Doing all the good we can

A new video highlighting the history, values and impact of Methodist Schools across the country has been launched today at the Methodist Conference.

‘Doing all the good we can’ features a series of interviews with pupils, teachers and parents as they share their thoughts and experiences of Methodist Schools.

Speaking in the video, Barbara Easton, Director of Education, says: “Our schools are about giving children the very best educational opportunities, wherever they are, in whichever sector, however old the children.”

With around 25,000 pupils, 5,000 staff and estimated effect on some 100,000 people in Britain, Methodist Schools have a wide-reaching impact on children’s education. 

However, Methodist Schools are not just concerned with matters of education, but also issues of society and wellbeing. 

“We’ve got a bunch of school values,” says Ollie of Holly Hill Methodist/Church of England Infant School. “We’ve got gentleness, kindness, thankfulness, patience, love … there’s way too many for me to even say them all!” 

Methodist Schools come from a rich historic tradition, having been involved in education for over 200 years.  

“Education has been a passion of Methodists since the beginning of the Methodist Church,” Barbara continued. “It’s a passion that we can find in the life of John Wesley who, everywhere he went and set up a base he set up a school as part of that. It’s believed that the first ever Sunday School was set up by a Methodist woman, who was called Hannah Ball who epitomises the desire of the early Methodists to give people access to learning.”

For more information on Methodist Schools, please contactadmin@methodisteducation.co.uk or call 020 7935 3723.

Notes:

1. The Conference is the body that agrees policy for the Methodist Church. It meets annually as a group of 306 representatives, along with a number of ecumenical and World Church associate members. This year's Conference is being held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole between 22 to the 29 June. For more information, visit the Methodist website.

2. You can watch the Conference live here.

3. Follow the Conference conversation on Twitter via the #methodistconf hastag. Please note that comments and opinions on Twitter and the blog do not necessarily represent the Methodist Church's position.

About the Methodist Church

The Methodist Church is one of the largest Christian churches serving Great Britain, with around 188,000 members and regular contact with nearly 500,000 people. It has 4,500 churches in Great Britain, and also maintains links with other Methodist churches with a worldwide total membership of over 80 million. Its activities, both alone and with ecumenical and secular partners, are based on four aims known as Our Calling: 

�   To increase awareness of God's presence and to celebrate God's love 

�   To help people to grow and learn as Christians through mutual support and care 

�   To be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice 

�   To make more followers of Jesus Christ.

Registered charity no. 1132208

For more information contact:

Toby Fairclough, Media Officer
Methodist Church House
25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR
T 0207 467 5208
M 0796 985 376
E fairclought@methodistchurch.org.uk

Michael Ivatt, Lead Media Officer
Methodist Church House
25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR
T 0207 467 5208
M 07881 783 812
E ivattm@methodistchurch.org.uk