Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions that you make for your child’s future and we hope our prospectus gives you a sense of our vibrant and caring School and the wealth of opportunities available. We would encourage you to visit the School and meet staff and current pupils at one of our Open Days to see first-hand and experience all that Belfast Royal Academy has to offer.
Open Evenings for Form 1 admissions take place in early January each year.
Each year, 200 pupils are admitted into Form 1 at Belfast Royal Academy. Pupils are admitted according to our Admissions Criteria and are administered by the Transfer Office at the Education Authority. Our Admissions Criteria is renewed annually by our Board of Governors - please see below the Admissions Criteria for August 2026 admissions to Belfast Royal Academy.
It is not possible to apply directly to the School for a place in Form 1.
Occasionally a small number of places may become available in these year groups, depending on enrolment numbers at the start of the academic year. Prospective candidates must complete set assessments.
The deadline for applications into Form 2 to 5 in 2027 will be announced in due course.
Being part of our Sixth Form is both a challenging and stimulating experience. No-one ever regrets the experience of a wonderful education for those all-important A-level years. We always welcome talented and capable pupils into our Sixth Form to finish off their schooling to their maximum potential. At Belfast Royal Academy we create an environment in which our pupils achieve excellent examination results whilst also developing their personal and leadership skills.
Admissions Criteria for Sixth Form Entry
Pupils wishing to join our Sixth Form will normally require a minimum of 12 points at GCSE (A* = 4 points, A = 3 points, B = 2 points, C* = 1 ½ points, C = 1 point) and are expected to have achieved at least a Grade B in the subjects they wish to study for A level. Entry to Sixth Form is also dependent upon a pupil’s disciplinary record and school attendance.
Belfast Royal Academy is a Voluntary Grammar School and as a result it is permitted to levy fees and charges in respect of registered pupils in certain limited circumstances.
The capital fee of £140 per pupil is a compulsory annual charge and should be paid at the beginning of each academic year. In addition, we also request a supplementary parental contribution of £350 per pupil.
The combined annual charge amounts to £490 per pupil, which is equivalent to a daily payment of less than £1.35, which is excellent value for money for the high quality, rounded education offered at our school.
Whilst the supplementary parental contribution is not mandatory, this money goes towards our general school funds and greatly assists in alleviating the growing financial pressures faced by the school. In recent years, you will no doubt be aware of ongoing reductions in grant funding to schools in Northern Ireland. This funding has fallen further and further below the ordinary running costs of the school and the financial position is becoming increasingly difficult. The supplementary contributions we receive from parents are essential to fill the gap and allow the school to continue to provide a quality education for all its students and enable us to offer the wide range of subject choices, as well as the extensive programme of extra-curricular activities. The income provided by parental contributions helps to fund various other aspects of school life, including transport and provision of school buses and development and maintenance of our facilities.
Payment options
To facilitate payments, the School operates a system of monthly direct debits for the collection of fees. This monthly direct debit system removes the inconvenience of arranging to pay bills, as once you have signed up, the mandate will continue as long as the pupil remains at the school. The annual fees are paid over a ten-month period from September to June (around the last working day of each month), thereby spreading the charge and making it more affordable.
Belfast Royal Academy is a registered charity and we encourage all parents to take advantage of the HMRC Gift Aid Scheme, which means the School can claim back tax on parental contributions, at no extra cost to you. More information about this scheme is detailed on the Gift Aid Declaration.
If you have any questions regarding Fees or Parental Contributions, please contact the Finance Office on 028 9074 0423 or email bursar@bfsra.belfast.ni.sch.uk
Contact Us
Should you have any queries with regards to admissions please contact the School Office on 028 9074 0423 or email info@bfsra.belfast.ni.sch.uk