Belfast Boys Model School

Curtis Leads the Way

Curtis Leader, Year 13, tells about his experiences of his first year at Belfast Boys’ Model School. Curtis enrolled in Sixth form last September.

Q. Why Belfast Boys’ Model and how did you go about getting enrolled?
A. The Model offered me the combination of courses I wanted. My old school had a few Post-16 courses but the subjects didn’t suit me. There was a much wider range of choices here. I also considered going to Tech, but when I contacted the school and came up for interview in August just after my GCSE results came out, I was really happy that BBMS was a better choice for me.

Q. What courses are you studying?
A. AS Double Award Science, AS History and my enrichment option is P.E. Awards.

Q. How have you found your first year in a Sixth Form at a new school?
A. I had concerns about moving to a new school but the pupils and staff made it really easy for me. I felt completely settled in just a couple of weeks. In Year 13 there is a two-day Induction programme, which really helped me settle quickly, because I got to know the pupils and staff in a more informal environment as we were working in groups as well as a whole year group.

Q. What is different about the Boys’ Model?
A. The best thing about the Boys’ Model is the people. The big thing is the way people get along with each other – everyone is very easy to get along with and I’ve felt really supported with the move from GCSE to A Level study. I really don’t feel that I’m at a disadvantage through not being here for five years.

Q. What are you looking forward to next year?
A. The formal!

Q. What are your hopes for the future?
A. Teaching History. I did a placement with the History Department for work shadowing and I loved it. As well as class observation and learning about how the Department works, I got to teach a class for an hour and it went really well.

This has been one pupil’s experience of Sixth Form life. Belfast Boys’ Model School can offer you a stimulating and enjoyable experience. We offer a wide and varied range of AS/A2 courses, as well as re-sit English and Maths classes, suitable for different interests and abilities. Additionally, BTEC Nationals and National Certificate Level 2 courses are available for pupils who may wish to progress on a vocational pathway, or onto A Level study. These qualifications are equivalent to 4 GCSEs, Grades A*-C.

The Sixth Form experience allows pupils access to dedicated Careers classes, work shadowing, mock interviews and all A Level pupils are fully supported through the UCAS process, allowing them to make informed choices about university course choices.

From September, the Sixth Form will benefit from first-class facilities in our new school, with a dedicated Sixth Form centre where pupils have full Private Study facilities with ICT access and a Common Room with kitchen facilities.

If you want to know more about enrolling in Sixth Form, or the range of AS/A2 and Level 2 One Year course subjects, please do not hesitate to contact the school, we welcome all enquiries. Don’t forget to check out our gallery to get a flavour of the wide range of sporting and extra curricular activities taking place and view the state-of-the-art facilities on offer in the new school. Some photos of the Sixth Form areas are shown.