Grammars in the Belfast/ Lisburn area

[Earlytorise]

Hi All,

I wonder if you can help. I need to make firm decisions about post primary’s for my eldest DS (a week left until application closes)

I would be really interested to hear from anyone who has knowledge or experience of any schools in the Belfast/ Lisburn area that you would recommend and what you would consider to be their pros and cons.

Also if anyone has or has had a child at Lagan College and a child at another school (particularly if grammar) I would very much appreciate hearing your comparison.

Thanks in advance.

Was your child registered for AQE and or GL? This is a must for any grammars I know of, even though the tests didn't take place this year.

Do you want a Catholic education?

Boy or girl? Lisburn grammars are both co-ed but there are several Belfast single sex schools in traveling distance of Lisburn.

Lagan is an all ability entry this year. It's always popular. I don't have a child there but I have heard mixed reports recently. 20 years ago it was a dump, 5 years ago it was the best thing since sliced bread. Like all schools really. Personally I support the grammar system and I don't think Lagan is good enough at the grammar aspect. I would send a secondary school child there (but won't apply because such a slim chance of getting in- not oldest, sibling not there and primary not officially integrated.)

There's a Facebook page you might find helpful....AQE/ GL support.

Facebook page is AQE & GL support group

Thanks for your swift reply user. Yes, my son is both AQE and GL registered and extremely capable. I’ll have a look at the board you suggested.

Many thanks!

My personal choice would be Friends. We are protestant but it's very mixed. Rathmore gets excellent results and is also highly sought after but I wouldn't send a protestant child there.

Good luck deciding! I have decided my preferences but haven't applied yet.

Didn’t know that about Friends’ coupled with their results it sounds fab. Looked at the criteria though and for us it isn’t favourable; so too with Rathmore he will end up, as eldest, in their computer randomised selection so effectively pot luck.

Really wish that they’d all managed to sit the tests and that DS and I had managed to get to see more schools than we did last year, who could have imagined a pandemic was around the corner!

You’ve accomplished the hardest bit best of luck to your DC.

I went to Friends (as did my sister) and hated it. That was a long time ago though. You did need to be sporty then and neither of us were. I moved to Victoria College where I was much, much happier.