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Campbell College: Year 8 entry

Belmont Road, Belfast BT4 2ND

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; places allocated by rank order of Score and from a score-ranked pool.

    Checked, source: Campbell College, checked

  • Year 8 places

    130

    2027 entry, Published Admission Number ()

    Checked, source: Campbell College, checked

  • Lowest score offered

    182

    2026 entry, round not stated

    Checked, source: Campbell College, 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. Campbell College'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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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 182.

Source: Campbell College, checked

About these figures

Campbell publishes how many boys applied and were admitted: Year 8 (admissions number 130): 2024/25 130 applications (all preferences), 137 admitted; 2025/26 145 applications, 137 admitted; 2026/27 139 applications, 137 admitted. Totals include statemented pupils and those admitted on appeal or by the Exceptional Circumstances Body.Campbell College: Applications and admissions historyChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: Applications and Admissions ... 2024/25 130 130 137* ... 2025/26** 130 145 137* ... 2026/27** 130 139 137*View the official source

For September 2026 entry it also published some scores. Among boys admitted on score alone under the first criterion, the lowest TSAS was 182campbell-college-2026-tsas-1: ValueChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: Criterion 1 was applied with 91 applicants scoring 263 - 182View the official source. Among boys admitted from the pool in score order, the lowest was 168campbell-college-2026-tsas-2: ValueChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: Criterion 3 (vii) was applied with 19 applicants selected scoring 181 – 168.View the official source. The scores of boarders and of boys admitted through the Junior School or family links were not published, so that second figure is not the lowest score admitted overall.

These are past figures from the school. They move every year with the group of children applying, and the 2027 criteria fill more places on score alone than were filled that way for 2026. Neither number is a pass mark.

At a glance

Campbell College in brief

tap a value for its source

Pupils
boysPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: Boys’ GrammarView the official source
Who the school admits.
Year 8 places
130Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: The approved admissions number for Year 8 entry in ... September 2027 is 130.View the official source2027 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

You cannot apply to Campbell directly. The booklet explains the route: Via the Education Authority (EA) Transfer Office online portal (expected end of January 2027 to mid February 2027, exact dates TBC); SEAG score and candidate number entered on the Online Transfer Application and SEAG statement uploaded. Not possible to apply directly to the school.Campbell College: Application route (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: Please note that entry to Year 8 for day places is administered by the Transfer Office at the Education Authority and it is not possible to apply directly to the school for a place. The EA portal will be open from end of January 2027 until mid February 2027 (exact dates TBC).View the official source

How places are given

10 admission rules, in order, for 2027 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, Campbell College gives places using these rules (its ), in this order (2027 entry).

  1. 1

    Criterion 1: first 110 of the 130 places by rank order of Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () score; ties at 110th place resolved using criteria 3(i)-3(vii).

    The policy's own words
    The first 110 places from the admissions total of 130 will be allocated to applicants on the basis of the rank order of their Scores
  2. 2

    Criterion 2: places for boarding applicants (must remain a boarder throughout Years 8-12).

    The policy's own words
    Subsequently, places are allocated to those applying for boarding.
  3. 3

    Criterion 3: a pool of up to 50 of the remaining highest-scoring applicants is formed; remaining places allocated from the pool using sub-criteria (i)-(vii) in order.

    The policy's own words
    Following the allocation of places as described in criterion 1 and 2, a pool of up to 50 places will be identified from the remaining applications
  4. 4

    3(i): currently attending Campbell College Junior School, preference proportional to years attended.

    The policy's own words
    are currently attending Campbell College Junior School.
  5. 5

    3(ii): a child of the family currently at Campbell College (Years 8-14) or who attended to at least GCSE or Sixth Form.

    The policy's own words
    have a child of the family* currently enrolled in Years 8-14 at Campbell College
  6. 6

    3(iii): a child of the family currently at Strathearn School or Bloomfield Collegiate School (Years 8-14).

    The policy's own words
    have a child of the family* currently enrolled in Years 8-14 at Strathearn School or Bloomfield Collegiate School
  7. 7

    3(iv): son of a permanent employee of the College.

    The policy's own words
    are the son of a permanent employee of the College;
  8. 8

    3(v): son of an Old Campbellian.

    The policy's own words
    are the sons of Old Campbellians;
  9. 9

    3(vi): grandson of an Old Campbellian.

    The policy's own words
    are the grandsons of Old Campbellians;
  10. 10

    3(vii): any remaining places from the pool in rank order of score; score ties broken by surname letters in a randomly predetermined alphabet order.

    The policy's own words
    If, when all the other criteria have been applied there are still places remaining, places will be allocated from the pool in rank order of Score.

Source: Campbell College, checked

More detail from our guide

Campbell is one of the few schools that has already published its rules for September 2027 entry, in a booklet titled Admissions Information 2027 - 2028 (section: Admissions policy for entry to Year 8 in September 2027)Campbell College: Document title (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: ADMISSIONS INFORMATION 2027 - 2028View the official source. Rules can change between years, so always read the current booklet.

Step one: score order. First 110 of 130 places by rank order of TSAS; then boarding places; then a pool of up to 50 of the remaining applicants with the highest scores, from which places are allocated by sub-criteria (i)-(vi), then rank order of score (vii).Campbell College: Selection metric (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: Campbell College intends to use the Total Standardised ... Age Score (TSAS) (“the Score”) as awarded by the Schools’ ... Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG). [...] The first 110 places from the admissions total of 130 will be allocated to applicants on the basis of the rank order ... of their Scores; those achieving higher Scores being ... allocated places before those with lower Scores.View the official source

Step two: boarders. Boarding places are filled next. A boarder does not need a SEAG result, but he must stay a boarder up to the end of Year 12.

Step three: the pool. Once score places and boarding places are filled, the college takes the next highest scorers into a pool. Places in the pool are then offered in this order: (1) Currently attending Campbell College Junior School (preference proportional to years attended). (2) Child of the family at Campbell College (Years 8-14) or attended to at least GCSE/Sixth Form. (3) Child of the family at Strathearn School or Bloomfield Collegiate School (Years 8-14). (4) Son of a permanent employee of the College. (5) Son of an Old Campbellian. (6) Grandson of an Old Campbellian. (7) Remaining pool places in rank order of Score; equal Scores split by initial (then subsequent) letter of surname in a randomly predetermined alphabet order.Campbell College: Tie breakers (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: The remaining places ... will be allocated from the pool. The following criteria ... will be applied in the order stated to those who:View the official source

A few points on that list:

  • Family links are read widely. "Child of the family" includes step, adopted and fostered children, and a brother or sister at Strathearn or Bloomfield Collegiate counts as well as one at Campbell.
  • Where you live and how you ranked Campbell. Day boys living in Northern Ireland when they start come ahead of boys who do not. The college also ignores the order of preference on your transfer application.
  • No free school meals or eldest-child rule. Neither appears in the 2027 criteria.

Boys without a usable SEAG result. Only applicants who have taken the SEAG assessment papers are considered (does not apply to boarding applicants); Special Provisions cover pupils transferring from outside NI, those with more than half their primary education outside NI, and those unable to sit through unforeseen serious medical or other problems or who sat only one paper.Campbell College: Applicants without result (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: 1. Campbell College will initially consider only those ... applicants who have taken the assessment papers ... provided by the Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group ... (SEAG). [...] Special Provisions will apply for: ... a) pupils whose parents wish them to transfer from ... schools outside Northern Ireland; including those ... who are children of serving Armed Forces Personnel, [...] past and present; [...] b) pupils who have received more than half their primary ... education outside Northern Ireland; [...] c) pupils, entered for the SEAG assessments who because ... of unforeseen and serious medical or other problems ... were unable to participate in the assessments, or where the ... child received an estimated score because they only ... sat one of the two SEAG assessment papers.View the official source

Special circumstances. If illness or another serious problem affected your son around the test, this is the route: Medical or other problems immediately before or during the assessment period, supported by documentary evidence. Parents complete the form from the College website and upload it with evidence to the Education Authority Admissions Portal; the admissions sub-committee determines a Score for the pupil. No deadline stated in the 2027 booklet.Campbell College: Special circumstances (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: If Special Circumstances are ... accepted, the panel will determine, on the basis of the ... information available, a Score for the pupil and will apply ... the admissions criteria as appropriate. [...] Parents who wish to apply to the School under Special ... Circumstances should complete the appropriate form ... available from the College website and upload it with ... appropriate documentary evidence, as detailed below, to the ... Education Authority Admissions Portal.View the official source Keep copies of every document you upload.

Waiting list. Waiting list operates until 30 June of the year following application; published criteria applied.Campbell College: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: This waiting list will be in ... place until 30th 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

The SEAG test is 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, set and marked 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. Each child gets a Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) on a scale of 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, plus a band.

Campbell works from the TSAS, not the band. Its booklet sets out who is considered: Only applicants who sat the SEAG assessments are considered, except boys applying to the boarding department; all day places are allocated by or within score order.Campbell College: Academic selection (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Campbell College.The source says: 1. Campbell College will initially consider only those ... applicants who have taken the assessment papers ... provided by the Schools’ Entrance Assessment GroupView the official source So a boy who wants a day place needs a SEAG result, apart from the special provisions described below.

Our SEAG transfer test guide covers the papers, and results explained walks through the Statement of Outcomes.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Day (passed)

    9.00am - 12.00pm

  2. Done: Whole School Open Day (passed)

    9.00am - 12.00 noon

Source: Campbell College, 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 Campbell cannot offer your son a place, the Education Authority will tell you how to appeal. Who 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 You apply using 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 tribunal looks at one question: whether Campbell applied its published criteria correctly. It does not decide whether the criteria are fair. The September 2027 appeal 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; 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

8 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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