Rathmore Grammar School

Rathmore is a Catholic co-educational grammar school which caters for 1,260 day pupils aged 11-19. The school, which is situated in extensive grounds on the southern side of Belfast, halfway between the city centre and Lisburn, was founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, an international Congregation of Religious Sisters, whose motto it shares. The motto “Ut Vitam Habeant” (“That they may have life”), reflects the school’s mission to enrich through education the life of people in its care and encourage them, in turn, to bring life to others. The school seeks to foster academic excellence, while meeting the individual needs of pupils within a fully supportive pastoral care system. All pupils are encouraged to develop their gifts and become self assured, articulate and responsible members of society. The ethos of the school is Catholic, with a strong emphasis on the spiritual and moral formation of pupils, all of whom are encouraged to mature as fully committed Christian adults, prepared to respect the beliefs and traditions of others and to bring to society the values of the Gospel. Rathmore endeavours to create a friendly, caring atmosphere where pupils feel at home. It recognises the special role of parents in education and welcomes close contact with them.