The school has 88 acres (360,000 m2) of mature grounds situated on the Galgorm Road, just west of the town centre.

Sport is an important part of Ballymena Academy and the school is well known as one of the most successful in Northern Ireland, notably at rugby.

[13] The main girls' sport is hockey and the Ulster Schools Cup has been won outright on six occasions.

The red hands are borrowed from the Adair family arms, who gave the 1-acre (4,000 m2) of ground on which the original school was built, itself represented by the blue rectangle below.

Sporting, academic, musical and other arts achievement are recognised by the award of a similar but distinctive coat of arms worn on the school blazer and also by the presentation of honours ties.