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Assumption Grammar School: Year 8 entry

24 Belfast Road, Ballynahinch, BT24 8EA

Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial TeamSchool website

Some details are being re-checked

We check every fact against the official source on a schedule, and some details on this page are due their next check (last verified 19 October 2026). We'll update the page if anything has changed. How we check facts

Can we apply, and what did it take?

For September 2027 entry

  • How places are decided

    By test score, in rank order

    No minimum Band; categories run from Band 1 to Band 6 and then 'Other Applicants'.

    Checked, source: Assumption Grammar School, checked

  • Year 8 places

    130

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

    Checked, source: Assumption Grammar School, checked

  • Last distance offered

    Not publishedWe have no checked figure for how far offers reached.

Your next deadlines

  1. Next: Re-mark requests close

    in about 15 weeks

    Only if you want the test papers marked again

  2. Coming up: Appeal deadline

    in about 30 weeks

How far offers reached

Can we get in?

How places are given

Northern Ireland grammar schools give Year 8 places using their own admissions criteria, often in order of transfer test result. Assumption Grammar School's criteria are under Admission rules on this page.

Qualifying is not the same as being offered a place.

Reaching the school's standard means your child can be considered. If more children qualify than there are places, the school gives places using its admission rules, in order. The figures below show how far those rules reached in past years. They are history, not a prediction: they change every year with who applies.

Checked, source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked

Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached. Read the school's admissions criteria to see how it ranks applicants, and what transfer test results mean.

At a glance

Assumption Grammar School in brief

tap a value for its source

Pupils
girlsPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: VOLUNTARY GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR GIRLSView the official source
Who the school admits.
Year 8 places
130Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: ADMISSIONS NO: 130View the official source2026 entry
The (PAN): how many children the school plans to admit.
Entrance test
SEAG Entrance Assessment (the NI transfer test)
The test children sit to be considered.

Key dates

Dates for September 2027 entry

For children in P7 in 2026/27.

Add to my calendar

SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group)

3 earlier steps, all doneShow

  1. Done: Test registration opens

  2. Done: Test registration closes

  3. Done: Admission cards sent for the test

  1. Next: Test day

  2. Coming up: Transfer test, paper 1

  3. Coming up: Transfer test, paper 2

  4. Coming up: Results

  5. Coming up: Re-mark requests open

  6. Coming up: Re-mark requests close

    in about 15 weeks

    Only if you want the test papers marked again

  7. Coming up: Appeal deadline

    in about 30 weeks

    Source: nidirect (NI Government), checked

  8. Not published yet: Transfer application deadline (to the Education Authority)

    Not yet published, checked 17 Oct 2026

  9. Not published yet: School place outcomes

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

Year 5 now? Dates for September 2028 entryNone of these dates are published yet.

  1. Not published yet: Test day

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

  2. Not published yet: Results

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

  3. Not published yet: Appeal deadline

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

  4. Not published yet: Transfer application deadline (to the Education Authority)

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

Notes on these dates

Last year's window, for reference: Post Primary Transfer Application; opens 12 Noon Tuesday 27 January 2026, closes 12 Noon Thursday 19 February 2026; state Band and attach SEAG Statement of ResultsAssumption Grammar School: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: The application procedure opens at 12 Noon (GMT) on Tuesday 27 January 2026 and an application submitted by the closing date of Thursday 19 February 2026 at 12 Noon (GMT) will be treated as a punctual application.View the official source. Late forms: After 12 Noon Thursday 19 February 2026 up to 4:00pm Tuesday 24 February 2026 = late; after that not processed until the close of the procedure.Assumption Grammar School: Late applicationsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: An application received after 12 Noon (GMT) on Thursday 19 February 2026 and up to 4:00pm on Tuesday 24 February 2026 will be treated as a late application. An application received after 4:00pm on Tuesday 24 February 2026 will not be processed until the close of the post primary admissions procedure.View the official source

How places are given

12 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, Assumption Grammar School gives places using these rules (its ), in this order (the 2026 rules; the rules for 2027 entry are not published yet).

  1. 1

    A: Band 1 (and SC/SP applicants of comparable ability)

    The policy's own words
    A Applicants who have been awarded Band 1 in the SEAG Assessments
  2. 2

    B: Band 2 (and comparable SC/SP applicants)

    The policy's own words
    B Applicants who have been awarded Band 2 in the SEAG Assessments
  3. 3

    C: Band 3 (and comparable SC/SP applicants)

    The policy's own words
    C Applicants who have been awarded Band 3 in the SEAG Assessments
  4. 4

    D: Band 4 (and comparable SC/SP applicants)

    The policy's own words
    D Applicants who have been awarded Band 4 in the SEAG Assessments
  5. 5

    E: Band 5 (and comparable SC/SP applicants)

    The policy's own words
    E Applicants who have been awarded Band 5 in the SEAG Assessments
  6. 6

    F: Band 6 (and comparable SC/SP applicants)

    The policy's own words
    F Applicants who have been awarded Band 6 in the SEAG Assessments
  7. 7

    G: Other applicants

    The policy's own words
    G Other Applicants.
  8. 8

    Within an oversubscribed category, (i): sibling past or present at the school or accepted for coming year

    The policy's own words
    (i) Applicants who have/had a sibling (past or present) at the school
  9. 9

    (ii): eldest or only girl, or first girl in family to transfer to a grammar school

    The policy's own words
    (ii) An applicant who is the eldest or only girl in her family
  10. 10

    (iii): Child Looked After

    The policy's own words
    (iii) An applicant who is a Child Looked After.
  11. 11

    (iv): entitled to Free School Meals

    The policy's own words
    (iv) An applicant who is entitled to Free School Meals.
  12. 12

    (v): Assumption is the nearest Catholic grammar school for girls (radial distance)

    The policy's own words
    (v) An applicant for whom Assumption Grammar School is the nearest Catholic Grammar School

Source: Assumption Grammar School, checked

More detail from our guide

This section describes the school's Admissions criteria for entry September 2026Assumption Grammar School: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: Admissions criteria for entry September 2026View the official source. It is last year's version. The 2027 criteria are Assumption Grammar School: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by Assumption Grammar School; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: <a href="/images/Admissions_Criteria_Year_8_for_September_2026.pdf" target="_blank" title="Year 8 Admissions 2026">View the official source, and they may differ.

Categories. Initially considers only applicants with a SEAG Band (or Band assigned under Special Circumstances/Provisions); applicants admitted Band by Band (A = Band 1 ... F = Band 6), then G 'Other Applicants'.Assumption Grammar School: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: Assumption Grammar School will initially consider only those applicants who have taken the SEAG Entrance Assessments and who have been awarded a Band or assigned a Band pursuant to “special circumstances” or “special provisions”.View the official source There was no minimum band. Girls living in Northern Ireland came before girls who did not.

Inside the category where places ran out, the school worked down this list, dropping girls who did not meet each test until the numbers fitted:

  • a sister at the school, past or present, or already accepted;
  • the eldest or only girl, or the first girl in the family to go to a grammar school;
  • a child looked after;
  • entitled to free school meals;
  • Assumption being the nearest Catholic grammar school for girls to home, measured in a straight line.
Full order within a category (September 2026 entry)
Sub-criteria and letter order(1) Sibling past or present at the school, or already accepted. (2) Eldest or only girl, or first girl in the family to transfer to a Grammar school. (3) Child Looked After. (4) Entitled to Free School Meals. (5) Assumption is the nearest Catholic Grammar School catering for girls (radial distance to front gate). (6) Initial letter(s) of surname in randomised letter order D K T B U P J L F Z N E C A G X M V S I Q H O Y R W; then forename initials. (7) Date of birth, oldest first. (8) Randomised computer selection.Assumption Grammar School: Tie breakers (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: (i) Applicants who have/had a sibling (past or present) at the school or already accepted for the coming year. [...] D K T B U P J L F Z N E C A G X M V S I Q H O Y R WView the official source
Final tie-breakAfter sub-criteria: surname initial letter(s) in a randomised letter order (from the birth certificate presented at SEAG registration), then forename initials, then date of birth (oldest first); any remaining tie for a final place resolved by randomised computer selection.Assumption Grammar School: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: Where names cannot be separated by this process, children will be accepted by date of birth with preference given to the oldest. Where, after this process has been applied, any applicants continue to tie for a final place, places will be allocated by randomised computer selection.View the official source
Feeder primary criterionnoAssumption Grammar School: Feeder criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: In order to determine which applicants will be accepted into Year 8, the following criteria will be applied in the order set down:View the official source

Some details are easy to miss. The eldest-girl test is broad: Sub-criterion (ii): eldest or only girl in her family, or first girl in her family to transfer to a Grammar school; twins/multiples joint eldest; interpreted per DE Circular 2025/12; verified by letter from a non-family verifier who has known the family 2+ years.Assumption Grammar School: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: (ii) An applicant who is the eldest or only girl in her family, or who is the first girl in her family to transfer to a Grammar school. This Criterion covers ‘only’ children and will treat twins or other multiples as joint eldest.View the official source Also, there was no feeder-primary rule, and FSME was a test rather than a quota: no (FSME entitlement is sub-criterion (iv), verified if decisive; no reserved quota.)Assumption Grammar School: Fsme places (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: (iv) An applicant who is entitled to Free School Meals. “Entitled to Free School Meals” will mean applicants who are listed on the Education Authority Register as entitled to Free School Meals at the date on which their parent or guardian has signed their Post Primary Transfer Application or up to 4.00pm on Tuesday 24 February 2026.View the official source.

If illness or another problem affected the test: Considered first by the Admissions Committee, which may award an equivalent Band. SC Form (per 'Claiming Special Circumstances - A Guide for Parents & Guardians' on the school website) with verified medical/other evidence and Primary-School-verified educational evidence uploaded to the Post Primary Transfer Application. Not automatic admission.Assumption Grammar School: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: Any parent/guardian claiming Special Circumstances must complete the Special Circumstances Form (SC Form), as outlined in the document “Claiming Special Circumstances – A Guide for Parents & Guardians” available from the school’s website www.assumptiongrammar.org.uk . ... The SC Form, along with the verified evidence, must be uploaded to the Post Primary Transfer Application.View the official source

Girls without a band: Special Provisions for girls with more than half their education outside NI, transferring from outside NI (need not sit SEAG), or unable to sit/only sat one paper; may be assessed by an approved person/body. Otherwise only applicants with a Band are initially considered; category G 'Other Applicants' comes after Band 6. Girls resident in NI selected before non-residents.Assumption Grammar School: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: Applicants in categories i) and ii) above, who wish to apply under Special Provisions do not need to take the SEAG Assessments unless their parents/guardians so wishView the official source

Waiting list: Unsuccessful applications held open until 30 June of the year following application; criteria applied if a vacancy arises.Assumption Grammar School: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: will have their application held open until 30 June of the year following application when their application is deemed to have lapsed. Should a vacancy arise, the above criteria will be applied to select pupils from this waiting list.View the official source

The table of past years shows applications above the admissions number each time. Where admissions went a little over that number, the school's notes say the extra places include successful appeals and pupils with a statement of special educational needs.

The test

SEAG Entrance Assessment (the NI transfer test)
Test
SEAG Entrance Assessment (the NI transfer test)
Test date, 2027 entry
Saturday 14 November 2026

Assumption looks at the band on your daughter's SEAG Statement of Outcomes, not her exact score. Band 1 is by far the widest band: Band 1 = top 40%; Bands 2–5 = 10% each; Band 6 = below the 20th percentileSEAG (Northern Ireland): BandsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Outcomes are also given as one of six Bands. [...] Band 1 60% or higher Band 2 50-59% Band 3 40-49% Band 4 30-39% Band 5 20-29% Band 6 less than 20% [...] Pupils in Band 1 will be in the top 40% of those who sat the Assessment. Bands 2-5 will each contain 10% of the total cohort.View the official source. Last year's advice to parents: State the BAND achieved on the Transfer Application and attach a copy of the SEAG Statement of Results (received Saturday 24 January 2026).Assumption Grammar School: Transfer application adviceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Assumption Grammar School.The source says: On the Transfer Application, parents/guardians must state the BAND achieved and attach to the Transfer Application a copy of the SEAG Entrance Assessment Statement of Results which they receive on Saturday 24 January 2026.View the official source

In 2025 Assumption was one of the centres for the Irish-language papers (see the key facts). More on how bands are worked out is in results explained, and the wider process is in our SEAG transfer test guide.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Day (passed)

    10.00 am–1.00 pm (Principal's Address 10.00 am & 11.30 am)

Source: Assumption Grammar School, checked

If you are refused a place

Reviews, appeals and the waiting list

General information, not legal advice.

This is general information, not legal advice.

If Assumption is full, the EA offers your next preference. You can also appeal on the AT1 form, via the EA websiteNorthern Ireland: FormChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: To appeal a school's decision that has refused your child a place, go to the EA website where you can send the appeal form (AT1 Form).View the official source. To succeed, an appeal has to show two things: the school didn't apply, or didn't correctly apply, its admissions criteria; the school would have offered the child a place if it had applied its criteria correctlyNorthern Ireland: Uphold testsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The tribunal can only uphold an appeal if: ... they find the school didn't apply or didn't apply correctly its admissions criteria ... and they find the school would have offered the child a place if it had applied its admissions criteria correctlyView the official source. The tribunal will not question whether the criteria themselves are fair. For a band-based school, check the band recorded, each family sub-criterion and the distance claim.

Appeal deadline for September 2027 entry: 4pm, Thursday 20 May 2027Northern Ireland transfer: Appeal deadlineChecked 17 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The deadline for receipt of appeal forms against Year 8 decisions by post-primary schools is Thursday 20 May 2027, no later than 4.00 pm.View the official source. For 2026 entry it was 4pm on Thursday 21 May 2026Northern Ireland 2026 entry: Appeal deadlineChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The deadline for receipt of appeal forms against Year 8 decisions by post-primary schools is Thursday 21 May 2026, no later than 4.00 pm.View the official source.

Official documents and sources

4 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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