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Rathmore Grammar School: Year 8 entry

Kingsway Finaghy, Belfast, BT10 0LF

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; places filled Band by Band until all places are filled.

    Checked, source: Rathmore Grammar School, checked

  • Year 8 places

    180

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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

Rathmore Grammar School in brief

tap a value for its source

Year 8 places
180Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: Applicants will be admitted in rank order up to the maximum order of the school’s admissions number (180).View 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 EA has not yet set its 2027 deadline. Last year the route was: Online Transfer Application via the EA online portal (opens Tuesday 27 January 2026 12 noon, closes Thursday 19 February 2026 12 noon), uploading SEAG Statement of Outcomes and the Admissions Criteria ChecklistRathmore Grammar School: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: The EA online portal closes for Year 8 post-primary applications on Thursday 19 February 2026 at 12 noon. ... The application procedure opens on Tuesday 27 January 2026 at 12 noonView the official source. Rathmore considered late forms after punctual ones: Punctual applications considered before late ones; applications after 12 noon 19 February 2026 and up to 4.00 pm 24 February 2026 treated as late.Rathmore Grammar School: Late applicationsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: During the admissions procedure when applying the criteria, punctual applications will be considered before late applications are considered. ... An application received after 12 noon on 19 February 2026 and up to 4.00 pm on 24 February 2026 will be treated as a late application.View the official source

How places are given

4 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, Rathmore 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

    Within Band 1 (then each subsequent Band): applicant has a child of the family currently or previously enrolled at the School

    The policy's own words
    (i) applicants who, at the date of their application, have a child of the family currently or
  2. 2

    Parent is a member of the permanent staff of the School

    The policy's own words
    (ii) applicants whose parent is a member of the permanent staff of the School.
  3. 3

    Eldest or only child of the family to achieve Band 1 (no siblings with GL Grade A), or brother/sister of an eldest child who achieved Band 1/Grade A and applied but was not selected; Certificate of Verification required; ranked by combined SAS if oversubscribed

    The policy's own words
    (iii) applicants who are the eldest* child of the family to have achieved a Band 1 or the only child of
  4. 4

    All other applicants not in groups (i) to (iii); ranked by combined SAS if oversubscribed

    The policy's own words
    (iv) applicants who are not allocated to any of the groups (i) to (iii) above.

Source: Rathmore Grammar School, checked

More detail from our guide

Rathmore's most recent criteria are its ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR ENTRY OF PUPILS TO YEAR 8 September 2026Rathmore Grammar School: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR ENTRY OF PUPILS TO YEAR 8 September 2026View the official source. They are for September 2026 entry, the year just gone. New criteria for September 2027 are Rathmore Grammar School: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by Rathmore Grammar School; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: 2026-2027 ... Admissions Criteria (Year 8)View the official source and may differ.

Band by band

All Band 1 applicants are dealt with first. If places remain, Band 2 goes through the same steps, then Band 3, and so on. The school's summary: Band 1 applicants are processed first through criteria (i)-(iv); within criteria (iii) and (iv) applicants are ranked by combined Standardised Age Score; then Band 2 and each subsequent Band in turn until all places are filled.Rathmore Grammar School: Selection metric (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: Groups of Applicants with a Band 1: ... If all places are not filled by applicants with a Band 1, the same process will be applied to applicants with a Band 2 and then to each subsequent Band in turn until all places are filled.View the official source

The groups inside each band

The 2026 order was: (1) Within Band 1 (then each subsequent Band): applicant has a child of the family currently or previously enrolled at the School. (2) Parent is a member of the permanent staff of the School. (3) Eldest or only child of the family to achieve Band 1 (no siblings with GL Grade A), or brother/sister of an eldest child who achieved Band 1/Grade A and applied but was not selected; Certificate of Verification required; ranked by combined SAS if oversubscribed. (4) All other applicants not in groups (i) to (iii); ranked by combined SAS if oversubscribed.Rathmore Grammar School: Oversubscription criteria (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: In order to determine which pupils will be accepted into Year 8, the following criteria will be applied in the order set down: Groups of Applicants with a Band 1:View the official source

In plainer words:

  • Brothers and sisters, past or present. The first group is for a child with a brother or sister at Rathmore now, or one who went there in the past. A sibling who has already left still counts. The form asks for names and years.
  • Staff children. The second group covers an applicant whose parent is on the school's permanent staff.
  • The eldest child. Criterion (iii): eldest child of the family to achieve a Band 1 (or only child to achieve Band 1) with no siblings who achieved GL grade A; or brother/sister of an eldest child who achieved SEAG Band 1 or GL grade A and applied but was not selected. Certificate of Verification required. Twins/multiples who are eldest are joint eldest.Rathmore Grammar School: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: (iii) | applicants who are the eldest* child of the family to have achieved a Band 1 or the only child of | ... the family to have achieved a Band 1 and have no siblings who achieved a grade A in the GL transfer or, whose brother or sister is an eldest child who achieved a SEAG Band 1 or a grade A in the GL transfer and applied to the School but was not selected. (Certificate of Verification must be provided.)View the official source The "GL grade A" mentioned here comes from the older GL test used before SEAG, a different test with a different scale.
  • Everyone else in the band, ranked by score.

When two children have the same score at the point where places run out, the tie-breaks for 2026 were free school meals entitlement first, then this: Computer-based process which makes use of applicants' names as shown on their online Transfer Application (not described as random).Rathmore Grammar School: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: the remaining applicants will be ranked for acceptance on the basis of a computer– | ... based process which will make use of the names of applicants as shown on their online Transfer Application.View the official source

Paperwork that matters here

Rathmore relies on forms you upload. The school's advice for 2026: Upload SEAG Statement of Outcomes, the Year 8 Admissions Criteria Checklist 2026, and (for criterion iii) the Certificate of Verification with the online Transfer Application.Rathmore Grammar School: Transfer application adviceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: All parents must complete and upload a copy of the ‘Year 8 Admissions Criteria Checklist 2026’ with their online Transfer Application.View the official source A child is not placed in the eldest-child group without the Certificate of Verification.

Special circumstances and special provisions. Considered first. Form SC (in the Special Circumstances pack from the school/website) plus independent, verifiable documentary evidence must be uploaded with the online Transfer Application (closing 19 February 2026, 12 noon). Only for applicants who sat both SEAG papers. Committee may assign equivalent TSAS/Band; not automatic admission. Separate Special Provisions route (Form SP).Rathmore Grammar School: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: Any parent/guardian claiming Special Circumstances must complete Form SC which is included in the Special Circumstances pack available from Rathmore Grammar School or its website. The completed form, together with the independent, verifiable documentary evidence which corroborates the Special Circumstances claim, must be uploaded with the online Transfer Application. ... Special Circumstances should be claimed only for applicants who sat both SEAG papersView the official source

No SEAG band. Only applicants with a SEAG Band (or a Band assigned under Special Circumstances/Special Provisions) are initially considered. Special Provisions cover applicants transferring from outside NI, those with more than half their primary education outside NI, and those unable to sit both papers or with an estimated outcome from sitting only one paper; categories (a) and (b) need not sit SEAG. A Special Provisions Assessment in school may be required. NI residents are selected before non-residents.Rathmore Grammar School: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: Special Provisions may be made by the Admissions Committee for applicants: a) who are transferring from primary schools outside Northern Ireland; b) who have received more than half of their primary education outside Northern Ireland; c) who, due to a serious medical or other problem, supported by appropriate documentary evidence, or for a demonstrably valid reason, also supported by appropriate documentary evidence, were either unable to sit both the SEAG Entrance Assessment papers OR have an estimated outcome from SEAG because they only sat one of the two Entrance Assessment papers. ... Applicants in categories (a) and (b) above who wish to apply under Special Provisions do not need to take the SEAG Assessment unless their parents/guardians so wishView the official source

Statement of special educational needs. Applicants with a Statement of SEN are handled by the EA separately and are supernumerary.Rathmore Grammar School: Statement pupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: Applicants who have a Statement of Special Educational Needs will have their applications dealt with by the Education Authority under separate arrangements and are supernumerary to the school’s admissions and enrolment numbers.View the official source Supernumerary means these places sit on top of the admissions number.

After the main round. Vacancies after 11 May 2026: refused, new and updated applications treated equally under the published criteria; list in place until 30 June 2027; names added automatically.Rathmore Grammar School: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: Should a vacancy arise after 11 May 2026 all applications for admission to Year 8 that were initially refused, new applications and applications where new information has been provided will be treated equally and the published criteria applied. 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

Rathmore takes part in the SEAG Entrance Assessment, the shared test for schools that select by ability. Your child sits 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 and 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. Each paper covers English (or Irish) and maths.

The Statement of Outcomes gives two things Rathmore uses. The first is the band: Band 1 = top 40%; Bands 2–5 = 10% each; Band 6 = below the 20th percentileSEAG (Northern Ireland): BandsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Outcomes are also given as one of six Bands. [...] 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% [...] Pupils in Band 1 will be in the top 40% of those who sat the Assessment. Bands 2-5 will each contain 10% of the total cohort.View the official source. The second is the score, which the school calls the combined Standardised Age Score; SEAG calls it the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS). The band decides which group your child is in. The score only matters inside that group.

In the school's 2026 terms: Only applicants with a SEAG Band (awarded, or assigned via Special Circumstances/Special Provisions) are initially considered; pupils admitted on Band and TSAS.Rathmore Grammar School: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: Rathmore Grammar School will initially consider only those applicants who have taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment and who have been awarded a Band or assigned a Band pursuant to the application of the Special Circumstances or Special Provisions procedures and will admit pupils based on the Band achieved and the Total Standardised Score, TSAS, in the assessment or otherwise awarded.View the official source And there is no minimum: No minimum Band or score stated; places filled Band by Band until all places are filled.Rathmore Grammar School: Entrance threshold (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: If all places are not filled by applicants with a Band 1, the same process will be applied to applicants with a Band 2 and then to each subsequent Band in turn until all places are filled.View the official source

For more on bands and scores, read results explained or our full SEAG transfer test guide.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

Not published yet

We have not found confirmed open day dates for Rathmore in the school's published documents. Check https://www.rathmoregrammarschool.org/Rathmore Grammar School: WebsiteChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Rathmore Grammar School.The source says: The Year 8 Admissions Criteria Checklist is available from the school website (www.rathmoregrammarschool.org).View the official source or phone the school, and we will add dates here once they are published.

If you are refused a place

Reviews, appeals and the waiting list

General information, not legal advice.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Rathmore can only work with what is on your form: A school uses only the information on the child's Transfer application when applying its criteria.Northern Ireland: Only form info usedChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: When considering your child’s application, a post-primary school only uses information on your child’s Transfer application.View the official source A missing certificate or checklist can change which group your child is placed in, so check the upload before the deadline.

If your child is not offered a place, the EA passes your application to your next preference. You may also appeal 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. An appeal can succeed only on this ground: 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 Its limits: 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

The 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; 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.

The Exceptional Circumstances Body is a different route for a child who must attend one named school. Its questions: are the circumstances claimed exceptional; are they personal to the child; do they require admission to the named school, and only that schoolNorthern Ireland: Ecb testsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: are the circumstances that are claimed exceptional ... are the circumstances that are claimed personal to the child ... do the circumstances that are claimed require the child’s admission to the named school, and only that schoolView the official source.

Official documents and sources

3 sources, each kept as an archived copy

ExamKind is independent. We are not connected with Rathmore 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