This portion of our guide focuses on education, learning, teaching, and instruction in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Belfast has a strong emphasis on education, although children from Catholic and Protestant homes are, for the most part, taught separately, a pattern that was established by the mid-19th century. Primary and secondary education is divided between (Catholic) Maintained Schools and (non-Catholic) Controlled Schools. They utilize the same curriculum, although their teaching staff are trained separately at St. Mary's University College and Stranmills University College, both of which are located in Belfast.
Since the 1980s, two smaller school sectors have emerged: grant-maintained Integrated schools and Irish language medium schools. Integrated education in Northern Ireland refers to the bringing together of children, parents, and teachers from both Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions in childhood education. Irish language medium schools (Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta) were created in 2000 to promote, facilitate, and encourage Irish-language medium education.
Denominational lines have blurred considerably in recent years, particularly with Catholics moving into the Controlled Schools.
In 2006, the Belfast Education and Library Board became part of the consolidated Education Authority for Northern Ireland. In Belfast, the Authority is responsible for 156 primary and 48 secondary schools, including 18 grammar schools.
Primary education is compulsory for children between the ages of 4 and 11, while secondary education is also compulsory, typically for students aged 11 to 16.
Belfast Metropolitan College is a further education college with three campuses in Belfast, including several smaller buildings. Originally known as the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, Belfast Met specialises in vocational education.
Belfast has two universities: Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University. Established as the Belfast Academical Institution in 1810 and becoming Queen's College in 1845, Queen's achieved university status in 1908. Founded as Magee College in 1865, Ulster is a multi-campus public research university with its main campus in Belfast.
Nursery schools, primary schools, secondary schools, and further and higher education institutions in Belfast are appropriate topics for this category, as are any other instructional facilities or programmes, including job-training programmes, driver training programmes, tutoring, and home-schooling programmes in Belfast.
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Established as the Belfast Municipal Technical Institute in 1906, then the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, Belfast Metropolitan College offers both vocational education and academic qualifications. It is the largest Further Education college in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest post-secondary institution. Its higher education, full-time, and part-time subjects are featured, along with apprenticeships, an ESOL programme, and an essential skills programme.
https://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/
The website provides details about the Belfast Royal Academy, which provides education to boys and girls in Belfast. Established in 1785, the co-educational, non-denominational, volunteer grammar school offers traditional academic subjects, all of which are described here. There is a section about what life is like at the academy, addressing transition and induction, what to expect from Sixth Form, and pastoral care. Admissions policies, alumni programmes, and contacts are posted.
https://www.belfastroyalacademy.com/
Established in 1894, the college offers secondary-level instruction as well as the option to board at the school. The school provides a Liberal Protestant education for boys aged 4 to 18. Pupils in Students can participate in a variety of activities and sports such as fencing, drama, and swimming. The school offers GCSEs, A-Levels, and BTecs, with languages including Latin, German, Spanish, and French. Its Kindergarten, Junior, and Senior programmes are defined, and contacts are posted.
https://www.campbellcollege.co.uk/
The school's website draws attention to the school, its pastoral care, and general information about Longstone, which tends to children from nursery school through year twelve, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities. One may read about the curriculum for every level of education and the official uniforms. Policies regarding pastoral care, counselling, bullying, and attendance, are among the things addressed. Hours and contacts are published.
https://www.longstone-school.co.uk/
Locally known as Methody, BCM is a co-educational voluntary grammar school situated at the foot of the Malone Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The school has a nursery and pre-school facility, grammar school for students between the ages of 11 to 18, and a preparatory department. Information admissions, fees, and an online application are available. The college provides co-educational schooling and offers day-6o-day schooling as well as boarding for those who want it.
https://www.methody.org/
Founded in 1845, Queen’s University offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses to students in Belfast, as well as international students. A virtual tour of the campus is available, as are news items pertinent to the school and a search engine for courses. Some of the courses offered include pharmacy, sociology, history, law, biological science, education, management, and others. Semester dates, job opportunities, alumni resources, and contacts are provided.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/
Strathearn School is a private school for girls in Belfast shares its history and mission, as well as its policies on this site. Admission criteria, pastoral policies, parental resources, library services, and school activities are addressed, as well as the current curriculum, departmental staff, school council, an overview of the school's house system, and the history of the school. Other resources include a photo gallery, job vacancies, and a staff and pupil area.
https://www.strathearn.org.uk/
The Belfast campus of Ulster University lays out an array of full and part-time courses for students interested in obtaining degrees. There are also distance courses on subjects such as applied bioscience, health, engineering, and renewable energy. The site displays a virtual tour of the campus as well as a free simple guide to help people understand the design features and services of the facilities. The Ulster Screen Academy, on campus, is a collaboration between academia and industry.
https://www.ulster.ac.uk/
The independent lodging school is a voluntary, non-denominational grammar school for girls in Belfast. There is an expression of the principles and qualities the college seeks to instill in its students. The school offers classes in modern languages, the classics, religion, mathematics, and business, among others. There is also a commitment for the school to help students train for and get the careers they aim for. Admissions schedules and policies are noted, and contacts are posted.
https://www.victoriacollege.org.uk/
