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Bloomfield Collegiate: Year 8 entry

Astoria Gardens, Belfast

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 to the admission number.

    Checked, source: Bloomfield Collegiate School, checked

  • Year 8 places

    110

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

    Checked, source: Bloomfield Collegiate School, checked

  • Lowest score offered

    185

    2026 entry, round not stated

    Checked, source: Bloomfield Collegiate School, checked

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. Bloomfield Collegiate 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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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.

Lowest score offered a place

Scores are on the aggregate score scale.

  1. 2026 entryRound not stated

    The lowest score offered a place was 185.

  2. 2025 entryRound not stated

    The lowest score offered a place was 185.

  3. 2024 entryRound not stated

    The lowest score offered a place was 168.

Source: Bloomfield Collegiate School, checked

About these figures

Bloomfield publishes the lowest score it admitted each year. These are past figures, not a pass mark. They rise and fall with each year's group of applicants.

In each of these years, the final place came down to a tie. That is why the family, eldest-girl and primary school details on your form matter here. Figures from before SEAG came from a different test on a different scale, so we have left them out.

At a glance

Bloomfield Collegiate School in brief

tap a value for its source

Pupils
girlsPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: Girls’ GrammarView the official source
Who the school admits.
Year 8 places
110Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: Admission No: 110View 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 application, for reference: EA Transfer Application (opened 12 noon 27 January 2026; punctual by 12 noon 19 February 2026; late after 4.00pm 24 February 2026), entering TSAS and SEAG Unique Pupil Number and uploading the SEAG Statement of Outcome.Bloomfield Collegiate School: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: The application procedure opens on 27 January 2026 at 12 noon (GMT) and an application submitted by the closing date of 19 February 2026 at 12 noon (GMT) will be treated as a punctual application. An application received after 4.00pm (GMT) on 24 February 2026 will be treated as a late application.View the official source

How places are given

8 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

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

  1. 1

    2.1: places to the admission number in strict rank order of Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS); ties at the 110th place resolved with 2.3.

    The policy's own words
    The places available up to the School’s Admission Number will be allocated to children on the basis of the rank order of their respective TSAS scores
  2. 2

    2.2: if places remain, children who did not take Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () are considered, using 2.3.

    The policy's own words
    If, following application of section 2.1, all the available places within the School’s Admission Number have not been filled, the School will consider children who have not taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment.
  3. 3

    2.3(i): child of the family enrolled at the school (as of 1 Sept 2025) or accepted for Sept 2026.

    The policy's own words
    (i) Children with a child of the family enrolled in the School as of 1 September 2025
  4. 4

    2.3(ii): eldest girl in the family eligible to transfer.

    The policy's own words
    (ii) Children who are the eldest girl in the family to be eligible to transfer
  5. 5

    2.3(iii): child of the family at an all-boys post-primary school.

    The policy's own words
    (iii) Children with a child of the family enrolled in Years 8-14 at an all-boys post-primary school
  6. 6

    2.3(iv): transferring from a listed primary school.

    The policy's own words
    (iv) Children who are transferring from one of the following primary schools
  7. 7

    2.3(v): computer-based random ranking seeded by applicant name.

    The policy's own words
    (v) Tie-breaker: In the unlikely event that the criteria above, applied in the order listed, have not resolved the final place
  8. 8

    2.3(vi): remaining places to children who did not take SEAG, using the sub-criteria in order.

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

Source: Bloomfield Collegiate School, checked

More detail from our guide

What follows is from Bloomfield's criteria for September 2026 entry (Admissions Criteria for entry September 2026Bloomfield Collegiate School: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: Admissions Criteria for entry September 2026View the official source). The school has not yet released its September 2027 criteria. They may be the same or different, so read the new version when it comes out.

Bloomfield does not look at where you placed it in your list of preferences. Girls living in Northern Ireland come before girls who are not, and on-time forms before late ones. After that, the order is simple: Strict rank order of TSAS; ties for the 110th place resolved by sub-criteria 2.3.Bloomfield Collegiate School: Selection metric (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: The places available up to the School’s Admission Number will be allocated to children on the basis of the ... rank order of their respective TSAS scores, those achieving higher scores being allocated places before ... those with lower scores in strict rank order.View the official source

If girls on the same score are competing for the final place, these sub-criteria apply in turn: (1) Child of the family enrolled in the School or accepted for September 2026. (2) Eldest girl in the family eligible to transfer. (3) Child of the family at an all-boys post-primary school. (4) Transferring from a listed feeder primary school. (5) Computer-based random ranking seeded by the applicant's name.Bloomfield Collegiate School: Tie breakers (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: If the number of applications exceeds the number of available places, then the following criteria shall apply in the order stated:View the official source

Points worth noting:

  • Brothers elsewhere can help. The third step covers a child of the family at any all-boys post-primary school, not one named school.
  • Eldest girl. Sub-criterion 2.3(ii): eldest girl in the family eligible to transfer to a mainstream post-primary school in NI in September 2026; twins/multiples joint eldest; also applies where an elder child could not be enrolled (completed education, statemented, special school, family relocated); verifying letter required.Bloomfield Collegiate School: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: (ii) Children who are the eldest girl in the family to be eligible to transfer to a mainstream Post-Primary School in Northern Ireland in September 2026 (details to be supplied)*;View the official source
  • Random order last. Computer programme generates a ranking number per applicant seeded from the name on the Transfer Application; highest ranking numbers get places.Bloomfield Collegiate School: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: this final place will be determined using selection based on a computer-based process which makes use of the names as entered on the Transfer Application. The ranking process is carried out by means of a computer programme which, for each applicant, generates a ranking number using the details from the Transfer Application as the seed for a random number generator.View the official source

The fourth step uses a list of primary schools, with no priority between them:

Listed primary schools (September 2026 criteria)
Sub-criterion 2.3(iv): transferring from a listed primary school (pupils admitted in three of the last five years, or within reasonable walking distance of three miles); no priority between schools. Named schools: Abbey PS (Newtownards), Andrews Memorial PS, Braniel PS, Brooklands PS, Castle Gardens PS, Comber PS, Crawfordsburn PS, Dundonald PS, Elmgrove PS, Euston Street PS, Gilnahirk PS, Harding Memorial PS, Holywood PS, Killinchy PS, Knockbreda PS, Knocknagoney PS, Leadhill PS, Lisnasharragh PS, Londonderry PS, Loughview IPS, Moneyrea PS, Nettlefield PS, Newtownards Model PS, Orangefield PS, Rosetta PS, St. Bernard’s PS, St. Joseph’s PS (Holland Drive), St. Matthew’s PS, St. Patrick’s PS (Holywood), Strandtown PS, Strathearn Preparatory Department, Sullivan Upper Preparatory Department, Victoria Park PSBloomfield Collegiate School: Feeder criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: (iv) Children who are transferring from one of the following primary schools from which pupils have been admitted in three of the last five years or which are within reasonable walking distance (three miles). No priority will be given to any particular school:View the official source

Your daughter's primary school does not need to be on the list for her to apply. The list is only used to settle a tie, or to rank girls without a SEAG result if places are left.

Girls who did not sit SEAG. Considered only if places remain after all SEAG-scored (and SC/SP-scored) applicants, allocated by the 2.3 sub-criteria; Special Provisions available for those transferring from outside NI, with more than half their primary education outside NI, or unable to sit / sat one paper for documented reasons.Bloomfield Collegiate School: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: If, following application of section 2.1, all the available places within the School’s Admission Number have not been filled, the School will consider children who have not taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment. Allocation of any such remaining places will be made by applying the criteria in section 2.3.View the official source

Special circumstances. Form SC (from the school) with medical/other and educational evidence (P5-P7 standardised tests, comparative class data) uploaded with the Transfer Application; panel of Governors assigns an equivalent TSAS. Claims decided before criteria are applied. No separate SC deadline stated; SP for transfers from outside NI by noon 19 February 2026.Bloomfield Collegiate School: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: Parents who wish to apply to the School under Special Circumstances should complete Form SC obtainable from the School, and attach it with appropriate documentary evidence with the Transfer Application ... Where a Special Circumstances claim is upheld the Education Committee will assign, on the basis of the information available, an equivalent Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) for the child.View the official source

Waiting list. Unsuccessful applicants held on a Year 8 waiting list until 30 June 2027; vacancies filled using the same transfer criteria.Bloomfield Collegiate School: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: The names of these pupils will remain on the Waiting List for Year 8 entry until 30 June 2027.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

Bloomfield looks at one number: the Total Standardised Age Score on your daughter's SEAG Statement of Outcomes. The band is not used. The criteria put it this way: Places allocated in strict rank order of SEAG TSAS (or assigned SC/SP score); children who did not sit SEAG considered only if places remain.Bloomfield Collegiate School: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bloomfield Collegiate School.The source says: The first criterion for selection for a place in Year 8 at the School will be the pupil’s Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) provided by the SEAG.View the official source

The school is a SEAG test centre, but sitting the papers there gives no advantage when you apply. Our SEAG transfer test guide explains the papers, and results explained covers what the score means.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Evening 2026 (passed)

    6.00pm to 9.00pm (Principal’s Address 6.00pm, 7.00pm and 8.15pm)

Source: Bloomfield Collegiate 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 your daughter is not offered a place, the Education Authority will tell you how to appeal. A tribunal has to be satisfied on two points before it can uphold an appeal: 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. So it is worth checking that every detail used in a tie-break was entered correctly on your form. The 2027 deadline is 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.

Official documents and sources

4 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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