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Our History

250 Years in the making

Our Quaker Heritage

The school was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1774 to provide an education for the children of Quakers in the area. Originally known as the Ulster Provincial School, it was unusual for its time in that it provided for both boys and girls, something which encapsulates the value of equality which has remained central to its ethos ever since.

As the Quakers were at the forefront of the linen industry in the area at the time, it is no surprise that it was a linen merchant, John Hancock, who bequeathed the sum of £1,000 for the purchase of the land here on Prospect Hill. The first headmaster was John Gough, a Quaker from Kendal, whose seminal textbooks on arithmetic and English grammar were widely used at the time.

From its beginnings as a school for 35 children, Friends’ is now a thriving school providing for over 1,000 pupils from across the community in Lisburn and beyond. Over the past 250 years, it has borne witness to the often troubled history of Lisburn and, although much has changed, it remains true to the Quaker principles on which it was founded.

Students raising their hand
Students playing

Values and Aims

Our Mission

At Friends’ School, our mission is to develop ‘Excellence within a caring and supportive community.’

Our Preparatory Department vision:

  • We are committed to working in partnership with our school family to empower improvement for all.
  • We strive for and value excellence.
  • We recognise that all have unique strengths and weaknesses.
  • We develop our natural talents and work hard to overcome difficulties together.
  • We aspire to reach our potential and support others to do the same.
  • We embrace our Quaker ethos and live by our ASPIRE values.
  • We prioritise our own and others’ wellbeing.
  • We listen to each other and value everyone’s voice.
  • We foster links with our community and work in partnership with them.

We aim to:

  • enable all pupils to develop their academic potential and interests to the fullest extent;
  • provide a broad and balanced curriculum relevant to the needs of our pupils;
  • foster positive self-esteem in pupils and staff;
  • encourage the moral and spiritual development of our pupils;
  • establish a partnership between the school, parents and the local community;
  • prepare pupils for post-primary education and lay good foundations for adult life.

We listen actively to our school community and value their voice, so that we can work in partnership with all our stakeholders to strive for excellence in all we do.

“Friends’ Prep is a small school, but it gives us a big education.“

Savannah