Top schools in Northern Ireland: Where to live nearby
The schools in Northern Ireland are among the most respected in the UK, making proximity to leading education a top priority for many relocating families.
Choosing a home within the perfect location in Northern Ireland starts with finding the right school. Across Belfast and its outskirts (particularly South and East Belfast), there are several long-established schools widely regarded for their educational standards.
With each having its own history and personality, the areas around these well-regarded schools have become sought-after choices for families relocating to the area.
Leading schools in Northern Ireland
Here are some of the top schools in Northern Ireland, many of which regularly feature in The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide.
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, a Diocesan Catholic co-educational voluntary grammar school, is a leading school known across Belfast and beyond for its academic results.
In the Sunday Times Parent Power 2025 guide, it was placed 4th in Northern Ireland and 41st in the UK, reflecting its strong academic performance.
Known for its inclusive spirit, Our Lady and St Patrick’s combines a long heritage with an eye on modern education.
Pupils benefit from a focused but friendly environment, and the school is frequently highlighted in national rankings for excellence.
Children from locations such as Holywood, Helen’s Bay, and Bangor benefit from the nearest catholic Grammar school criteria, and several school buses operate in these areas, making travel to Our Lady and St Patrick’s convenient.
Strathearn School
Strathearn is a highly respected girls’ grammar school, offering a broad and balanced education built around its motto: Encourage, Empower, Excel.
Academic achievement sits alongside a strong sense of pastoral care, creating an environment where pupils are supported to reach their potential with confidence.
Strathearn School achieved outstanding results in the Sunday Times Parent Power 2025 guide, ranking joint second in Northern Ireland and 34th in the UK. Its continued academic success places it among the top-ranked grammar schools in Northern Ireland.
Campbell College
Established in 1894, Campbell College is a boys’ Voluntary B grammar school offering both day and boarding education. Surrounded by lawns, woodland, and with its own lake, Campbell College has a sense of heritage and space that’s hard to match.
High academic expectations are matched by an emphasis on character, confidence, and leadership, qualities that attract families far beyond the reaches of Belfast.
Aquinas Grammar School
On the Ravenhill Road is Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School. The co-educational Catholic grammar achieved a strong academic standing, ranking second in Northern Ireland and 34th in the UK, alongside Strathearn.
Aquinas is co-educational and quietly ambitious. Its teachers place emphasis on steady progress and independent thinking rather than pressure or competition.
The calm, respectful tone of the school appeals to parents who value balanced education, while consistently strong results have helped it maintain its place among Northern Ireland’s most respected grammars.
Methodist College
Few schools are as instantly recognisable as the co-educational Methodist College, affectionately known as “Methody.” Founded in 1865, it has educated generations of Belfast families.
The school is known not only for academic strength but also for its vibrant music, theatre, and sporting life. It offers a rounded education that fosters confidence, creativity, and academic focus.
Admissions criteria for schools in Northern Ireland
The Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG) results are now used by most grammar schools in Northern Ireland as the primary measure for admission.
Some Catholic grammar schools, for example, Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock, include proximity (such as a ‘nearest Catholic grammar’ rule) as part of their tie-breaks.
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock, is often the nearest Catholic grammar school for families in Belmont, Ballyhackamore, and Stormont.
Applications also come from Holywood, Cultra, Helen’s Bay and eastern parts of Bangor, where it remains the nearest Catholic grammar, though all admissions are decided under the published SEAG and tie-break criteria rather than a fixed catchment.
At Garrington, we offer tailored guidance based on the most current available data to families relocating to Northern Ireland.
We help you understand how specific school criteria may affect your choice of home.
Where to live near some of the top schools in Northern Ireland
Once parents decide on a school, the search for the right area to live usually follows quickly. And Belfast’s layout makes this easy, as many of its best schools sit within or near its most attractive residential districts:
East Belfast: Knock, Belmont, Ballyhackamore, and Stormont
The eastern side of the city has long been associated with education. Homes here are well placed for Our Lady and St Patrick’s, Strathearn, and Campbell College.
Knock’s wide, leafy avenues offer peace and privacy; Belmont is tranquil and family-friendly, yet still retains a trendy feel; the vibrant Ballyhackamore hums with independent cafés and shops; while Stormont is friendly and very walkable, with lots of open space.
Houses range from grand Edwardian villas to smaller period properties and from updated family homes, many with generous gardens, to terraced townhouses.
The area’s reliability and strong sense of community make it a firm favourite among families who plan to stay for the long term.
South Belfast: Malone, Rosetta, and Ormeau
To the south, near Aquinas and Methody, the mood changes slightly. Malone’s elegant houses, long driveways, and mature trees give it a quiet sophistication, yet the city centre is minutes away.
Rosetta and Ormeau, with their red-brick terraces and detached homes, feel more intimate and neighbourly, yet have all the convenience of a vibrant shopping and food scene as well as independent stores.
Parks, playing fields, and local cafés give this part of Belfast an easy rhythm, and proximity to some of the leading schools adds lasting appeal.
Education and lifestyle side by side
What makes Belfast so desirable is how naturally schooling and lifestyle fit together. The city’s best schools sit within walkable, characterful districts where green parks, independent shops, and strong communities come as part of everyday life.
Families can choose between the sociable buzz of Ballyhackamore, the calm avenues of Malone, or the family-friendly Belmont, each offering a slightly different pace but the same quality of education close at hand.
For many, the decision to settle here is as much about way of life as academic reputation. In Northern Ireland, the two go hand in hand.
Finding a home near the top schools in Northern Ireland
At Garrington Property Finders, we help families moving within, or relocating to, Northern Ireland find exceptional homes that meet their own unique requirements.
Our experts know the school network and housing market in detail, offering clear, practical guidance for buyers coming from elsewhere in the UK or further afield, as well as access to outstanding homes, some of which may not yet have hit the market.
If you’re planning a move and want informed advice on where to live for the best schools in Northern Ireland, please contact us at Garrington Property Finders; we’ll be delighted to guide you through every stage of the search.
