Best secondary schools in Belfast
31 of 31 secondary schools ranked by 5+ GCSEs A*-C · all Belfast schools · primary schools
Ranked on 5+ GCSEs A*-C, 2024/25 — the most recent year each school has published. Official data, not our opinion — but the ranking is only as good as the measure, and a single number never describes a school.
- 0 of 31 rated Good or Outstanding
- Median 5+ GCSEs A*-C: 95.0% (best 100.0%)
| # | School | 5+ GCSEs A*-C | Ofsted | Places | Catchment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Our Lady and St Patrick's College BELFAST grammar | 100.0% | — | — | approximate |
| 2 | St Dominic's High School BELFAST grammar | 100.0% | — | — | approximate |
| 3 | Dominican College BELFAST grammar | 99.4% | — | — | approximate |
| 4 | The Royal Belfast Academical Institution BELFAST grammar | 99.4% | — | — | approximate |
| 5 | Victoria College BELFAST grammar | 99.3% | — | — | approximate |
| 6 | Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School BELFAST grammar | 99.2% | — | — | approximate |
| 7 | Hunterhouse College BELFAST grammar | 99.1% | — | — | approximate |
| 8 | Rathmore Grammar School BELFAST grammar | 98.9% | — | — | approximate |
| 9 | Methodist College BELFAST grammar | 98.8% | — | — | approximate |
| 10 | Grosvenor Grammar School BELFAST grammar | 98.3% | — | — | approximate |
| 11 | Strathearn School BELFAST grammar | 98.3% | — | — | approximate |
| 12 | Belfast Royal Academy BELFAST grammar | 98.1% | — | — | approximate |
| 13 | St Malachy's College BELFAST grammar | 97.8% | — | — | approximate |
| 14 | Wellington College BELFAST grammar | 97.5% | — | — | approximate |
| 15 | Bloomfield Collegiate BELFAST grammar | 97.1% | — | — | approximate |
| 16 | Mercy College Belfast BELFAST | 95.0% | — | — | approximate |
| 17 | Hazelwood Integrated College NEWTOWNABBEY | 94.6% | — | — | approximate |
| 18 | Campbell College BELFAST grammar | 93.2% | — | — | approximate |
| 19 | St Colm's High School BELFAST | 92.5% | — | — | approximate |
| 20 | St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School BELFAST grammar | 91.7% | — | — | approximate |
| 21 | Ashfield Boys' High School BELFAST | 91.1% | — | — | approximate |
| 22 | St Joseph's College BELFAST | 90.7% | — | — | approximate |
| 23 | Blessed Trinity College BELFAST | 88.2% | — | — | approximate |
| 24 | Belfast Boys' Model School BELFAST | 85.9% | — | — | approximate |
| 25 | St Louise's Comprehensive College BELFAST | 84.2% | — | — | approximate |
| 26 | De La Salle College BELFAST | 81.9% | — | — | approximate |
| 27 | All Saints College BELFAST | 78.9% | — | — | approximate |
| 28 | Ashfield Girls' High School BELFAST | 75.2% | — | — | approximate |
| 29 | Coláiste Feirste BELFAST | 74.4% | — | — | approximate |
| 30 | St Genevieve's High School BELFAST | 67.8% | — | — | approximate |
| 31 | Belfast Model School For Girls BELFAST | 63.9% | — | — | approximate |
Applying in Belfast
Knowing which school is best is only half of it — these are the deadlines that decide whether you can apply at all.
- Transfer test (SEAG) — Paper 1 2026-11-14 · 2027 entry AQE/GL transfer test — Assessment Paper 1, for children starting Year 8 in September 2027.
- Transfer test (SEAG) — Paper 2 2026-11-21 · 2027 entry AQE/GL transfer test — Assessment Paper 2.
- Transfer test (SEAG) results released 2027-05-01 · 2027 entry Approximate — parents informed by the Education Authority which post-primary school their child has been allocated to (May 2027, exact date not yet published).
Rankings compare published results. They do not tell you which school your child will get into — that depends on where you live, sibling and faith priority, and how many people apply this year. Ask below, or check the Belfast admission criteria.
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