About
Belfast Royal Academy was founded in 1785 and is the oldest school in the city. Originally situated near St Anne’s Cathedral, in what is now Academy Street, it moved to the Cliftonville Road site in 1880 when the present Crombie building was constructed.
For more than a century the school was named “The Belfast Academy” until, in 1888, Queen Victoria granted permission for the school to be named as Belfast Royal Academy. The School crest showcases these dates with the rose, the thistle and the shamrock, along with the Royal Arms, the Arms of the City of Belfast and those of the Province of Ulster.
In 1900 girls who were pupils in the Preparatory Department were permitted to continue their education in the senior school, but they were strictly segregated from boys. Headmaster Mr AR Foster reorganised the school on a co-educational basis in 1923, with boys and girls mixing for all academic lessons, and teaching organised by Department.
A dining room was established and a timetable was also introduced which included an hour for lunch. He also installed electric lighting and central heating and introduced the Prefect system and rugby as a game for boys.
Mr JM Martin was Headmaster in 1941 during the second World War.
Much of North Belfast was severely damaged by German bombers, yet remarkably whilst most of the area around BRA was destroyed and over 700 people died, the School emerged largely unscathed, although 700 windows had to be replaced!
Over the years, numerous extensions and additions have been made to the main school site including the addition of various buildings and wings. The new Preparatory Department on the Castle Grounds site was opened in 1965, a swimming pool was opened in 1974 and Roughfort playing fields near Mallusk were developed in 1978. Further major developments included a new Maths block in 2000 and the £4 million project in 2016 which provided a range of new facilities including a highly innovative music suite, modern learning support unit, renovated class rooms and enhanced dining facilities.
Always ready to adapt to an ever-changing educational environment, the School continues to expand and develop and has a range of development projects for the future.
We are very excited to have been awarded funding for a new School Enhancement Programme (SEP) and our plans include developments within the Drama, Art and History departments, which new generations of pupils will soon benefit from.
Book Tickets
Guide Prices
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Ticket | Free |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
