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Cambridge House Grammar School: Year 8 entry

Cambridge Avenue, Ballymena BT42 2EH

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 up to the admissions number.

    Checked, source: Cambridge House Grammar School, checked

  • Year 8 places

    140

    2025 entry, Published Admission Number ()

    Checked, source: Cambridge House 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. Cambridge House 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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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

Cambridge House Grammar School in brief

tap a value for its source

Year 8 places
140Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: Admissions Number: 140View the official source2025 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

The school's home page still shows last year's timetable, for 2026 entry: Home page 'Admissions 2026/27 Key Dates': criteria published 10 Dec 2025; applications open 27 Jan 2026 12 noon, close 19 Feb 2026 12 noon; SC/SP forms uploaded via the EA portal, not to schools.Cambridge House Grammar School: Transfer application adviceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: 10 December 2025: Admissions Criteria Published. 27 January 2026: Applications open at 12 noon. 19 February 2026: Applications close at 12 noon. ... Please note that these should not be submitted to individual schools but uploaded via the EA applications portal when it opens on 27th January 2026.View the official source

How places are given

7 admission rules, in order, for 2025 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, Cambridge House Grammar School gives places using these rules (its ), in this order (the 2025 rules; the rules for 2027 entry are not published yet).

  1. 1

    Criterion 1: strict rank order of Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) up to the admissions number (140)

    The policy's own words
    1. The Admissions Sub-Committee will consider children who have taken the Entrance Assessment administered
  2. 2

    Criterion 2(a): order of preference (first preferences before second, etc.)

    The policy's own words
    (a) in order of preference with first preference applications being selected before second preference
  3. 3

    Criterion 2(b): sibling enrolled in the school in 2024-2025

    The policy's own words
    (b) pupils with a sibling* enrolled in the school for the 2024-2025 academic year
  4. 4

    Criterion 2(c): eldest child of the family (incl. only child); multiples joint eldest

    The policy's own words
    (c) pupils who are the eldest** child of the family*** (including only child)
  5. 5

    Criterion 2(d): age of the child, eldest by date of birth first

    The policy's own words
    (d) The age of the child, preference being given to the eldest established by date of birth
  6. 6

    Criterion 2(e): entitled to Free School Meals

    The policy's own words
    (e) Children who are entitled to receive Free School Meals
  7. 7

    Criterion 3: surname placed in a randomly developed alphabetical order (D U L Mac V S H Y M Q N R K W Z I P Mc G O A B J T E F X C); then first forename

    The policy's own words
    3. If applicants are still tied at Criteria 2e), then priority shall be determined amongst these tied applicants

Source: Cambridge House Grammar School, checked

More detail from our guide

An older document. The most recent criteria on the school's website are titled "Admissions Criteria for entry into Year 8: September 2025Cambridge House Grammar School: Document title (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: Admissions Criteria for entry into Year 8: September 2025View the official source". That was for September 2025 entry, two years ago. The home page mentioned criteria for 2026 entry, but the admissions link still opened the 2025 document, and we could not find a copy of the newer one. As for September 2027 entry, the criteria are Cambridge House Grammar School: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by Cambridge House Grammar School; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: Admissions 2026/27 Key Dates 10 December 2025: Admissions Criteria Published.View the official source. Treat what follows as background only, because the rules may have changed since.

Score order

Places allocated in strict SEAG TSAS rank order up to 140; children who did not sit are considered only if places remain after all TSAS holders.Cambridge House Grammar School: Academic selection (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: Places will be allocated in strict rank order of the scores, starting with the highest score and working in descending rank order, up to the Admissions Number (140).View the official source Children living in Northern Ireland came before non-residents, and on-time applications before late ones.

Tie-breaks for equal scores

If several children were level on the same score for the last places, Cambridge House used this order: (1) Order of preference on Transfer Application (2a). (2) Sibling enrolled 2024-25 (2b). (3) Eldest child of the family incl. only child (2c). (4) Age of child, oldest first (2d). (5) Entitled to free school meals (2e). (6) Surname in randomised alphabet order (3).Cambridge House Grammar School: Tie breakers (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: 2. If the number of applications is greater than the admissions number, the following criteria will be applied in the order set down until the final place has been allocated:View the official source

Points to notice:

  • Preference order came first. A child who had put Cambridge House as first choice was ahead on an equal score. That is not true at every grammar school.
  • Brothers and sisters. Another 'child of the family' already attending the school (enrolled for 2024-2025), per DE Circular 2024/18 Annex 2.Cambridge House Grammar School: Sibling criterion (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: *Sibling: applicants qualify for the sibling criterion according to whether or not they have another ‘child of the family’ already attending the school in question.View the official source
  • Eldest child. Sub-criterion 2(c): eldest child of the family (including only child) eligible to transfer to a mainstream post-primary school; twins/multiples joint eldest; verification letter required.Cambridge House Grammar School: Eldest child criterion (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: (c) pupils who are the eldest** child of the family*** (including only child) in their family to be eligible to transfer to a mainstream Post-Primary School (details to be supplied on the Transfer Application). Where applicable, twins (or other multiples) will be treated as joint eldest.View the official source
  • Age before free school meals. Older children (by date of birth) came before the free school meals step.
  • Last of all, surname. Names were sorted in an alphabet order set at random, then by first forename.

Special circumstances and Special Provisions

SC Form (from the school) with documentary evidence uploaded with the Transfer Application; two-part consideration; the Board assigns a TSAS equivalent; Access Arrangements taken into account; educational evidence may include P5-P7 standardised tests and class comparative data.Cambridge House Grammar School: Special circumstances (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: Parents/Carers who wish to apply to the school under Special Circumstances should complete the SC Form (obtainable from the school) stating the precise reason why they believe the child should be considered for Special Circumstances. The SC form and appropriate documentary evidence should be uploaded with the Transfer Application.View the official source

For children without a full SEAG result: If places remain after all children with a SEAG (or assigned) TSAS, children who did not take the SEAG assessment are considered using sub-criteria 2a-e and criterion 3. Special Provision (Form SP) for transfers from outside NI, more than half of primary education outside NI, or unable to sit both papers / estimated outcome; the Board assigns an equivalent TSAS.Cambridge House Grammar School: Applicants without result (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: If there are still places available after consideration of all the children who have taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment and been awarded a Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) by SEAG (or a TSAS assigned by the Governors in accordance with the arrangements for Special Circumstances and Special Provisions as set out below), the School will consider for admission any children who have not taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment using the sub-criteria 2a), b), c), d) and e) and Criterion 3, in the order set out.View the official source

Late forms and the waiting list

Punctual applications considered before late; late = after 12 noon 20 February 2025; late applications go on the waiting list.Cambridge House Grammar School: Late applicationsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: An application received after 12 noon (GMT) on 20 February 2025 will be treated as a late application (see Waiting List information below).View the official source Refused, new, late and updated applications placed automatically on the Year 8 waiting list until 30 June 2026; vacancies filled by re-applying the criteria.Cambridge House Grammar School: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: All applications for admission to Year 8 that were initially refused will be automatically placed on the Year 8 Waiting List. New applications, late applications and applications where new information has been provided will also be added to the Year 8 Waiting List. This Waiting List will be in place until 30 June 2026, that is, the end of Year 8.View the official source

Who runs the school

Cambridge House is a controlled grammar. In Northern Ireland that has a set meaning: Boards consist only of parents', teachers' and EA representatives (no transferor governors).Northern Ireland: Controlled grammarChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: Controlled nursery, grammar and special school BoGs consist only of representatives of parents, teachers and the EA. There are no transferor governors.View the official source The board of governors sets the admissions criteria each year.

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

Children hoping to join Cambridge House in September 2027 sit the SEAG Entrance AssessmentCambridge House Grammar 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; the school is itself one of the centres. Across both papers there are 56 English and 56 maths questions in totalSEAG (Northern Ireland): Question countChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: based on the 56 English (or Gaeilge) Questions in Papers 1 and 2 and the 56 Maths questions in Papers 1 and 2.View the official source, and results are released on Saturday 23 January 2027SEAG (Northern Ireland): OutcomesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: It is planned that SEAG results will be released on Saturday 23rd January 2027.View the official source.

Under the September 2025 rules only the TSAS mattered: Strict rank order of SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS), highest first.Cambridge House Grammar School: Selection metric (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge House Grammar School.The source says: The Board of Governors will use the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) as awarded by SEAG to a pupil in the Entrance Assessment, subject only to the consideration of parent/guardian(s) claiming ‘Special Circumstances’ or ‘Special Provisions’ as defined below.View the official source A child's band did not come into it.

The SEAG transfer test guide and results explained show how the TSAS is built.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Morning (passed)

    09:15 – 1.00 pm (Principal addresses at 9.15 am and 10.45 am)

Source: Cambridge House 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.

Every transfer form lists several schools, so a refusal from Cambridge House sends the EA to your next choice. You can still challenge the decision itself before the EA's independent tribunal.

The tribunal's view is limited to whether the governors used their criteria correctly, on the evidence they held when offering places. At a score-order school with preference as the first tie-break, check in particular that your form showed Cambridge House in the position you intended. Lodge 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; 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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