The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Belfast Videos

2024 Paris Olympics 🏊‍♂️ Ahead of tomorrow’s Olympic opening ceremony, swimmer Jack McMillan (RBAI 2011-18) had a chat with one of his schoolmates Ben Lambert (Inchmarlo & RBAI 2004-18). They talked about life in the Olympic Village, Jack’s transition from Ireland to Team GB, as well as looking back at their school days. Jack will be racing in the Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay on Tuesday 30 July.

Today we said thank you and farewell to 2 exceptional, long-standing members of staff who have served the School for over 60 years between them. Robert Redpath has greeted countless pupils, parents and visitors at the front gate for 45 years, ensuring everyone who arrives at the School feels welcome. Mrs Horner arrived in the English Department in 2007 and played a key role in many aspects of school life, including the Bicentenary Celebration preparations. She leaves a well-respected teacher and colleague. We wish Robert and Mrs Horner well on their next adventure, and we hope everyone has an enjoyable and restful summer.

The annual Celebrating Success in English Awards took place in Christchurch on 17th June. We were privileged to welcome Adam Smyth, Director of BBC NI, past pupil and current parent, to distribute the awards. He spoke captivatingly of his own time at Inst, particularly his experiences in the classroom of renowned poet and Head of English, Frank Ormsby, and of the transformational and escapist pleasure of reading. It was also extremely special to celebrate the boys’ successes with so many family members present. Our boys were, as ever, the stars of the show and the progress, commitment and academic excellence of many pupils from Years 8 – 10 were recognised. Highlights included 8D’s excellent performance of an extract from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe; Luc Jeannerod and Ethan Armstrong reading from their own creative pieces; and Mr Leathely alongside Oliver Mercer, Guy Morrow and Yago Azuara-Lois of the Senior Book Group sharing and discussing extracts from books they have enjoyed. This was a very special event which showcased the impressive skills of our pupils, past and present. As a school we boast a rich literary heritage and, as the event indicated, we can look forward to the future successes of many talented boys with flair for the literary arts.

Paviours
Donate £20 per month and equip our pupils to excel. Click here: https://rbaifoundation.org/pledge-campaign/

A Spectacular Night 1 of the Spring Concert 🎶 There are still tickets available for this evening’s performance at 7:30pm. 🎟️ You can buy tickets at the door: Adults £10, Kids £5

Schools Cup Winners 2024 🏆 The 1XV beat Ballymena Academy 21-14 this afternoon to win the Ulster Schools Cup! Massive congratulations to the 1XV and commiserations to Ballymena Academy in what was a brilliant showcase of schoolboy rugby!

Spring Concert 2024
The 2024 Spring Concert will take place on 27-28 March at 7:30pm in the RBAI Common Hall. Save the Date 📅

Year 8 Concert
𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 🎶 Our Year 8 concert in the Autumn gave parents a wonderful insight into what the boys achieved during their first 8 weeks at RBAI. The concert brought together Year 8s from different primary schools, creating a sense of camaraderie and introducing them to RBAI’s rich musical tradtion. Interested in finding out more about the musical opportunities at RBAI? Join us on Saturday 13th January from 9:30am – 12:30pm for our P6/P7 Open Day.

What a Year!
Alongside academic success, 2023 brought many highlights in music, drama and sport. But nothing highlights the partnership between pupils, parents, staff and alumni more succinctly than the support for RBAI Together. Thank you to our parents, alumni and the wider Instonian community for your incredible support. Best wishes for 2024!

RBAI Bake Off 2023
RBAI Together celebrated the ethos and camaraderie which makes the Instonian community so special, raising an incredible £203,242 in 36 hours for bursaries and school projects. The cherry on the cake was the Great RBAI Bake Off 2023. Watch Pete Snodden pull no punches in his search for a worthy winner!

Carol Service 2023
A special date in the school calendar. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us on Sunday afternoon!

Celebrating Excellence, Respect & Participation The Principal was delighted to welcome recipients of the 2023/24 Scholarship & Exhibition programme and their parents to Christ Church for a celebration evening on Wednesday. A special thanks to Music Scholars Max Megarry (Saxophone) and Luke Acheson (Clarinet) who entertained guests, accompanied by Mrs Harshaw. Funded by alumni and friends of the School, the Scholarship & Exhibition programme rewards excellence and outstanding ability, giving our most talented academics, sportsmen and performing artists the best possible opportunity to fulfil their potential. Pupils are invited to apply for awards each autumn.

A reminder that two public information events will take place at the School this week regarding the proposed new South Wing on the RBAI Campus. Team members will be present at the consultation events to answer questions and information boards will be available. The events take place: Thursday 19 October, 6-9pm Saturday 21 October, 10am-1pm Please visit our dedicated website to watch a short film providing an overview of our plans and why they are needed: https://rbaiconsultation.org.uk If you wish to make comments on the proposals, you may do so at the above event. You can also make comments by emailing [email protected] or by writing to The Bursar at The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, College Square East, Belfast, BT1 6DL by Monday 20th November.

A NEW SOUTH WING ON THE RBAI CAMPUS Today marks a significant milestone for the School as we launch a public consultation process which we hope will lead to the most significant development on our campus in living memory. The proposed new South Wing will secure the School’s future on our current site, providing the necessary infrastructure to support the educational needs of 1,100 pupils and staff who contribute to the vitality and vibrancy of the City Centre. We are interested in your views. Two public information events will take place at the School next month and you are warmly invited to attend: Thursday 19 October, 6-9pm Saturday 21 October, 10am-1pm Please visit our dedicated website to watch a short film providing an overview of our plans and why they are needed: https://rbaiconsultation.org.uk

Attention Young Entrepreneurs!
We are looking for RBAI’s next entrepreneur! @markdowds (RBAI 1981-86) is seeking a pupil in Year 13 or 14 who doesn’t settle for the norm and wants to make a difference. The winner of the inaugural Mark Dowds Innovation & Entrepreneurship Scholarship will benefit from mentoring, a work placement or access to development programmes at the Ormeau Baths. Find out about this and all our 2020 Scholarships & Exhibitions: http://rbai.org.uk/Page/Scholarships-and-Exhibitions/4857/Index.html

A Musical Farewell
Our extremely talented musicians have all missed the annual Spring Concert this year, but it's been particularly difficult for the boys of Year 14 for whom this would have been the final opportunity to play with our celebrated choir and orchestra in front of the Inst community. So, we're very lucky to have snippets of Head of School, Keelan Sloan, singing 'Bring Him Home' from Les Mis, and our very own celebrity DJ, Jack Kelly, on the Alto saxophone performing 'Ballade' by Kerry Deag. Both boys are accompanied by the equally accomplished Mrs Harshaw. Thank you gentlemen and Mrs Harshaw for an extremely welcome and emotional musical interlude, marking a week when we should have been saying goodbye to many boys as, for the last time as students, they walked down the Inst drive. Good luck to all of you as you take your next steps into an uncertain, but nonetheless exciting, new world.

A Message from the Principal
Miss Williamson speaks to the pupils of Inst at the beginning of what would be the last week for many students due to sit exams.