Belfast schools

[mwah79]

Hi there. I’m really interested in your comments. We live in an area of SE London, which has a fantastic community feel and we are friends with lots of the parents our kids hang around with. In addition, as we’ve been in London for 20 yrs we have lots of friends who have become our family. Our DS (8&10) are in an excellent school and I can walk to work. Our life is pretty nice but we are very busy and broke all the time. We have no savings for the future. We do own a house and would hopefully make £130000 profit from the sale. We are seriously considering a move back to Belfast to be close to family and for a slower pace of life. Our DC are not used to exam based academia and had many years of learning through play. They don’t really do any homework. We’ll take them to a museum or gallery based on their current topic.
I think our eldest might struggle with arriving back and being thrown straight into exam prep. Can I ask your advice about primary and secondary schools? Do our kids need to get into a Gramnar? They are both very bright but if there are good secondary schools I think we’d boycott the exam process. We are considering Ballyhackamore, Newtonbreda Finaghy. Is there any info. on catchment areas or feeder schools? Thanks in advance.

If they’ve spent more than 4 years of their primary education outside NI then they won’t have to sit the AQE / GL . I’m not sure who you’d contact to get confirmation of this . My friend’s daughter got a place in a local catholic girls’ grammar school by sitting their own entrance exam .
If you want a mixed school ( which I’d recommend ) then Methody is a good choice. Campbell has a reputation for being rich and thick .

Try for the grammars, they aren’t as classed based as grammars in England...
I tell you one thing - In general NI schools are waaayyyy better than English ones. Smaller class numbers, better discipline, higher standards, not divided by class in the same way, really well qualified teachers, tons of school places, more money and investment in them too.

And this isn’t hearsay - I have professional reasons for knowing...

Campbell has a reputation for being rich and thick .

Charming way to describe children

I have several colleagues who attended (mostly doctors), and a few of my son’s friends DS attend. While it does have fees of £3000 a year and therefore has slightly lower entry requirements, I think “thick” is very unkind. Campbell’s lowest AQE grade they accepted in 2017 was 94, Methody was 95........

Campbell does have the reputation for being for the rich kids who buy their way in... that’s what happens when you have a system where many more ordinary kids can go to grammars solely on academic ability...

Prospective pupils still have to sit the transfer test though. Unless they pay to attend as a boarder I guess, similar to Armagh Royal, Victoria College etc.

But I definitely agree with you that our schools our excellent. My DS primary school had 45 children in P7 and less than half sat the transfer tests as they chose to attend the excellent local secondary school.

Last year they were reporting on the news that N Ireland had less funding per pupil than the rest of the UK. But still outperforming the rest of the UK in exams. Although I've no doubt that a different study might say the opposite.

My eldest child's school is falling apart at the seams; they have had to close the school on a couple of occasions for emergency repairs because it's unsafe, and this is only the second year they've been there. It's a voluntary grammar, and the controlled schools that we viewed were in far better condition. Which is weird because I thought one of the things about voluntary grammars was that they claimed to have access to more funding due to charging capital fees.

But, despite that little rant, I'm convinced that the education system works better here than in England. I've never heard of anyone here desperately scrambling to buy a house in a particular postcode to ensure they get a place at a particular school. And in my area at least, the non grammars are very good, they certainly don't throw kids on the scrapheap at 11 as people looking in from the outside seem to assume.

Campbell has a reputation for being rich and thick

I’ll make sure to mention that to DS.

Campbell are very upfront about being an all ability school - they have an A stream and a B stream, much in the same way that Lagan College has their grammar stream and non-grammar stream. Don’t let a lazy comment from a pp put you off considering it.

I’m sure he’s already aware of it Nigella .

It’s a good school . I didn’t say it wasn’t . It is a good example of buying privilege.
Seems like I hit a nerve .

How is it an example of buying privilege?

Well I do think it is lacking in emotional intelligence to describe children as rich & thick, especially when another poster has just posted about how they think it is a school which would meet OP’s needs.

I know people thought it was hilarious around the 1980s to use this phrase, but actually it isn’t particularly accurate these days, and no, my DS wouldn’t be aware that some people have such a chip on their shoulder that they feel the need to denigrate children and their school choices.

I really appreciate everyone’s comments. None of you are obliged to comment but you’ve all taken the time, so thanks. As an Omagh Grammar school alumnus I’m aware of how good those schools are and see that the league tables haven’t changed that much in twenty years, with regard to results. In some circumstances, at least, the success of these schools seems to rely on the teach-to-test model. It stood me well enough to get into university but I’d if my boys had a chance to build on the creative curriculum and promotion of independent learning that they’ve had so far. There are pros and cons to both; I know it just comes down to personal opinion. I really appreciate all of your comments.

It jealous, schools system is much better I think. Seriously considering moving there when kids are a bit older. Not For Campbell obvs but the good State grammars and secondaries.

That’s really good to know. Where they inS/E Belfast?

I know a couple who have one son and decided from early on that he would be educated at Campbell College. They love music and rugby and the child is getting plenty of both, he chose to learn to play the bagpipes after being piped in by the school band. The family aren't wealthy by any means but have decided that this is the best education for him . Both sets of grandparents have contributed to his education and they've prioritised his education.
My two daughters and I have both attended grammar school in Omagh and the girls gained a lot from the experience.

I saw this news article this morning and thought of this thread. More places at post primary in South and East Belfast.

@DaydreamingDay Reading this 4 years on as in the research stage of a planned move to NI later this year. Magherafelt is on our shortlist of towns we're interested in. Open to other areas if the schools fit what we're looking for. If this is still relevant and you're still involved in the education sector would you mind if I pm'd you?
Thanks!

I know this is an old thread but where did they end up going? Looking at Grammar schools in the same area

Hello, my family will be temporarily in Belfast from February through August 2026. I'm seeking schools for my two kids to finish years 6 and 8. I've called a few post-primary schools and they're all over-subscribed (Wellington and Lagan). Primary schools have capacity.

Do you have advice on finding a place for my 13 yo? No religious preference.

We don't have an area to lease a house yet, I was hoping to find a school first and then a house (housing is more available than schools!). Ideally we'd be east/south Belfast.

Thanks!

@TravelledMum Have you tried calling/emailing the Education Authority Admissions (EANI) They should have a list of schools with places available.

Yes, I called EA. They dont have a register with openings. He recommended individually calling each school. I will get that started, just hoping I could get a quick start or tips/recommendations here too!

None of the Grammar schools are likely to have places I think. That is a very short time you are seeking a place for- that’s only 5 months.
A few secondary schools might I suppose eg Dundonald High/Ballynahinch High
Alternatively you might get a boarding place at eg Campbell (if boy).
No other ideas I’m afraid.

@TravelledMum I don’t know what your budget is like, but Rockport would be more likely to be able to cater for you. It’s £££ though.

Thank you, but yeah, need to keep to state funded!!

It will be very hard to get a place for a few months. Campbell likely your best option. NI schools are closed for all of July and August so Feb-June and then assume if you are leaving in September.