Back to league tables

Ballyclare High School

Selective

National rank

124

130

Rank last year

73.1^%

A-level

55.4^%

GCSE

Need to know

Head teacher Michelle Rainey

Gender of entry Mixed

Total pupils 1,255

Our methodology

Results

Grade

18.3

25.6

29.2

A*/A

43.8

A*-B

73.1

Grade

9/8

18.3

37.2

9/8/7

55.4

What the school inspection says

“Ballyclare High School attracts its pupils from around 40 primary schools in a wide catchment area across south and east County Antrim ... The pupils, who met with inspectors, were courteous, confident and articulate; they displayed very positive dispositions to the school and spoke well of their teachers and the support they receive with their learning. There are significant levels of pupil participation and achievement in a wide range of sporting, musical and cultural pursuits, which the school offers ... The curriculum at all key stages is broad and balanced ... The school’s links with business, industry, past pupils and further and higher education providers inform and complement the taught provision for careers education ... The pupils reported they have excellent opportunities to engage in a wide range of extracurricular activities.” The school was unable to be fully evaluated due to strike action.

Inspection

2017

In detail *

Read the full report

*Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgment in inspections of state-funded schools. A five-point grading scale, including a new “exceptional” grade was introduced in November 2025.

About the school

One of the largest grammar schools in Co Antrim, with more than 1,200 pupils, Ballyclare High champions Stem subjects as a former specialist school for ICT.
This coeducational school was one of the first in Northern Ireland to be awarded the British Council’s International School Award and has so far won it six times. New pupils learn French and either German or Spanish and many continue studying one or both at GCSE. There are plenty of opportunities to practise their language skills on ski trips, exchanges or cultural visits.
Languages also feature on the long list of extracurricular clubs, alongside creative writing, drama, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and outdoor pursuits.
Students take part in Sentinus Young Innovators challenges, exhibiting their work on science and engineering projects.
In 2024, sixth-formers and teachers raised more than £8,000 for the “Movember” men’s health campaign — the highest total across schools in Northern Ireland.

info@ballyclarehigh.ballyclare.ni.sch.uk

Telephone

028 9332 2244

Website

ballyclarehigh.co.uk

Address

31 Rashee Road, Ballyclare, BT39 9HJ

Back to league tables