Rockport School

Rockport School is an independent day and boarding school for boys and girls from 3 years to 18 years. Situated in 25 acres of woodland on the shore of Belfast Lough in Craigavad, near Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, between Belfast and Bangor.

The school was founded in 1906 by Geoffrey Bing of Rossall School and Keble College, Oxford, with the original aim to 'prepare boys for the Public Schools and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth'. Bing was 29 and had taught previously in St George's, Broadstairs and at St Andrew's School, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells. Rockport began with only four boys, an assistant master and a matron but quickly grew in size. The school now has around 200 pupils and accepts both boys and girls from the age of 3 until 18 (A Level) as day or boarding pupils. The school celebrated its centenary year in 2006 by building a new Arts Centre which was opened by local North Down Westminster MP Lady Sylvia Hermon. The school's Latin motto is "Virtus repulsae nescia sordidae". The school still sends some pupils on to study in leading UK independent schools (recently these have included Glenalmond, Gordonstoun, Fettes, Harrow, Rugby and Stowe) as well as to Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland.

The Headmaster is a member of the 16 Group of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools and the school is represented by the Independent Schools Council (ISC). In January 2014 the school became the first school in Ireland, north or south, to be granted regional membership of the international conference of Round Square Schools. Global membership of Round Square was conferred upon the school in March 2016. In September 2016 Rockport established the first school-based Golf Academy in Ireland.

Why Rockport?

In comparison, Rockport is a relatively small school with around 250 pupils throughout, from Playgroup to Sixth Form. This means smaller class sizes and a staff to pupil ratio that has innumerable benefits.

Every pupil is known by every member of staff, and each pupil knows one another. This enables them to give completely individual attention to every pupil, no pupil is able to slip through the net and they are able to adopt bespoke learning programs according to each child’s ability and needs.

As a result pupils at both ends of the academic spectrum achieve outstanding results. Feedback from families has told them time and time again this is a major strength for their school.

The only school based golf academy in Ireland

The Rockport School Golf Academy is a unique opportunity to combine a high performance sports programme and a first-rate international education.

Perfectly situated in a wonderful location on the County Down coast and surrounded by first-class golf courses, Rockport School is the perfect choice for aspiring golfers.

Their academy ethos is simple but effective - provide an equal sporting opportunity to all pupils and allow enthusiasts a platform to take their sport to as high a level as possible.

Open to UK and international pupils with Golf Scholarships available.