Skip to main content
Search ExamKind
Reading options
Colours
Reading comfort
Background tint

Saved in a cookie on this device only.

Free and independent. No ads, no affiliate links. Every fact shows its source and the date we checked it.

Limavady Grammar School: Year 8 entry

3 Ballyquin Road, Limavady, BT49 9ET

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.

    Checked, source: Limavady Grammar School, checked

  • Year 8 places

    130

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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

Limavady Grammar School in brief

tap a value for its source

Year 8 places
130Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: Admissions Number: 130View the official source2026 entry
The (PAN): how many children the school plans to admit.
Pupils
co-educationalPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: | 3 Ballyquin Road | Boys and Girls |View 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

How places are given

6 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, Limavady 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

    NI residents before non-residents

    The policy's own words
    1 Children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission will be selected for admission
  2. 2

    Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) in strict descending rank order

    The policy's own words
    2 Children who have taken the Entrance Assessment administered by the Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group
  3. 3

    Tie at final place(s), (a): sibling currently enrolled

    The policy's own words
    a) A child with a sibling*1 currently enrolled at the School at date of application
  4. 4

    (b): eldest child in the family

    The policy's own words
    b) A child who is the eldest child*2 in the family
  5. 5

    (c): oldest pupils first by date of birth; same birth date then computer random selection seeded by applicant name

    The policy's own words
    c) Oldest pupils first (established by date of birth as entered on the Register of Births or the Adopted
  6. 6

    If places remain: children not entered for SEAG, using (a)-(c)

    The policy's own words
    If there are still places available after all the children who have been entered for the SEAG Entrance Assessment and

Source: Limavady Grammar School, checked

More detail from our guide

What follows comes from the school's "ADMISSIONS CRITERIA 2026Limavady Grammar School: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: ADMISSIONS CRITERIA 2026View the official source", which was for September 2026 entry. The September 2027 version is Limavady Grammar School: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by Limavady Grammar School; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: For Admission to Year 8 in September 2026 Admissions Criteria 2026 Admissions Criteria 2026 will be available here on 10th December 2025!View the official source. Expect it before the transfer application opens, and read it in full when it does: details can change.

The 2026 rules at a glance:

SituationWhat decided it
Your child has a SEAG scorePlaces allocated in strict rank order of SEAG TSAS; children not entered for SEAG are considered only if places remain after all scored applicants.Limavady Grammar School: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: Places will be allocated in strict rank order of the Age Standardised Scores, starting with the highest score and working in descending rank order.View the official source
Children tie on score for the last place(1) Sibling (child of the family) currently enrolled. (2) Eldest child in the family (incl. only child, joint-eldest multiples). (3) Oldest pupils first by date of birth. (4) Same date of birth: computer-generated random ranking seeded from the applicant's name; lowest numbers admitted.Limavady Grammar School: Tie breakers (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: If two or more pupils are eligible for the final remaining place or places because they have equal Total Age Standardised Scores, then the following sub-criteria shall be applied in the order set down:View the official source
Your child has no SEAG scoreIf places remain after all SEAG-scored applicants (including assigned scores) are considered, criteria (a)-(c) are applied to children not entered for SEAG. Special Provisions (transfer from outside NI, more than half primary education outside NI, unable to sit / sat one paper) lead to an assigned equivalent TSAS.Limavady Grammar School: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: If there are still places available after all the children who have been entered for the SEAG Entrance Assessment and been awarded a Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) by SEAG or a TSAS assigned by the Admissions Committee in accordance with the arrangements for Special Circumstances and Special Provision have been considered, the above Criteria (labelled a-c) shall be applied, in the order set down, to children who have not been entered for the Entrance Assessment administered by SEAG.View the official source
Your form arrived lateApplications after 12 noon 19 February 2026 are late and are considered only once all valid punctual applications are exhausted and places remain; no punctual application can be displaced by a late one.Limavady Grammar School: Late applicationsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: Late applications will not be considered unless and until the total number of valid punctual applications has been exhausted and there still remains unfilled available places within the School. No punctual application can be displaced by a late application.View the official source

Some of these need explaining.

Siblings. The tie-break covers more than brothers and sisters in the usual sense: A sibling ('child of the family', covering fostered, adopted, half-brothers and sisters and orphaned cousins brought up within the family) currently enrolled at the School at the date of application.Limavady Grammar School: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: a) A child with a sibling*1 currently enrolled at the School at date of application (state name(s) and registration group(s) on the Transfer Application);View the official source

Eldest child. Eldest 'child of the family' by date of birth, including only children and twins/multiples as joint eldest; where an older sibling attended a special school, the next eligible child is deemed eldest. Verifier letter required.Limavady Grammar School: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: b) A child who is the eldest child*2 in the family (details to be supplied on the Transfer Application).View the official source

Age, then a computer draw. After the family steps, older children came first. If two children shared a birthday too, the school used this method: Computer programme generates a ranking number per applicant using Transfer Application details (dependent only on the applicant's name) as the random seed; lowest numbers get places.Limavady Grammar School: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: In the event that two or more of the children who have applied have the same dates of birth (as entered on either of the said Registers) a random selection will be applied based on a computer programme.View the official source

No feeder schools, no preference bonus. The 2026 criteria named no primary schools. Putting Limavady first on your form did not give extra priority, and children living in Northern Ireland came before those who did not.

Special circumstances. If illness or a serious event affected your child at test time, the school can look again at the score: SC Form (school website) attached to the Transfer Application with documentary evidence (independent evidence preferred; contemporaneous medical examination given greater weight) and educational evidence (Years 5-7 standardised tests, Year 5-6 end-of-year English/Maths, anonymised class comparison). Committee decides whether to uphold, then whether and by how much to adjust the TSAS. Admissions page notes SC/SP forms are uploaded via the EA portal, not sent to schools.Limavady Grammar School: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: Parents/Guardians who wish to apply, on behalf of their child, to the School under ‘Special Circumstances’ should complete the SC Form obtainable from the School website and attach it, with appropriate documentary evidence, to the Transfer Application.View the official source

Statements of special educational needs. Children with a Statement of SEN are placed outside the normal Open Enrolment procedures (EA advice).Limavady Grammar School: Statement pupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: The procedures for children in receipt of a Statement of Special Educational Needs will operate outside the normal Open Enrolment proceduresView the official source

Waiting list. Waiting list of unsuccessful applicants from the conclusion of the Transfer Process (9 May 2026); new applicants write to the Principal; places filled by applying the Year 8 criteria; separate list after 1 September 2026.Limavady Grammar School: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: A waiting list consisting of applications on behalf of children who have sought admission but have been unsuccessful will operate following the conclusion of the Transfer Process (9 May 2026).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

Limavady Grammar is a SEAG member and one of its test centres. In 2025 it was also one of the places where children could sit the Irish-language version. For September 2027 entry the test is the SEAG Entrance AssessmentLimavady 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.

Before the test, the school holds a SEAG familiarisation day on 17 October 2026Limavady Grammar School: Seag familiarisation dayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady Grammar School.The source says: SEAG Familiarisation Day 17th October, 2026View the official source. That falls a few weeks before Paper 1 (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 Paper 2 (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). A visit beforehand can make a strange building feel ordinary on the morning itself.

Only the TSAS counts at Limavady: SEAG Total Standardised Age Score in strict descending rank order; sub-criteria (a)-(c) only for applicants with equal TSAS competing for the final place(s).Limavady Grammar School: Selection metric (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Limavady 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 applications claiming ‘Special Circumstances’ or ‘Special Provisions’ as defined below.View the official source For a plain guide to the score, see results explained; for the test as a whole, the SEAG transfer test guide.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Night (passed)

Source: Limavady 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.

Should Limavady be unable to offer a place, the EA works down the rest of your list. Alongside that, you may appeal to the EA's independent tribunal. Its ruling is binding, and its question is narrow: 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 With a strict score order and only a few tie-breaks, the main things to check are the TSAS recorded on your form and any sibling or eldest-child claim. Appeals for 2027 entry are due by 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, 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.

Rarely, a family believes their child must attend this school and no other. That claim goes to a different body: the Exceptional Circumstances Body, set up by the Department of Education, considers post-primary claims (Years 8 to 12) that a child must attend one particular school for exceptional reasons, once an ordinary application to that school has been refused. There is no deadline.Northern Ireland: EcbChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: For post-primary admissions decisions, parents can also apply to the independent Exceptional Circumstances Body (ECB) if they believe that there are compelling reasons why their child must go to a particular post-primary school. ... There is no deadline for applications to the ECB.View the official source.

Official documents and sources

5 sources, each kept as an archived copy

ExamKind is independent. We are not connected with Limavady 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