Methodist College Belfast (MCB), styled locally as Methody, is a voluntary grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland, one of eight Northern Irish schools represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, and is a member of the Independent Schools Council. Located at the foot of Malone Road, in south Belfast, it possesses two preparatory departments (Downey House and Fullerton House), each with 280 pupils, aged 5 – 11. There is a Pre-school on the site of Downey House catering for children aged 3 and 4. The College is generally regarded for its high academic standards, regularly sending students to Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and was ranked 2nd in Northern Ireland in "The Times" state school league tables 2009. It has also had considerable sporting success, especially in rugby, having won the Ulster Schools Cup a record 32 times and the Medallion Shield a record 34 times. Methodist College also has a strong reputation for music. Its choirs have won several awards, such as Songs of Praise Choir of the Year, Sainsbury's Choir of the Year, and RTÉ All-Island School Choir of the Year.