The Royal School Dungannon

Since 2009, Dr David Burnett BA PhD NPQH (50s). Educated at Lurgan College, a grammar school in County Armagh and read history and politics at Queen’s University, Belfast where he also took a PhD. He joined King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford

From 20-30 local primary schools - primaries very supportive of grammar schools and lots of past pupils work in local primary schools. Entry via the Common Entrance Assessment with exams in English and maths. The tests are in the November before

Around 25 per cent leave after GCSEs. Over 90 per cent go on to higher education. Just over half stay in Northern Ireland and go to Queen’s University, Belfast or Ulster University. Others to Dublin (Trinity College and UCD, also with moderate fees).

In 2024, 48 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 43 per cent A*/A at A level (74 per cent A*-B).

‘Pupils are encouraged to do their best but are not pushed too hard,’ said a parent. Twenty-one subjects offered at A level including music and food technology. Psychology, drama, politics and media taught at St Patrick’s Academy, the local Catholic

Full time SENCo with a team of six or seven classroom assistants. The school is wheelchair friendly and there is a handful of children with autistic spectrum disorders, but the biggest groups are dyslexics and dyspraxics who usually only need modest

‘Music is the constant heartbeat of the school,’ says the headmaster. Around 200 pupils a week involved with some sort of music: junior and senior choirs, which are open to all, chamber choir, chamber orchestra, pipe band, string band – something for

Strong emphasis on sport, especially boys’ rugby. Girls play hockey, as well as recently introduced tag rugby and football. All play cricket and a range of minor sports are offered. Good onsite facilities including rugby pitches and a floodlit

About eight full and weekly boarding places in each year group. Boarders sometimes only come for a term or a year, and originate from all over the world including Irish Republic, Ukraine, Nigeria, Russia and Spain. The largest contingent is from Hong

Broadly Christian ethos provides a moral compass, but school is interdenominational and welcomes all faiths and none. Strong focus on pastoral care with boards outside all the classrooms and children know who to turn to. ‘Everyone feels valued and

Parents mostly local and often know each other in the wider community – many attended the school themselves. Former pupils have a strong affinity with the school and are keen to give something back, and in many families several generations have

Tuition is free for those within Northern Ireland and EU/Ireland and boarders only have to pay the boarding fee. Fees for those from further afield much lower than in England and Scotland.

A charming, small, rural grammar school with a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone. The children achieve good results but do not feel pressurised and the school experiences few of the problems common in street-savvy city schools.