Colaiste Feirste, BELFAST
Colaiste Feirste is a grammar school for pupils in Belfast.
Data last updated 18 Oct 2026
Colaiste Feirste in detail
School in Northern Ireland
Colaiste Feirste is an other maintained school in Northern Ireland, where schools are inspected by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) rather than Ofsted.
1009 pupils are enrolled and 49% are entitled to free school meals.
480 pupils (48% of those enrolled) are on the special educational needs register at stages 1 to 3 of the Code of Practice, 109 of them with a statement.
Colaiste Feirste in its own words
In its own words: "Coláiste Feirste aims to provide post primary education of the highest quality through the medium of the Irish language and is committed to excellence in every aspect of this work. The school has many years of experience in this field and offers an educational experience which develops the social, intellectual and technical skills of the young people in our care."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include sewing and book club.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Colaiste Feirste are Corpus Christi College (0.1 miles), St Louise's Comprehensive College (0.4 miles), St Rose???s Dominican College (0.5 miles) and St Dominic's High School (0.6 miles).
Corpus Christi CollegeSt Louise's Comprehensive CollegeSt Rose???s Dominican CollegeSt Dominic's High School
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Colaiste Feirste.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Col�iste Feirste(School Grounds), 160 metres away.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Colaiste Feirste are St Paul's Primary School (0.3 miles), Bunscoil An Tsleibhe Dhuibh (0.3 miles), St Kevin's Primary School (0.4 miles) and Gaelscoil Na Bhfal (0.4 miles). As a grammar school, Colaiste Feirste admits pupils mainly on the results of a transfer test, by the criteria in its own admissions policy.
St Paul's Primary SchoolBunscoil An Tsleibhe DhuibhSt Kevin's Primary SchoolGaelscoil Na Bhfal
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 Colaiste Feirste in November 2016.
Source: Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI), Northern Ireland.
About
Coláiste Feirste is the only secondary-level Irish-medium school in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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 (160 pupils)
56.9%
5+ GCSEs at A* to C, including English and maths
74.4%
5+ GCSEs at A* to C
A-levels, Year 14 (55 pupils)
27.3%
3+ A-levels at A* to C
67.3%
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.
Latest from Colaiste Feirste
Dhéisigh Dylan Mac Liam
29 Jun 2026
Bhí Eoin ar thaithí oibre leis an Atown News
15 Jun 2026
Turas Ceoil go Corcaigh
15 Jun 2026
Comhghairdeas le hAoibhín Nc Dhónaill - buaiteoir an Chontae sa chomórtas, Aistritheoirí Óga 2026!
19 May 2026
Comhghairdeas Dáithí
14 May 2026
Turas Oh Yeah/ Oh Yeah Trip
28 Apr 2026
From Colaiste Feirste's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Colaiste Feirste
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute and house prices
Special educational needs
480
Pupils on the SEN register (stages 1 to 3)
47.6%
of pupils enrolled
109
With a statement (stage 3)
371
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
Colaiste Feirste
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Colaiste Feirste
When was Colaiste Feirste last inspected?
The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) last published an inspection report on Colaiste Feirste in November 2016.
What are exam results like at Colaiste Feirste?
In 2024/25, of the 160 Year 12 pupils at Colaiste Feirste, 56.9% achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and maths, and 74.4% achieved five or more at A* to C in any subjects (equivalent qualifications count). Of the 55 pupils finishing an A-level or equivalent course in Year 14, 27.3% achieved three or more A-levels at grades A* to C, and 67.3% 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 Colaiste Feirste?
Northern Ireland does not use catchment areas. Places at Colaiste Feirste 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 Colaiste Feirste?
Apply through the Education Authority's online admissions system, naming Colaiste Feirste. Applications usually open in January, and post-primary places may depend on an entrance assessment taken in the previous autumn.
Where is Colaiste Feirste?
Colaiste Feirste is at 7 BEECHVIEW PARK, FALLS ROAD, BELFAST, ANTRIM, BT12 7PY.