Belfast Royal Academy, BELFAST
Belfast Royal Academy is a grammar school for pupils in Belfast.
Data last updated 18 Oct 2026
Belfast Royal Academy in detail
School in Northern Ireland
Belfast Royal Academy is a voluntary school in Northern Ireland, where schools are inspected by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) rather than Ofsted.
1454 pupils are enrolled, 12% are entitled to free school meals, 29% are Catholic and 34% Protestant and 1% are newcomer pupils.
48 pupils (3% of those enrolled) are on the special educational needs register at stages 1 to 3 of the Code of Practice, 37 of them with a statement.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Belfast Royal Academy are St Malachy's College (0.4 miles), Belfast Model School For Girls (0.9 miles), Dominican College (1 mile) and Little Flower Girls' School (1.1 miles).
St Malachy's CollegeBelfast Model School For GirlsDominican CollegeLittle Flower Girls' School
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Belfast Royal Academy.
21 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cliftonville Road (Academy), 60 metres away.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Belfast Royal Academy are Holy Family Primary School (0.2 miles), Cliftonville Integrated Primary School (0.3 miles), Currie Primary School (0.3 miles) and St Patricks Primary School (0.4 miles). As a grammar school, Belfast Royal Academy admits pupils mainly on the results of a transfer test, by the criteria in its own admissions policy.
Holy Family Primary SchoolCliftonville Integrated Primary SchoolCurrie Primary SchoolSt Patricks Primary School
Sources: Department of Education (NI) school data; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
Department of Education (NI)Inspection
The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) last published an inspection report on Belfast Royal Academy in December 2025.
Source: Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI), Northern Ireland.
About
The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school in north Belfast.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Exam results, 2024/25
GCSEs, Year 12 (210 pupils)
98.1%
5+ GCSEs at A* to C, including English and maths
98.1%
5+ GCSEs at A* to C
A-levels, Year 14 (198 pupils)
83.8%
3+ A-levels at A* to C
100%
2+ A-levels at A* to E
Equivalent qualifications count towards these figures.
The Department of Education says these figures are not a fair way to compare one school with another: they take no account of the pupils each school takes in, or of anything else that affects results. Read them alongside everything else you know about the school.
Keep up with Belfast Royal Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute and house prices
Special educational needs
48
Pupils on the SEN register (stages 1 to 3)
3.3%
of pupils enrolled
37
With a statement (stage 3)
11
At stages 1 to 2
From the Department of Education (NI) school census. The department does not publish very small counts, which show here as "Not published".
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Belfast Royal Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Belfast Royal Academy
When was Belfast Royal Academy last inspected?
The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) last published an inspection report on Belfast Royal Academy in December 2025.
What are exam results like at Belfast Royal Academy?
In 2024/25, of the 210 Year 12 pupils at Belfast Royal Academy, 98.1% achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and maths, and 98.1% achieved five or more at A* to C in any subjects (equivalent qualifications count). Of the 198 pupils finishing an A-level or equivalent course in Year 14, 83.8% achieved three or more A-levels at grades A* to C, and 100% achieved two or more at A* to E. The Department of Education says these figures are not a fair way to compare one school with another: they take no account of the pupils each school takes in, or of anything else that affects results. Read them alongside everything else you know about the school.
How are places allocated at Belfast Royal Academy?
Northern Ireland does not use catchment areas. Places at Belfast Royal Academy are allocated on the school's published admissions criteria through the Education Authority's transfer process, and post-primary schools may use an entrance assessment.
How do I apply to Belfast Royal Academy?
Apply through the Education Authority's online admissions system, naming Belfast Royal Academy. Applications usually open in January, and post-primary places may depend on an entrance assessment taken in the previous autumn.
Where is Belfast Royal Academy?
Belfast Royal Academy is at 5-17 CLIFTONVILLE ROAD, BELFAST, ANTRIM, BT14 6JL.