The school occupies an 8-acre site in the centre of the city on which its first buildings were erected; major additions in 1953, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1983, 1991, 2000 and 2003 provide modern and specialised facilities and account for half the present accommodation. In addition to 40 Classrooms, there are 16 Science Laboratories, 2 Lecture Rooms, 2 Gymnasia, Art and Music Departments, Sixth Form Centre, Common Hall, Dining Hall and indoor heated Swimming Pool. A new Sports Hall has been added and Christchurch, a state of the art facility encompassing a new library, careers suite and 3 IT suites, has recently been opened.

For the first three years boys normally follow a common curriculum: in the fourth year the curriculum is still general but certain options are introduced, and at the end of the fifth, boys sit the examination for the Northern Ireland GCSE. Subjects studied at AS/A2 level in the VIth Form include English, Modern History, Geography, Economics, French, German, Spanish, Greek, Latin, Technology, Mathematics, Physics, Politics, Chemistry, Biology, Music and Art.

Rugby Football and Hockey are played in the winter; Athletics, Cricket and Lawn Tennis occupy the summer months; Badminton, Fencing, Shooting, Rowing, Squash and Swimming (including Water Polo and Life-saving) take place throughout the year. Teams representing the School take part not only in matches and activities within the Province, but also in events open to all Schools in the United Kingdom.

There are numerous Clubs and Societies, a School Orchestra, Choir and Band, a contingent of the Combined Cadet Force, Scout and Venture Scout units and a Community Service Group.

Over two-thirds of each year's leavers go on to university or to full-time courses in other institutions of higher and further education.

In addition to a large number of prizes throughout the School, endowed Scholarships offered in the VIth Form are tenable for travel or at University.

Candidates for admission to the Main School should be under 12 on July of the year of admission and applications must be received by mid-February. Boys who are regarded by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland as qualified for Grammar School education have their Tuition Fee paid by their local Education and Library Board. There is an annual capital fee for the 2005/06 academic year of £690 and £45 stationery. For new pupils there is also an insurance charge of £15.75 and a refundable book deposit of £65. Scholarships are awarded to the School boys whose work shows outstanding progress during their School career.