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Dominican College Belfast: Year 8 entry

38 Fortwilliam Park, Belfast BT15 4AQ

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 band: criterion F admits Band 6 applicants if places remain.

    Checked, source: Dominican College Belfast, checked

  • Year 8 places

    150

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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

About these figures

Dominican College has published the lowest grade it admitted each year under the old GL Assessment transfer test, used before SEAG. Those grades come from a different test with a different scale. They cannot be compared with SEAG bands or scores, and they are not a pass mark.

There is no figure for the year the test was cancelled during the Covid pandemic. These are past figures for past cohorts. We have not seen an equivalent published figure for the SEAG years.

At a glance

Dominican College in brief

tap a value for its source

Pupils
girlsPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: Girls GrammarView the official source
Who the school admits.
Year 8 places
150Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: Admission No: 150View 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

The deadline for 2027 has not been published yet. Last year it was 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, and special circumstances forms had to go in with the application.

How places are given

14 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

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

  1. 1

    A: Band 1 (Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group (), or awarded under SP/SC).

    The policy's own words
    A. First preference will be given to those applicants who have attained Band 1 in the SEAG Assessment
  2. 2

    B: Band 2.

    The policy's own words
    B. If places remain after all Band 1 applicants have been admitted, priority will be given to those applicants who have attained Band 2
  3. 3

    C: Band 3.

    The policy's own words
    C. If places remain after all Band 2 applicants have been admitted
  4. 4

    D: Band 4.

    The policy's own words
    D. If places remain after all Band 3 applicants have been admitted
  5. 5

    E: Band 5.

    The policy's own words
    E. If places remain after all Band 4 applicants have been admitted
  6. 6

    F: Band 6.

    The policy's own words
    F. If places remain after all Band 5 applicants have been admitted, applicants who have attained Band 6
  7. 7

    Sub-criterion 1: sibling currently enrolled or already selected this transfer round.

    The policy's own words
    1. Applicants who have a sibling* (see note below) currently enrolled at Dominican College
  8. 8

    Sub-criterion 2: sibling previously enrolled.

    The policy's own words
    2. Applicants who had a sibling* (see note below) previously enrolled at Dominican College.
  9. 9

    Sub-criterion 3: eldest girl of the family.

    The policy's own words
    3. Applicants who are the eldest girl of the family to be eligible to apply for admission to Dominican College.
  10. 10

    Sub-criterion 4: entitled to Free School Meals.

    The policy's own words
    4. Applicants who are entitled to Free School Meals**
  11. 11

    Sub-criterion 5: Child Looked After.

    The policy's own words
    5. Applicants who are a Child Looked After.***
  12. 12

    Sub-criterion 6: enrolled at a listed feeder primary school.

    The policy's own words
    6. Applicants who are enrolled at the following feeder primary schools
  13. 13

    Sub-criterion 7: date of birth, oldest first.

    The policy's own words
    7. If after consideration of the above criteria there remain more applicants than places available, places will be allocated by date of birth
  14. 14

    Sub-criterion 8: surname then forename letters in a randomly determined order.

    The policy's own words
    8. If after consideration of the above criteria, there remain more applicants than places available, places will be allocated on the basis of the initial and subsequent letters of the applicant’s surname

Source: Dominican College Belfast, checked

More detail from our guide

Please read this section as a guide to how the school works, not as this year's rules. It is drawn from the Admissions Criteria for entry September 2026Dominican College: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: Admissions Criteria for entry September 2026View the official source. Criteria for September 2027 entry are Dominican College: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by Dominican College Belfast; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: TRANSFER TO YEAR 8 SEPTEMBER 2026View the official source, and they can change.

Bands, then sub-criteria

The full 2026 order: (1) A: Band 1 (SEAG, or awarded under SP/SC). (2) B: Band 2. (3) C: Band 3. (4) D: Band 4. (5) E: Band 5. (6) F: Band 6. (7) Sub-criterion 1: sibling currently enrolled or already selected this transfer round. (8) Sub-criterion 2: sibling previously enrolled. (9) Sub-criterion 3: eldest girl of the family. (10) Sub-criterion 4: entitled to Free School Meals. (11) Sub-criterion 5: Child Looked After. (12) Sub-criterion 6: enrolled at a listed feeder primary school. (13) Sub-criterion 7: date of birth, oldest first. (14) Sub-criterion 8: surname then forename letters in a randomly determined order.Dominican College: Oversubscription criteria (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: The Board of Governors will apply the following criteria for admissions in September 2026, in order of priority as set down below. If after the application of a criterion, there remain more applicants than places available, the next criterion is applied.View the official source

All girls in a band are admitted if there is room. When a band has more applicants than places left, the sub-criteria are used in turn, and girls who meet a sub-criterion go ahead of those who do not. Girls living in Northern Ireland are selected before those who are not.

The sub-criteria, explained

  • Sisters. Sub-criterion 1: sibling currently enrolled or already selected under the current transfer procedure; sub-criterion 2: sibling previously enrolled. 'Sibling' = 'child of the family' as defined by DE in circular 2025/12.Dominican College: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: 1. Applicants who have a sibling* (see note below) currently enrolled at Dominican College, or a sibling who has already been selected under the current transfer procedure. [...] *A “sibling” is regarded as a “child of the family”, as defined by DE in circular 2025/12.View the official source A sister who has left still helps, but less than one at the school now.
  • Eldest girl. Sub-criterion 3: eldest girl of the family eligible to apply; covers only children; twins/multiples joint eldest; verifying letter required (primary principal, family doctor or clergy); a girl whose elder sibling applied but did not gain entry is treated as eldest.Dominican College: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: 3. Applicants who are the eldest girl of the family to be eligible to apply for admission to Dominican College. This criterion covers only children, and the Board of Governors will treat twins or other multiples as joint eldest.View the official source
  • Free school meals. This comes after the sister and eldest-girl rules. There is no reserved share of places.
  • Looked-after children come next.
  • Feeder primary schools. Girls from a listed primary school come after the groups above. The list is long; it is in the table below.
  • Age. The older girl goes first.
  • Final tie-break. Names are used. Girls are ordered by the letters of their surname, then forename, following an alphabet order that a computer shuffled at random in advance. The exact letter order is in the table below.
Feeder schools and tie-break, September 2026 entry
From the criteriaSub-criterion 6: enrolled at a listed feeder primary school (no priority between schools). Named schools: Abbots Cross P.S, Holy Cross Girls P.S, St James P.S, Acorn Integrated P.S, Holy Family P.S, St John the Baptist P.S, Antrim P.S, Holy Rosary P.S, St Joseph's Holland Drive, Ashgrove P.S, Holy Trinity P.S, St Joseph's P.S (Antrim), Ballyhenry P.S, John Paul II PS (Belfast), St Joseph's P.S (Belfast), Ballyholme P.S., Ligoniel P.S, St Joseph's P.S (Crumlin), Ballymacrickett P.S, Lowwood P.S, St Joseph's P.S (Lisburn), Ballymacward P.S, Mallusk Integrated, St Kevin's P.S, Ballysillan P.S, Mercy P.S, St Macnissi's P.S, Ben Madigan Prep., Mossgrove P.S, St Malachy's P.S, Bunscoil an Tsleibhe Dhuibh (Belfast), Mossley P.S., St Mary's On The Hil P.S, Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain, Mount St Michael P.S, St Mary's P.S (Belfast), Bunscoil Phobal Feirste, Oakwood Integrated P.S, St Mary's P.S (Kircubbin), Carrs Glen P.S, Our Lady of Lourdes P.S, St Mary's Star of the Sea P.S, Cavehill P.S, Our Lady Queen of Peace, St Matthew's P.S, Christ the Redeemer P.S, Our Lady's Girls (St Columban’s) PS, St Michael's P.S, Cliftonville Integrated P.S, Scoil An Drochid, St Nicholas' P.S, Crumlin Integrated P.S, Scoil Na Fuiseoige, St Oliver Plunkett P.S, Elmgrove PS (Belfast), Seaview PS, St Patrick's P.S, Euston Street P.S., Springfield PS (Belfast), St Patrick's P.S (Ballynahinch), Fairview P.S (Ballyclare), St Anne's P.S, St Paul's P.S, Gaelscoil Eanna, St Bernards P.S (Belfast), St Peter's P.S, Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach (Crumlin), St Bernard's P.S (Glengormley), St Teresa's P.S, Gaelscoil Na Bhfal, St Bride's P.S, St Therese of Lisieux P.S, Glengormley Integrated P.S, St Clare's P.S, St Vincent de Paul P.S, Greenisland P.S, St Colman's (Lambeg), Templepatrick P.S, Hazelwood Integrated P.S, St Colman's P.S (Dromore), Whiteabbey P.S, Holy Child P.S, St Comgall's P.S, Whitehead P.SDominican College: Feeder criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: 6. Applicants who are enrolled at the following feeder primary schools (no priority will be given to any particular school);View the official source
Name-order tie-breakInitial and subsequent letters of surname then forename(s) in the order T H Q L W E U I J B G N S F Z D K C A P M R X O Y V, determined by random computerised selection.Dominican College: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: places will be allocated on the basis of the initial and subsequent letters of the applicant’s surname followed by the initial and subsequent letters of the applicant’s forename(s) (as entered on the birth certificate). This letter order was determined by random computerised selection and verified by the Board of Governors.View the official source

Other situations

  • Special circumstances. SC Form (from the College or website) plus independent documentary evidence uploaded with the Transfer Application to the EA portal by Thursday 19 February 2026; KS2 standardised scores (CAT4 Verbal/Quantitative and/or PTE/PTM SAS) verified by the primary principal required; Board converts results to a Band equivalent under its SC Protocol.Dominican College: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: The SC Form, together with the independent documentary evidence which corroborates the claim for Special Circumstances, must be uploaded with the ... Transfer Application to the Portal on the EA website, by Thursday 19 February 2026.View the official source
  • No SEAG band. Through Special Provisions only: pupils with more than half their primary education outside NI, transferring from outside NI, or unable to sit / sat only one paper for serious medical or other (documented) reasons; the Board may require an assessment and assigns a Band equivalent. Categories 1 and 2 need not sit SEAG.Dominican College: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: Applicants in categories 1 & 2, who wish to apply under Special Provisions do not need to take the SEAG Entrance Assessment or the supplementary assessment unless their parents/guardians so wish, in which case the SEAG Entrance Assessment Band obtained would also be considered.View the official source
  • Waiting list. Unsuccessful applicants placed automatically on the waiting list; vacancies after 9 May 2026 filled by applying the published criteria; list kept until 30 June 2027.Dominican College: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: The names of all unsuccessful applicants will be automatically placed on the waiting list. [...] This waiting list will be in place 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

Girls applying to Dominican College sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment in P7: Paper 1 on 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, Paper 2 on 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. Both papers mix English (or Irish) and maths.

SEAG reports a score and a band. Dominican College uses the band. In its 2026 criteria: All applicants ranked by SEAG Band (or a Band awarded under Special Provisions/Special Circumstances), Bands 1 to 6.Dominican College: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: Applicants will be ranked in order of the Band attained in the SEAG Assessment, the Band awarded under Special Provisions, or the Band awarded under Special Circumstances, namely 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.View the official source SEAG's bands are set by percentile: Band 1: 60th percentile or higher; Band 2: 50th to 59th; Band 3: 40th to 49th; Band 4: 30th to 39th; Band 5: 20th to 29th; Band 6: below the 20thNorthern Ireland: Band percentilesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Band 1 60% or higher ... Band 2 50-59% ... Band 3 40-49% ... Band 4 30-39% ... Band 5 20-29% ... Band 6 less than 20%View the official source.

Because a band covers a range of scores, a girl near the top of Band 2 and one near the bottom are treated the same here. There is no cut-off band either: No minimum band: criterion F admits Band 6 applicants if places remain.Dominican College: Entrance threshold (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: F. If places remain after all Band 5 applicants have been admitted, applicants who have attained Band 6 in the SEAG Assessment or have been awarded Band 6 under Special Provisions or have been awarded Band 6 under Special Circumstances will be admitted.View the official source

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. You then complete the transfer application: Online Transfer Application via the Portal on the EA website, stating the SEAG Band and uploading the results statement.Dominican College: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Dominican College Belfast.The source says: Parents/Guardians must state the BAND achieved on the online Transfer Application and must upload a ... copy of the statement of results which they will receive on Saturday 24 January 2026, to the Portal on the EA website.View the official source For background, see our SEAG transfer test guide and results explained.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Day (passed)

    9.30am – 1.00pm (Principal’s address at 9.30am and 11.00am)

Source: Dominican College Belfast, 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 Dominican College is full in your daughter's band, the EA moves your application on to your next listed school. This is why nidirect advises families to list at least four schools, including a non-grammarNorthern Ireland transfer: PreferencesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: You should send your child’s application via the online portal, listing at least four schools, including a non-grammar school.View the official source.

You can also appeal, on 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. About the tribunal: 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 To win, you must show both of these: 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. The deadline for 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; 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.

The Exceptional Circumstances Body is separate. It only deals with claims that a child must attend one named school, and it rules out some reasons from the start: type of education provided at a school; a child's academic ability; availability of transport to a schoolNorthern Ireland: Ecb not exceptionalChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The ECB may not find the following circumstances exceptional: ... type of education provided at a school ... a child’s academic ability ... availability of transport to a schoolView the official source.

Official documents and sources

6 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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