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Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Year 8 entry

120 Gilnahirk Road, Belfast, BT5 7DL

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 or score stated; criteria run Band 1 to Band 6 then 'G Other applicants.'

    Checked, source: Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock, checked

  • Year 8 places

    190

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

    Checked, source: Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock, 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. Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock'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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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

Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock in brief

tap a value for its source

Year 8 places
190Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: ADMISSIONS NO: 190View the official source2026 entry
The (PAN): how many children the school plans to admit.
Pupils
co-educationalPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock is a Catholic, co-educational, selective voluntary grammar school under the trusteeship of the Diocese of Down and Connor.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

Notes on these dates

Knock's 2026 criteria also set a last point for late forms and papers. Final date/time for new applications or supporting documentation: Tuesday 24 February 2026, 4pm.Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Late applicationsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: The final date/time for receipt of new applications/documentation in support of applications is Tuesday, 24 February 2026, not later than 4pm.View the official source Look for the matching date in the 2027 criteria when they appear.

How places are given

14 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock gives places using these rules (its ), in this order (the 2026 rules; the rules for 2027 entry are not published yet).

  1. 1

    A: Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () Band 1 (and Special Circumstances/Provisions applicants judged comparable to Band 1)

    The policy's own words
    A Applicants who have been awarded Band 1 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  2. 2

    B: Band 2 (and comparable SC/SP applicants)

    The policy's own words
    B Applicants who have been awarded Band 2 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  3. 3

    C: Band 3 (and comparable SC/SP applicants)

    The policy's own words
    C Applicants who have been awarded Band 3 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  4. 4

    D: Band 4 (and comparable SC/SP applicants)

    The policy's own words
    D Applicants who have been awarded Band 4 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  5. 5

    E: Band 5 (and comparable SC/SP applicants)

    The policy's own words
    E Applicants who have been awarded Band 5 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  6. 6

    F: Band 6 (and comparable SC/SP applicants)

    The policy's own words
    F Applicants who have been awarded Band 6 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  7. 7

    G: Other applicants

    The policy's own words
    G Other applicants.
  8. 8

    Sub-criterion H1: child of the family currently/previously at the College or accepted for 2026/27

    The policy's own words
    H1 Applicants who, at the date of their application, have a child of the family currently/previously enrolled at the College
  9. 9

    H2: eldest or only child (or eldest-sibling variants)

    The policy's own words
    H2 Applicants: | (i) | who are the eldest* or only child of the family; or |
  10. 10

    H3: entitled to Free School Meals

    The policy's own words
    H3 Applicants who are entitled to Free School Meals (FSME).
  11. 11

    H4: Knock is the nearest Catholic grammar school to home (overland distance)

    The policy's own words
    H4 Applicants for whom Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock is the nearest Catholic grammar school, based on distance, from their permanent place of residence.
  12. 12

    H5: highest Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) ranked first

    The policy's own words
    H5 Applicants who have achieved the highest Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  13. 13

    H6: equal TSAS for final place(s): initial letter of surname in randomised order

    The policy's own words
    H6 If there are applicants who have the same SEAG Entrance Assessment Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS)
  14. 14

    H7: subsequent surname letters, then forename alphabetical order, then eldest by date of birth; then randomised computer selection

    The policy's own words
    H7 In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter, the subsequent letters of the surname will be used in the order set out above.

Source: Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock, checked

More detail from our guide

The rules below are from "Admissions criteria for entry September 2026Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: Admissions criteria for entry September 2026View the official source". That is last year's document. Knock's criteria for September 2027 entry are Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: 1. The EA portal will be open from 12 noon Tuesday, 27th January 2026 and will close at 12 noon Thursday, 19th February 2026. - September 2026 Year 8 Admissions CriteriaView the official source, and the board of governors can change them from year to year. Read this as a picture of how the college has worked, not as this year's rules.

Bands come first

The 2026 summary reads: Places allocated by SEAG Band order (Band 1 to Band 6, criteria A-F), then 'Other applicants' (G); within an oversubscribed category, subsidiary criteria H1-H7 apply.Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: The Board of Governors has determined that the educational outcomes from the SEAG Entrance Assessment will be used to admit applicants [see criteria A to F and subsidiary criteria H1 to H7].View the official source

Put simply, every Band 1 applicant is looked at before any Band 2 applicant, and so on down to Band 6. Children with no SEAG result sit in group G, after all six bands. Was there a cut-off band? No minimum band or score stated; criteria run Band 1 to Band 6 then 'G Other applicants.'Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Entrance threshold (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: F Applicants who have been awarded Band 6 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment ... G Other applicants.View the official source

A few rules sat around the bands. Children living in Northern Ireland were taken before those who were not. Special circumstances claims were dealt with first and placed in a band. The order in which you list schools on the transfer application made no difference. The college's own wording: Pupils resident in Northern Ireland selected before non-residents; Special Circumstances/Special Provisions claims considered first; Order of preference on the Transfer Application not used; Nearest Catholic grammar school to permanent residence, measured overland by nidirect Distance Measurement Tool (H4, verification certificate); Highest TSAS (H5); Initial letter(s) of surname in a randomised order (H6/H7), then forenames, then eldest by date of birthOur Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Other criteria (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: H4 Applicants for whom Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock is the nearest Catholic grammar school, based on distance, from their permanent place of residence. Distances will be measured overland using grid references provided by nidirect - Distance Measurement Tool.View the official source

When a band has more children than places

The H rules are used in turn, only inside the band (or group G) that is oversubscribed:

  • H1, family at the college. A child of the family currently or previously enrolled at the College, or already accepted for admission in 2026/27 ('child of the family' per DE guidance). Former pupils count.Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: H1 Applicants who, at the date of their application, have a child of the family currently/previously enrolled at the College or already accepted for admission in the coming year (2026/27). Name and year group of present pupil and name/maiden name and dates of attendance of former pupil must be provided. ["Child of the family" will be defined in accordance with Department of Education guidance.]View the official source
  • H2, eldest or only child. The definition is wider than it sounds. H2: eldest or only child; or whose sibling is an eldest child who achieved PPTC grade A (2009-2022) or SEAG Band 1 (2023-2024), applied and was not selected; or where every older sibling did not achieve a top grade/band. Twins etc. first born count as eldest. H2 Verification Certificate required.Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: H2 Applicants: [...] (i) [...] who are the eldest* or only child of the family; or ... (ii) [...] whose sibling** is an eldest child who achieved a grade A in the PPTC GL Assessment (2009-2022) or ... a Band 1 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment (2023-2024) and applied to the College. [...] (iii) where every older sibling of the applicant did not achieve a top grade/band in the Entrance Assessment used by the College to determine Year 8 admissions (PPTC 2009-2022; SEAG 2023-2024).View the official source
  • H3, free school meals. There was no quota of FSME places. Entitlement only helped inside a full band.
  • H4, nearest Catholic grammar. Knock had to be the closest Catholic grammar school to the child's home, measured over land with the nidirect tool. A signed verification certificate was needed.
  • H5, TSAS. Higher scores before lower ones.
  • H6 and H7, surnames. Initial letters of surnames in a random order, then later letters, forenames and date of birth.

If children were still level after all that: After H1-H7 (including surname letter order and eldest by date of birth), remaining ties are resolved by randomised computer selection.Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: Where, after this process has been applied, any applicants continue to tie for a final place, places will be allocated by randomised computer selection.View the official source

Illness, missed papers and no result

A child whose test was affected by illness or another serious problem can claim special circumstances. Last year's process: Special Circumstances (medical or other problem affecting SEAG performance) claimed on the SC Form with documentary and educational evidence, uploaded with the Transfer Application on the EA portal; three-stage consideration by the Admissions Committee, which may award a mark up to the top of the confidence band. Guides and forms are linked on the Year 8 Admissions page. SC/SP applicants are considered first.Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: Special Circumstances refer to the claim that a child experienced a medical or other problem which may have affected his/her performance in the SEAG Entrance Assessment. Special Circumstances must be outlined on Claim for Special Circumstances (SC Form) and supported by documentary evidence of a medical, educational or other appropriate nature. Documentary evidence must be submitted with the Transfer Application and SC Form on the Education Authority’s online Portal - EA Post Primary Applications.View the official source

For children with no result at all: Applicants without a SEAG result fall under 'G Other applicants', after Bands 1-6. Those unable to sit (or who sat only one paper) for a documented serious medical or demonstrably valid reason, or educated mostly outside NI, may claim Special Provisions; the Admissions Committee then sets an equivalent Band and TSAS.Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: 3. due to a serious medical issue supported by appropriate documentary evidence or for a demonstrably valid reason also supported by appropriate documentary evidence, was either unable to sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment OR has estimated Outcomes from SEAG because they sat only one of the two Entrance Assessment Papers. ... The Admissions Committee will then determine, based on the information available, an appropriate Band and TSAS equivalent for the applicant.View the official source

After allocation

Knock keeps a waiting list. For 2026 entry: Year 8 places arising after 1 September 2026 offered to unselected applicants under the same criteria; waiting list kept until 30 June 2027; names added automatically.Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: In the event of a place becoming available in Year 8 after 1 September 2026, the above criteria will be applied to any unselected applicants. The College maintains a waiting list for those seeking a place in Year 8 which will be in place until 30 June 2027. Your child’s name will be automatically added to the list.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

Children hoping to join Knock in September 2027 sit the SEAG Entrance AssessmentOur Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: 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. That means 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, written 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. Paper 1 is 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 and Paper 2 a week later, 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.

The college is also a test centre. Choosing it as your centre does not help or hurt an application: Where a child sits the test has no connection with admissions; a child may apply to any SEAG school.Northern Ireland: Centre does not affect applicationChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: There is no connection between where a pupil sits the SEAG Entrance Assessment and the Post Primary Admissions Process. ... Irrespective of where your child sits the SEAG Entrance Assessment, you may apply for a Year 8 place in any of the SEAG schools.View the official source

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. Your child's statement gives a Total Standardised Age Score (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) and a band. At Knock the band carries the weight. The exact TSAS is only looked at much later, as tie-break H5, to sort children who are in the same band.

When you complete the EA transfer application, the college asks for the result to be entered and evidence uploaded. Its advice last year: Enter your child's SEAG Band and score on the Transfer Application and upload the results statement. For eldest-child (H2) or nearest-Catholic-grammar (H4) claims, upload a verification certificate signed by a principal, elected representative, doctor, lawyer or cleric who has known you 2+ years.Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock: Transfer application adviceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock.The source says: Parents/Guardians must enter the applicant’s Band and Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) from the SEAG Entrance Assessment and upload a copy of the applicant’s statement of results with the Transfer Application. ... The H2 Verification Certificate should be completed and uploaded with the Transfer Application. It must be signed by one of the following who knows the applicant and family for at least two years and is not a member of the applicant’s family. ... The completed H4 Verification Certificate, uploaded with the Transfer Application, must be signed by one of the verifiers as stated in H2.View the official source

For more on the papers and the two scores, 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 (2026 entry cycle) (passed)

    9.00am to 12.30pm; Principal's address 9.00am and 11.00am

Source: Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock, 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.

How the Education Authority handles this: 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

You can still appeal Knock's decision. Appeals go to an independent body: 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 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. The ground for appeal 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 On evidence: Only the evidence the board of governors had when it offered places; the tribunal does not challenge the criteria.Northern Ireland: Evidence limitChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The tribunal considers the evidence available to the school's board of governors when they offered school places to children. The tribunal cannot take into account any additional information that wasn't available to the board of governors when they offered places. The tribunal doesn't challenge a school's admissions criteria.View the official source In practice, a tribunal checks whether Knock applied its bands and H rules correctly to your child. It does not re-mark the test.

The appeal 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.

There is also a separate route for a child who must attend one particular school: 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

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