Nursery and primary schools in Belfast (State or independent)

[TheRealMBJ]

DS is due to start school in September 2014. I have not worried about this in the slightest until now as we live in a village with a lovely (and VERY small) school in North Yorkshire, in which he is guaranteed a place. But it now looks likely that we may have to relocate to Northern Ireland by the end of the year. And I know very little about anything there.

Please help with any information any at all. Personal experience, recommendations, anything

It really depends where you are locating too. Belfast is a city and the primary schools you consider will very much depend on your location. do you know where your going to be living?

Yes, it will be easier if you've an idea where in the city.

For state primary schools in Northern Ireland you apply through the local education board. There is a form where you can list your choices in order. The form has to be in sometime in early January of the year they will be starting school in. For Belfast it will be available at www.belb.org.uk

I also have a DS who is die to stat primary September 2014 and although I am from NI I lived in England for over 12 years so don't really know anything about any of the primary schools. We would lke our DS to go to an integrated school but there aren't that many about. I love quite close to one that seems to be quite good but I know that it gives preference to those that have attended its pre school and we were too late to get DS into that so we probably have no chance.

We would probably live in Southern Belfast or

What is an interstates school?

Schools in NI are generally organised on religious (catholic or Protestant) lines. There are some intergrated schools, ie mixed religion and some of the Protestant schools will have catholic children. More info here
schools

In south Belfast there are also some independent / private schools; Inchmarlow (boys only), Fullerton (boys and girls), Downey House (boys and girls) and Victoria College (girls only).

Thanks

What if you are not particularly religious?

Hmmmmm. Good question! If you are not catholic then a "Protestant" or integrated would be best.

Even the integrated schools will have a much more Chrisitian ethos than many state schools in England though. I haven't managed to find any schools that don't do religion in some form.

Does anyone have any personal experience of any of the independent preps? Inchmarlo and Victoria in particular?

Can you PM me?

Only just seen this Wips have PMd