to size but it becomes a very comfortable place to be in after adjusting, and the fact that Methody is so diverse makes it welcoming.

Why should others come to Methody?

I think that other Form 5 pupils should make the move to Methody for Sixth Form as it is an amazing experience, which helps you to step out of your comfort zone and become more independent as a person. You will create many lifelong memories and being at Methody is like being part of a massive family. You will get to experience everything that school life has to offer, and there really is something for everyone!

The wide range of opportunities, the quality of teaching compared to my previous school, meeting a range of new people, and having a range of new experiences.

I would not hesitate to recommend others to join Methody as I feel I have grown as a person and gained much more confidence as I have been able to do achieve things that might not have been possible before.

Words to describe Sixth Form at Methody.

Inspiring, entertaining, encouraging, supportive, opportunity, vast, historical, diverse, enjoyable, freedom - opportunity, diversity and excellence!

Methodist College

1 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6BY 028 9020 5205 | info@mcb.belfast.ni.sch.uk | methody.org

Principal’s office: 028 9020 5202 | Admissions: admissions@methody.org

@Methody

@MethodyBelfast