One of a number of "free schools" created by King James I of England & Ireland, James VI of Scotland in 1608, the school was to educate the sons of local Protestant merchants and farmers during the plantation of Ulster. It has four "sister" schools: Royal School Dungannon, in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, the Royal School Cavan in Cavan, County Cavan, and the Royal and Prior School in Raphoe, County Donegal. In November 2013 the school was placed 78th in "The Sunday Times Top 200 UK Schools Guide" for results at A level and GCSE combined. In May 2014, an inspection by the Education and Training Inspectorate found the leadership and management of the school to be 'outstanding'.