MixedIndependentBoarding

Rockport School

Holywood, Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland · BT18 0DD

Founded in 1906, Rockport is a small, non-denominational independent school in Holywood that takes pupils of both sexes and offers boarding alongside day places. With just 247 on roll and a pupil-to-teacher ratio of around 10 to 1, it is the kind of school where classes stay small and pupils are known individually. The sixth form is modest, with about 40 students. A particularly broad financial assistance scheme means roughly a third of pupils receive some help with fees, including a small number on full bursaries, which widens access well beyond what the headline fees might suggest.

247

Pupils

£25,614

Day fees / yr

Free month · No card needed · Cancel anytime

Overview & data

Gender
Mixed
Type
independent (fee-paying) school
Pupils
247
Pupil:teacher ratio
10
Location
Holywood, Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland
Website
https://www.rockportschool.com/

Headteacher

Headmaster George Vance

Want your child to win a place at Rockport School?

Passmate builds a personalised practice plan from your target schools' exact 11+ topics - so every session moves your child closer to a place.

  • Practice matched to Rockport School's 11+ format
  • See precisely where your child stands, topic by topic
  • A profile of how they think - not just scores
Try Passmate for free →

Free month · No card needed

Latest results

GCSE grade 9-7

27%

A-level A*-A

31%

A-level A*-B

52%

Teaching & academics

Under Headmaster George Vance, Rockport follows the GCSE and A-level route. At GCSE, 27% of grades reach the top 9-7 band, while at A-level 31% are graded A*-A and 52% A*-B. The small size and favourable staffing ratio support close attention, and academic scholarships are available for strong candidates.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils
40

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-level

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicMusicGolf

Sport

Main sports

RugbyHockeyFootballNetball

Beyond the classroom

Sport features prominently, with rugby, hockey, football and netball among the main pursuits. The school also offers scholarships in music and, unusually, golf, signalling areas where particular talent is encouraged.

Ethos & heritage

Founded
1906
Religious character
Non-denominational
Boarding
Yes

Mobile phone policy

Pre-school - R7: Mobile phones not permitted in school, on school trips or any outings. R8 - R12: Mobile phones collected by form teachers each morning and returned at end of each day. Sixth form: Mobile phones only permitted for work purposes in sixth form study or classrooms. Must not be visible at any other time on campus.

Money matters

Day fees (per year)
£11,826 - £25,614
Boarding fees (per year)
£29,034 - £41,544
Bursaries up to
100% of fees

One-third have some financial assistance including 5-10% on full bursaries

Inspection reports

The last word

A small boarding-and-day school where every pupil is a known quantity, and where generous bursary provision makes its history and intimacy more attainable than the fee range first implies.

The Passmate verdict

Have you considered?

Rockport School 11+: frequently asked questions

Where is Rockport School located?

Rockport School is located at Holywood, BT18 0DD.

What type of school is Rockport School?

Rockport School is an independent (fee-paying) school in Northern Ireland.

How many pupils attend Rockport School?

Rockport School has approximately 247 pupils on roll.

Compiled from public data. Last checked June 2026.