The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, BELFAST
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution is a grammar school for pupils in Belfast.
Data last updated 18 Oct 2026
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution in detail
School in Northern Ireland
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution is a voluntary school in Northern Ireland, where schools are inspected by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) rather than Ofsted.
1073 pupils are enrolled, 6% are entitled to free school meals and 15% are Catholic and 50% Protestant.
50 pupils (5% of those enrolled) are on the special educational needs register at stages 1 to 3 of the Code of Practice, 26 of them with a statement.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to The Royal Belfast Academical Institution are St Malachy's College (0.8 miles), St Dominic's High School (0.9 miles), St Rose???s Dominican College (1 mile) and Methodist College (1 mile).
St Malachy's CollegeSt Dominic's High SchoolSt Rose???s Dominican CollegeMethodist College
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Royal Belfast Academical Institution.
50 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is College Sq North RBAI, 80 metres away.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to The Royal Belfast Academical Institution are St Mary's Primary School (0.2 miles), St Joseph's Primary School (0.4 miles), Blythefield Primary School (0.5 miles) and St Peter's Primary School (0.5 miles). As a grammar school, The Royal Belfast Academical Institution admits pupils mainly on the results of a transfer test, by the criteria in its own admissions policy.
St Mary's Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Primary SchoolBlythefield Primary SchoolSt Peter's 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 The Royal Belfast Academical Institution in March 2020.
Source: Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI), Northern Ireland.
About
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, known locally as Inst, is an independent grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With the support of Belfast's leading reformers and democrats, it opened its doors in 1814.
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 (156 pupils)
98.7%
5+ GCSEs at A* to C, including English and maths
99.4%
5+ GCSEs at A* to C
A-levels, Year 14 (118 pupils)
76.3%
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 The Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute and house prices
Special educational needs
50
Pupils on the SEN register (stages 1 to 3)
4.7%
of pupils enrolled
26
With a statement (stage 3)
24
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
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Royal Belfast Academical Institution
When was The Royal Belfast Academical Institution last inspected?
The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) last published an inspection report on The Royal Belfast Academical Institution in March 2020.
What are exam results like at The Royal Belfast Academical Institution?
In 2024/25, of the 156 Year 12 pupils at The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, 98.7% achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and maths, and 99.4% achieved five or more at A* to C in any subjects (equivalent qualifications count). Of the 118 pupils finishing an A-level or equivalent course in Year 14, 76.3% 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 The Royal Belfast Academical Institution?
Northern Ireland does not use catchment areas. Places at The Royal Belfast Academical Institution 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 The Royal Belfast Academical Institution?
Apply through the Education Authority's online admissions system, naming The Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Applications usually open in January, and post-primary places may depend on an entrance assessment taken in the previous autumn.
Where is The Royal Belfast Academical Institution?
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution is at COLLEGE SQUARE EAST, BELFAST, ANTRIM, BT1 6DL.