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Coleraine Grammar School: Year 8 entry

23-33 Castlerock Road, Coleraine, BT51 3LA

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 Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () score.

    Checked, source: Coleraine Grammar School, checked

  • Year 8 places

    156

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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

Coleraine Grammar School in brief

tap a value for its source

Year 8 places
156Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: Admissions No: 156View the official source2026 entry
The (PAN): how many children the school plans to admit.
Pupils
co-educationalPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: Coleraine Grammar School is a co-educational, 11-18, non-denominational schoolView 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

To give a sense of timing, here is last year's sequence for September 2026 entry: Education Authority online application (EA portal); online applications 27 January 2026 12 noon to 19 February 2026 12 noon; outcomes Saturday 9 May 2026; no direct application to the schoolColeraine Grammar School: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: It is not possible to apply directly to the School for a place in Year 8. ... Online Applications open – 27th January 2026 (12 noon) Online Applications close – 19th February 2026 (12 noon) Notification of outcome of Applications – Saturday 9th May 2026View the official source.

How places are given

3 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, Coleraine 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

    SEAG score (Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS)) rank order, highest first, after SC/SP scores determined

    The policy's own words
    After consideration of claims for Special Circumstances and Special Provision and determining any appropriate SEAG scores for SC and SP pupils, 156 places in Year 8 will be allocated to pupils on the basis of rank order of their respective SEAG scores.
  2. 2

    Tie-breaker i: a child of the family currently enrolled at the school

    The policy's own words
    i. Children who, at the date of application, have a child of the family*currently enrolled at Coleraine Grammar School.
  3. 3

    Tie-breaker ii: random selection (numbered discs drawn from a hat by an independent person)

    The policy's own words
    ii. Random selection: a numbered disc representing each child’s name will be placed in a ‘hat’

Source: Coleraine Grammar School, checked

More detail from our guide

The rules here are from the Admissions Criteria for entry September 2026Coleraine Grammar School: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: Admissions Criteria for entry September 2026View the official source. They applied to last year's intake. The 2027 version has not been published, and the governors may change it.

The order for 2026 entry: (1) SEAG score (TSAS) rank order, highest first, after SC/SP scores determined. (2) Tie-breaker i: a child of the family currently enrolled at the school. (3) Tie-breaker ii: random selection (numbered discs drawn from a hat by an independent person).Coleraine Grammar School: Oversubscription criteria (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: ADMISSIONS PROCESS and ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR YEAR 8 - SCHOOL YEAR 2026/2027View the official source

That is the whole list. There is no feeder primary rule, no eldest-child rule and no free school meals rule.

When does the tie-break matter? Only for children on exactly the same score at the cut-off. The school's statement on where it became oversubscribed for 2026 entry: Places allocated by SEAG score rank; several pupils tied for the final place(s), which were allocated by applying the tie-breakers (sibling, then random selection). No score stated.Coleraine Grammar School: Point of oversubscriptionChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: CGS Statement on the Point of Oversubscription 2026/7 ... Total number of places available: - 156 ... Total number of applications considered: - 217 ... Several pupils were eligible for the final place(s) because they had equal scores, and the place(s) was/were allocated by applying progressively the tie-breaker criteriaView the official source

Siblings. The tie-break covers a child of the family currently enrolled at Coleraine Grammar School at the date of application; 'child of the family' as defined on page 32 of DE Circular 2025/12 (applicants must state which of the eight categories applies)Coleraine Grammar School: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: i. Children who, at the date of application, have a child of the family*currently enrolled at Coleraine Grammar School. *Please see page 32 of Department of Education Circular 2025/12 ‘The Procedure for Transfer from Primary to Post-Primary Education’ (issued on 6 October 2025) for guidance on the term ‘child of the family’.View the official source.

The draw. Numbered disc for each child placed in a 'hat'; an independent person draws the required number under observation of a second independent person and a school representative.Coleraine Grammar School: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: ii. Random selection: a numbered disc representing each child’s name will be placed in a ‘hat’, and an independent person will withdraw the required number of discs from the ‘hat’, under the observation of a second independent person and a school representative.View the official source

Living outside Northern Ireland. The criteria state that pupils resident in Northern Ireland on 1 September 2025 selected before non-residentsColeraine Grammar School: Other criteria (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: In accordance with statutory requirements, when applying the admissions criteria, the Board of Governors sub- committee will select a pupil resident in Northern Ireland on 1st September 2025 before a pupil not resident at that date.View the official source.

On the form. Record your child's three-digit SEAG score (TSAS) and SEAG Candidate Number (UPN) on the Application Form/Transfer Form, upload the SEAG statement of result, and indicate which non-academic (tie-breaker) criteria your child meets.Coleraine Grammar School: Transfer application adviceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: Your child’s score in the above assessment should be recorded as the three-digit SEAG score awarded to your child by SEAG. [...] Your child’s SEAG Candidate Number (UPN). [...] Please ensure that you indicate on the Application Form/Transfer Form which of the non-academic criteria your child meets.View the official source

Special circumstances. SC Form 2025-26 with independent documentary evidence (medical evidence of examination at the time for short-term illness) and educational evidence, uploaded to the EA application; Admissions Sub-Committee assigns an appropriate SEAG score if granted.Coleraine Grammar School: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: Complete SC Form 2025-26, obtainable from the school’s website at SC Form 2025-26, and upload it to the Application Form/Transfer Form when it is being submitted, with the following specific documentary evidence also attached.View the official source

No SEAG score. SEAG is the only assessment used except for some Special Provision applicants (outside NI, or unable to sit / sat one paper with evidence), who may be offered a standardised test if educational evidence is inadequate. No provision stated for other children without a SEAG score.Coleraine Grammar School: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: The SEAG Entrance Assessment is the only assessment which will be used for the admissions process for Year 8 in September 2026 except for some Special Provision applications (see ** in the Special Provisions information).View the official source

Waiting list. Year 8 waiting list formed by SEAG score (after SC/SP), then tie-breakersColeraine Grammar School: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: A waiting list for places in Year 8 will be formed by applying the SEAG score criterion (following SC and SP considerations), and then the tie-breaker criteria if they are required.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

Coleraine Grammar uses the SEAG Entrance Assessment and no test of its own. SEAG sets 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. This year's dates are 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.

Coleraine works from the three-digit score on the Statement of Outcomes, the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS). It runs from 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 2026 criteria put it like this: Rank order of the three-digit SEAG Total Standardised Age Score; higher scores admitted first.Coleraine Grammar School: Selection metric (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: Pupils achieving higher scores will be allocated places before pupils with lower scores.View the official source No minimum was set: No minimum score stated; places allocated by rank order of SEAG score.Coleraine Grammar School: Entrance threshold (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Coleraine Grammar School.The source says: 156 places in Year 8 will be allocated to pupils on the basis of rank order of their respective SEAG scores.View the official source

What if your child misses a paper? SEAG still marks the paper they sat: their single paper is still marked and they get results marked "e" for estimateSEAG (Northern Ireland): One paper estimateChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Such pupils will, however, have their “single paper” marked by GL Assessment and will receive a Statement of Outcomes.View the official source. Coleraine handles those cases through its special provision process, described below.

Results come out 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. Our results explained page walks through the Statement of Outcomes, and the SEAG transfer test guide covers the rest.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Night (Year 8 entry) (passed)

    6.30pm to 9.00pm; Headmaster's talk at 6.30pm and 7.30pm

Source: Coleraine 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.

A school that ranks purely by score leaves little room for argument about judgement. An appeal tribunal looks at one thing: The school did not apply, or did not correctly apply, its admissions criteria.Northern Ireland: GroundsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: You can appeal if you think the school did not apply their admissions criteria or did not apply them correctly.View the official source What it is: 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 The form is 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 deadline for September 2027 entry 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. Last year's 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.

If you think a mark was wrong, the right step comes earlier: a SEAG re-mark request between Monday 25 January 2027SEAG (Northern Ireland): Remark opensChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Monday, 25th January 2027View the official source and Wednesday 3 February 2027SEAG (Northern Ireland): Remark closesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Wednesday, 3rd February 2027View the official source. See re-marks.

Most importantly, list other schools you would be happy with. If a school cannot offer a place, the application passes to the next preference, until a place is granted or all preferences are exhausted.Northern Ireland: Next preferenceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: If unsuccessful in gaining a place, your child’s application will be transferred to the next preference school listed on your application. This process continues until either a place is granted by a school or all preferences listed have been exhausted.View the official source

Official documents and sources

6 sources, each kept as an archived copy

ExamKind is independent. We are not connected with Coleraine Grammar School, its council or any test provider, and nobody pays to appear on this page. How we check facts · Report an error on this page