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Belfast High School: Year 8 entry

740 Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT37 0PX

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 score stated; strict rank order of Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) up to the admissions number, then non-Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () applicants for any remaining places.

    Checked, source: Belfast High School, checked

  • Year 8 places

    Not published yet

  • 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. Belfast High 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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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

Belfast High School in brief

tap a value for its source

Pupils
co-educationalPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: Belfast High School was founded in 1854 as a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school.View the official source
Who the school admits.
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

For comparison, last year's transfer application closed at noon on Thursday 19 February 2026Northern Ireland 2026 entry: Transfer application deadlineChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The Post Primary online application procedure closes at 12.00 noon on Thursday 19 February 2026.View the official source.

How places are given

5 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

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

  1. 1

    Children resident in Northern Ireland first

    The policy's own words
    1. The Board of Governors will consider all children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission to the School before any child not so resident.
  2. 2

    Children with a SEAG TSAS (or SC/SP-awarded score) in strict rank order up to the admissions number

    The policy's own words
    2. The Board of Governors will then consider children who have taken the SEAG Common Entrance Assessment and been awarded a Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) by SEAG
  3. 3

    Equal scores for last place(s): sibling enrolled at the School

    The policy's own words
    3.1 Children who have a sibling enrolled at the School at the time of application.
  4. 4

    Then computerised random selection (Excel RAND on EA application numbers)

    The policy's own words
    3.2 The use of a tie-breaker which shall be on the basis of computerised random selection.
  5. 5

    Remaining places: children who did not take SEAG, using criteria 1 and 3

    The policy's own words
    4. If there are still places available after consideration of all the children who have taken the SEAG Common Entrance Assessment

Source: Belfast High School, checked

More detail from our guide

Which year these rules are for. The newest Year 8 admissions policy on the school website governed entry in September 2026. The policy for September 2027 entry is Belfast High School: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by Belfast High School; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: Information the SEAG assessment can found in the presentation below along with the Belfast High School Admissions Policy for entry to Year 8. SEAG Information for entry to BHS in September 2027 Admissions Year 8View the official source. Governors can change the rules each year, so treat what follows as last year's approach.

The order in 2026. The full list read: (1) Children resident in Northern Ireland first. (2) Children with a SEAG TSAS (or SC/SP-awarded score) in strict rank order up to the admissions number. (3) Equal scores for last place(s): sibling enrolled at the School. (4) Then computerised random selection (Excel RAND on EA application numbers). (5) Remaining places: children who did not take SEAG, using criteria 1 and 3.Belfast High School: Oversubscription criteria (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: If the School is over-subscribed, the following criteria for entry will apply, in the order stated:View the official source

In everyday terms:

  • Children living in Northern Ireland came before those living elsewhere. Where you put Belfast High on your list of preferences did not count.
  • Every child with a SEAG score was ranked on it. Children with a SEAG TSAS are placed in strict rank order up to the admissions number; children who did not sit SEAG are considered only for any places left after that.Belfast High School: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: Children will be placed in strict rank order of scores, highest to lowest, up to the approved admissions number.View the official source
  • Was there a minimum score? No minimum score stated; strict rank order of TSAS up to the admissions number, then non-SEAG applicants for any remaining places.Belfast High School: Entrance threshold (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: Children will be placed in strict rank order of scores, highest to lowest, up to the approved admissions number.View the official source

Ties for the last place. Family only mattered at this point, not earlier. Sibling enrolled at the School at the time of application; 'sibling' and 'child of the family' as defined in Annex 2 of DENI Circular 2025/12. Used only for equal scores at the last place(s).Belfast High School: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: Please note: sibling and child of the family are defined as per Annex 2 of DENI Circular 2025/12 (Circular 2025/12). [...] 3.1 Children who have a sibling enrolled at the School at the time of application.View the official source If children were still level, a computer draw decided: Computerised random selection overseen by at least 3 Admissions Sub-Committee members: applicants listed by EA Application Number, each given a random number via Microsoft Excel RAND, ranked with higher numbers having preference.Belfast High School: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: • Applicants will be listed by their EA Application Number. • This application number will be allocated a random number electronically generated within Microsoft Excel using the Rand function. • These random numbers will then be ranked in order with higher numbers having preference.View the official source

A child who has not sat SEAG. Such children come after every child with a score. The detail: Children who have not taken SEAG are considered only if places remain after all children with a SEAG TSAS (or a score awarded via Special Circumstances/Provisions), using residence then the tie-break criteria. Children unable to sit for a documented serious medical or other problem, or who sat only one paper, or educated mostly outside NI, may claim Special Provisions. All applicants are expected to sit SEAG except those who take up NI residence after 25 September 2025.Belfast High School: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: 4. If there are still places available after consideration of all the children who have taken the SEAG Common Entrance Assessment and been awarded a Total Standardised Age Score by SEAG, or awarded a score as a result of Special Circumstances or Special Provisions, the School will consider for admission any children who have not taken the SEAG Common Entrance Assessment. These children will be allocated to any remaining places, up to the School’s admissions number, using criterion 1 followed by criterion 3 above.View the official source

Illness or a hard time on test day. You can ask the school to take this into account. In 2026: Special Circumstances (medical or other problems affecting SEAG performance, with documentary evidence) via the SC Form from the school website, uploaded with evidence to the online transfer application; two-part consideration; the Admissions Sub-Committee may adjust the TSAS. Educational evidence may include P5-P7 standardised test results and anonymised class comparative data.Belfast High School: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: Parents/Guardians who wish to apply to the School under Special Circumstances should complete the SC Form obtainable from the School website, stating the precise reason why they believe their child should be considered for Special Circumstances and upload it with appropriate evidence with the online transfer application.View the official source Only what you upload is seen, so gather the evidence early.

What to put on the application. Apply on the online transfer application. Enter your child's SEAG Total Standardised Age Score and SEAG Unique Pupil Number, and put or upload everything relevant to the criteria with it: the school considers only what is on or uploaded with the application.Belfast High School: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to ensure that ALL information pertaining to their child and relevant to the School’s admissions criteria is provided to the School, either on or uploaded with the online transfer application. When considering which children should be selected for admission, the Board of Governors will ONLY take into account information which is detailed on or uploaded with the online transfer application. ... Parents/Guardians must enter the Total Standardised Age Score awarded by SEAG and the SEAG Unique Pupil Number on the online transfer application.View the official source

Statements of special educational needs. Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs are placed outside the normal enrolment procedures (advice from the Education Authority).Belfast High School: Statement pupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: The procedures for children in receipt of a Statement of Special Educational Needs will operate outside the normal enrolment procedures in order to ensure that such children are provided with the most appropriate school placement.View the official source

Places that come up later. After the Transfer Procedure (May 2026), refused, new, late and updated applications are treated equally under the published criteria; list kept until 30 June of the year following application; names added automatically.Belfast High School: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: Should a vacancy arise after the completion of the Transfer Procedure in May 2026, all applications for admission to Year 8 that were initially refused, new applications, late applications and applications where new information has been provided will be treated equally and the published criteria applied. This waiting list will be in place until 30 June of the year following application.View the official source

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

Belfast High is clear that the test matters here. Its presentation for parents of this year's P7 children says: Entry is decided mainly by the SEAG result: to apply for a Year 8 place in September 2027 your child must sit the SEAG assessment.Belfast High School: Transfer application adviceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: Result of the SEAG assessment is the key criterion. ... If you would like to apply for a place at Belfast High School for September 2027 for your son/daughter, they must sit the SEAG assessment.View the official source

The test is the SEAG Entrance AssessmentBelfast High School: Test family by entry year (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: All 63 post-primary schools in N. Ireland which include academic selection within their Year 8 admissions criteria accept the SEAG Entrance Assessment Outcomes.View the official source, set by GL AssessmentSEAG (Northern Ireland): Setter markerChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: The SEAG Entrance Assessment is being set and marked by GL Assessment.View the official source. Children sit two papers, English (or Irish) and mathsSEAG (Northern Ireland): the two test papersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: The SEAG Entrance Assessment consists of two Papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both Papers have an identical format and are set at the same level of difficulty.View the official source, on two Saturdays: Saturday 14 November 2026SEAG (Northern Ireland): Paper1Checked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Saturday, 14th November 2026View the official source and Saturday 21 November 2026SEAG (Northern Ireland): Paper2Checked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Saturday, 21st November 2026View the official source. Belfast High is one of the test centres too.

What the school looks at is the TSAS, which runs 138 to 282, average 200SEAG (Northern Ireland): total score range (total standardised age score)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: The Total SAS range will be 138-282 with a mean (or average) of 200.View the official source. The band on the results statement is not used to rank children here. A higher TSAS simply comes before a lower one.

The school's own transfer timeline puts the whole year on one line: Timeline for September 2027 entry: SEAG registration closed 11.59pm Fri 18 Sept 2026 (no late registration); tests 14 and 21 Nov 2026; results 23 Jan 2027; apply Feb/Mar 2027; places allocated May/June 2027; Year 8 induction August 2027.Belfast High School: Transfer timeline2027Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Belfast High School.The source says: Registration opens at 8.00am on Monday18 May. ... Applications MUST BE submitted by 11.59pm on Friday 18 September 2026. ... NO LATE REGISTRATION. ... Assessment 1 - 14 November 2026. ... Assessment 2 - 21 November 2026. ... Publication of results – 23 January 2027. ... February/March 2027 – pupils apply to schools. ... May/June 2027 – pupils allocated to schools. ... August 2027 – Year 8 induction.View the official source

Our SEAG transfer test guide covers the papers, and results explained shows how TSAS is worked out.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

Next: Open Morning, January 2027

  1. Coming up: Open Morning

Source: Belfast High 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 Belfast High cannot offer a place, your next preference is looked at. If none of the schools you listed can offer one: Parents choose from schools that still have places and are told how to appeal.Northern Ireland: No place routeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: If your child doesn’t get a place in any of their school preferences, you will be asked to choose from other schools that still have places. You will also be advised of how to appeal a decision about a school place.View the official source

You also have the right to appeal. The body that hears it: An independent admissions appeal tribunal set up by the EA; its decisions are binding.Northern Ireland: BodyChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: If you think that a school has not applied, or not correctly applied its admissions criteria, you have the right of appeal to an independent tribunal. These tribunals are set up by the EA and their decisions are binding.View the official source For an appeal to succeed, the tribunal has to find 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. At Belfast High, where places follow score order, the question is whether that order and the tie-break were applied as written. A tribunal cannot change the policy itself.

Appeals for 2027 entry must be in by 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 the deadline 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. Forms go through the Education Authority: 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.

Official documents and sources

6 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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