Boarding Overview
At RSD there is a strong focus on both academic achievement and enjoying school life. There is a great sense of community and working together to support one another and boarders are amongst the highest achieving pupils at GCSE and A Level.
RSD regularly features in the top 100 co-educational boarding schools in the UK for A Level results.
Where do you find us?
RSD is situated in Northern Ireland, a beautiful part of the world which was recently voted the best place to visit in the world by the ‘Lonely Planet’ Travel Guide. Northern Ireland is a ‘hidden gem’ when it comes to education, with schools in Northern Ireland consistently outperforming the rest of the UK at GSCE and A Level year after year.
RSD is located in the market town of Dungannon in County Tyrone, within easy reach of major transport links such as:
- Belfast International Airport – 45 minutes
- Belfast City Airport – 45 minutes
- Dublin Airport – 90 minutes
There are frequent direct flights to Belfast and Dublin from all over the globe and RSD offers a coach service to the airport for easy ‘door-to-door’ convenience.
What do we offer?
RSD offers 5 and 7-day boarding for boys and girls aged 11-19. We offer a traditional UK academic curriculum with 2-year GCSE and A Level courses.
Unlike many other UK boarding schools, we do not require boarders to have a guardian and boarders may choose to stay in boarding over the short half-term holidays.
You can find out more here.
What facilities do we have?
RSD dorms are for 2 or 4 beds sharing and all have been fully refurbished in recent times. Likewise, the kitchens, washrooms and recreational spaces have all been completely updated and new Wi-Fi and satellite TV systems installed. Boarding facilities are modern and aimed at offering boarders a feeling of home comfort.
The Girls’ and Boys’ wings each have their own recreation area where pupils can relax and watch television, as well as a kitchen where pupils can prepare light meals and snacks. In addition, boarders enjoy access to the sports hall and outdoor games spaces, such as tennis courts, rugby and football; and indoor facilities such as the recreation room (Playstation, games), table tennis, pool table and music rehearsal rooms.
You can find out more here.
What’s included?
Boarding fees cover all tuition and books; accommodation and all meals; medical and dental care; a full laundry service; and weekend supervision and in-house activities.
There are additional charges for things like personal music lessons, airport transfers and school trips. You can see all the details here.
What can be expected from our community?
RSD is a caring school with a long tradition of looking after boarders. The school benefits from its location in a small-town setting with lots of interaction between the RSD school community and the broader Dungannon community.
Not only are local amenities, such as shops and supermarkets, and recreation facilities, such as the swimming pool and cinema, within easy walking distance there is also a great family atmosphere. Many local families enjoy welcoming boarders into their homes for weekend or holiday exeats.
You can find out more here.
How do you apply?
Applying to RSD Boarding is easy. Fill in the RSD Boarding application form and submit this along with your two most recent school reports (preferably reports covering a whole academic year). RSD is usually very over-subscribed for boarding applications and it is important therefore to apply early to secure a place.
Most places are allocated by the RSD Admissions Committee in November for starting school the following September so you should aim to apply about a year in advance.
You can find out more here.
Boarders’ Calendar
For parents of boarders please download the Boarders’ Calendar which gives term dates, holiday and other key dates. It also has important information around travelling dates and airport pickup times.
Boarding Calendar
Boarders' Calendar Travel Dates 2021-202...
