- Grammar school for boys and girls
- Northern Ireland 11+
Royal School Dungannon: Year 8 entry
2 Ranfurly Road, Dungannon BT71 6EG
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; rank order to the admissions number.
Checked, source: Royal School Dungannon, checkedYear 8 places
100
2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()Opens a short explanationPANPublished Admission NumberThe number of places a school offers in its first year group, for example Year 7. The admission authority sets it each year in the school’s admission policy.
Checked, source: Royal School Dungannon, checked- Not publishedWe have no checked figure for how far offers reached.
Last distance offered
Your next deadlines
Next: Re-mark requests close
in about 15 weeks
Only if you want the test papers marked again
Coming up: Appeal deadline
in about 30 weeks
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. The Royal School Dungannon'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.
Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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
The Royal School Dungannon in brief
tap a value for its source
- Year 8 places
- 100Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says:
Approved Admissions Number for 2026: 100
View the official source2026 entry - The (PAN): how many children the school plans to admit.
- Pupils
- co-educationalPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says:
Voluntary Grammar Non-Denominational ... 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.
SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group)
3 earlier steps, all doneShow
Done: Test registration opens
Done: Test registration closes
Done: Admission cards sent for the test
Next: Test day
Coming up: Transfer test, paper 1
Coming up: Transfer test, paper 2
Coming up: Results
Coming up: Re-mark requests open
Coming up: Re-mark requests close
in about 15 weeks
Only if you want the test papers marked again
Not published yet: Transfer application deadline (to the Education Authority)
Not yet published, checked 17 Oct 2026
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.
Not published yet: Test day
Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026
Not published yet: Results
Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026
Not published yet: Appeal deadline
Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026
Not published yet: Transfer application deadline (to the Education Authority)
Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026
Notes on these dates
Last year's application route, for comparison: Online Transfer Application to the Education Authority (opened 12 noon 27 January 2026; punctual by 12 noon 19 February 2026; late until 4.00 pm 24 February 2026); boarding applications made direct to the school.The Royal School Dungannon: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: All boarding applications should be made direct to the School, [...] The application procedure opens on 27 January 2026 at 12 noon (GMT) and an application submitted by the closing date of 19 February 2026 at 12 noon (GMT) will be marked as a punctual application.
View the official source
How places are given
7 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry
If more children qualify than there are places, The Royal School Dungannon gives places using these rules (its Opens a short explanationoversubscription criteriaThe rules a school uses, in order, to decide who gets a place when more children apply than there are places. For example: children in care first, then brothers and sisters of pupils, then distance from home.), in this order (the 2026 rules; the rules for 2027 entry are not published yet).
- 1
Criterion 1: up to 8 boarding places, on evidence of suitability for grammar school education in a boarding environment.
The policy's own words
1. Up to a maximum of 8 boarding places will be allocated from the admissions total of 100.
- 2
Criterion 2: remaining places by rank order of Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group ()Opens a short explanationSEAGSchools’ Entrance Assessment GroupThe not-for-profit group that runs the transfer test for selective schools in Northern Ireland. Children in Primary 7 (P7) sit two papers, English (or Irish) and maths, set and marked by GL Assessment. score (or SC/SP-awarded score); ties at last place resolved by criterion 4.
The policy's own words
2. The remaining places from the Admissions total of 100 will be allocated to pupils on the basis of the rank order of their respective scores in the Entrance Assessment
- 3
Criterion 3: if places remain, pupils who did not take the Entrance Assessment, using criterion 4 if oversubscribed.
The policy's own words
3. If, following the application of Admissions Criteria 1 and 2, all the available places have not been filled then the School will consider for admission any pupils who have not taken the Entrance Assessment.
- 4
4(i): child of the family attending/previously attended, or eldest child eligible.
The policy's own words
(i) Pupils who have a child of the family, at the time of application, currently attending or who previously attended the school
- 5
4(ii): entitled to Free School Meals.
The policy's own words
(ii) Pupils who are entitled to Free School Meals
- 6
4(iii): surname then forename letters in a set order; shorter forename; then oldest.
The policy's own words
(iii) Pupils ranked by the initial letter of surname (and if necessary, subsequent letters), as entered on the birth certificate, in the order set out below:
- 7
4(iv): home closer to the school (straight-line distance).
The policy's own words
(iv) The School wishes to continue its tradition of accepting children from a wide catchment area, irrespective of the proximity of their homes from the School.
Source: Royal School Dungannon, checked
More detail from our guide
We describe RSD's Admissions criteria for entry September 2026The Royal School Dungannon: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: Admissions criteria for entry September 2026
View the official source below. The 2027 document is The Royal School Dungannon: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by Royal School Dungannon; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: RSD Admissions Criteria Size: 280.97 KB Date modified: 06-01-2026
View the official source. Treat this as a guide to how the school worked last year, not as a promise about this year.
Before any criterion, Northern Ireland residents were selected ahead of others. The school did not look at your order of preference.
| Step (2026) | Who | How it was decided |
|---|---|---|
| Boarding | Children applying to board | Up to 8 of the 100 Year 8 places for boarders, allocated first on educational evidence of suitability; boarding applications made direct to the school.The Royal School Dungannon: BoardingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: The Royal School Dungannon has an Admissions number of 100 pupils. Up to a maximum of 8 of these places will be available each year for boarding pupils.View the official source |
| Score | Everyone else with a SEAG result | Remaining places after boarding allocated by rank order of SEAG score (TSAS); ties at the last place resolved by Additional Considerations.The Royal School Dungannon: Selection metric (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: The remaining places from the Admissions total of 100 will be allocated to pupils on the basis of the rank order of their respective scores in the Entrance Assessment (or awarded as a result of Special Circumstances or Special Provision) with those achieving higher scores being allocated places before those with lower scores up to the Admissions number of 100.View the official source |
| No result | Children who did not sit SEAG | Considered only if places remain after criteria 1 and 2; if they exceed remaining places, Additional Considerations applied. Special Provisions for transfers from outside NI, more than half primary education outside NI, or unable to sit / sat one paper through serious medical or other problems.The Royal School Dungannon: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: If, following the application of Admissions Criteria 1 and 2, all the available places have not been filled then the School will consider for admission any pupils who have not taken the Entrance Assessment.View the official source |
There was no minimum score. Most families will only meet the middle step: places were filled from the highest TSAS downwards until none were left.
Equal scores at the last place
RSD calls its tie-breaks "Additional Considerations". In short: a family link or eldest child first, then free school meals, then surname and forename letters in a fixed order, and finally distance from home to school.
The first step joins two groups together. A child with a brother or sister at RSD, now or in the past, stands level with an eldest child. RSD did not reserve places for children entitled to free school meals, but entitlement could decide a tie.
| Tie-break detail (September 2026 entry) | |
|---|---|
| Full order | For equal scores at the last place: (i) child of the family at or formerly at the school, or eldest child (one combined step); (ii) free school meals; (iii) surname letter order H X R G A Z N I E M C J U B D P S K V L O W Q F T Y, then forenames; (iv) home nearer the school.The Royal School Dungannon: Tie breakers (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: If more than one child is eligible for the last remaining place(s) because they have equal scores, then the final place(s) will be allocated using the Additional Considerations as set out in criterion 4 below and in the order stated. ... (i) Pupils who have a child of the family, at the time of application, currently attending or who previously attended the school (details to be supplied); or pupils who are the eldest child in the family eligible to apply for admission to Year 8View the official source |
| Family link | Additional Consideration (i): a child of the family currently attending or who previously attended the school (minimum one full academic year at secondary level); 'child of the family' per DE definition including half-siblings, fostered and adopted children. Shares rank (i) with eldest child.The Royal School Dungannon: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: (i) Pupils who have a child of the family, at the time of application, currently attending or who previously attended the school (details to be supplied); or pupils who are the eldest child in the family eligible to apply for admission to Year 8 (see definition at Note c).View the official source |
| Eldest child | Additional Consideration (i) (same rank as sibling): eldest child eligible to apply for Year 8; includes only children, twins/multiples as joint eldest, a child more than 7 years younger than the next sibling, families who moved residence, or an older sibling not in mainstream education. Evidence uploaded to the EA portal.The Royal School Dungannon: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: The definition of “eldest” in 4(i) includes ‘only’ children and twins and other multiples who are considered as joint eldest.View the official source |
| Last step | After surname/forename ranking (order H X R G A Z N I E M C J U B D P S K V L O W Q F T Y), priority to the child whose home is closer, measured in a straight line to the front entrance of the main administrative building.The Royal School Dungannon: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: If, however, after criteria 4(i) to 4(iii) have been exhausted it becomes necessary to make a final selection, priority will be given to the child whose home is closer to the School.View the official source |
Special circumstances
If something serious affected your child's performance, the claim goes in with the transfer application. Illness on a test day is taken into account by the post-primary school through a 'special circumstances' claim with documentary evidence, made with the EA transfer application; not by SEAG or in marking.Northern Ireland: Special circumstances routeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Academically selective post-primary schools include, within their Year 8 Admissions Criteria, something which is usually referred to as “Special Circumstances”. This allows a parent, when making their post primary transfer application to, for example, ask the post-primary school to take account of their child being unwell when sitting one of the Entrance Assessment Papers.
View the official source RSD's process last year: SC Form (RSD website or school) or written application with documentary evidence attached to the Transfer Application; P5-P7 standardised test results and comparative primary data; Admissions Committee awards an equivalent score following JCQ principles. SP for transfers from outside NI by 24 February 2026.The Royal School Dungannon: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: Parents who wish to apply to the School claiming Special Circumstances should complete the SC Form (obtainable from the RSD Website or the School) or otherwise apply in writing and attach the application with appropriate documentary evidence, as detailed below, to the Transfer Application. ... Where Special Circumstances are accepted, they will determine, on the basis of the information available, an appropriate score for the pupil.
View the official source Ask your child's primary school early for the standardised test results the school wants.
Waiting list and past numbers
Refused applications automatically on the waiting list until the end of Year 8; published criteria applied.The Royal School Dungannon: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: This waiting list will operate after placement letters have been received by parents/pupils until the end of the following academic year, that is, the end of Year 8.
View the official source
The school also prints applications and admissions for recent years, in the order year, admissions number, total applications, total admissions. Some totals include children admitted above the admissions number, for example on appeal.
| Applications and admissions, as printed | |
|---|---|
| Recent years | {"year": "2023/2024", "admissionsNumber": 100, "totalApplications": 113, "totalAdmissions": 103}; {"year": "2024/2025", "admissionsNumber": 100, "totalApplications": 131, "totalAdmissions": 102}; {"year": "2025/2026", "admissionsNumber": 100, "totalApplications": 108, "totalAdmissions": 102}The Royal School Dungannon: Applications and admissions historyChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says: 2023/2024 ... 100 ... 113 ... 103* ... 2024/2025 ... 100 ... 131 ... 102# ... 2025/2026** ... 100 ... 108 ... 102* ... Includes supernumerary pupils ... Includes pupils admitted on AppealView 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
RSD, as the school calls itself, takes SEAG outcomes rather than setting a paper of its own. The SEAG test is 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. RSD ranks children by the TSAS, which runs 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 band is not used.
RSD is also a test centre, and it has published its own timetable for children sitting there this autumn, including a short practice session beforehand:
At RSD: Familiarisation Morning Sat 17 Oct 2026, 10.00-11.10am; SEAG test 1 Sat 14 Nov 2026, 10.00-11.20am; test 2 Sat 21 Nov 2026, 10.00-11.10am (arrive beforehand each time); results released Sat 23 Jan 2027.The Royal School Dungannon: Seag test centre datesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Royal School Dungannon.The source says:
Saturday 17th October (10.00 – 11.10 am – arrival time prior to this) – RSD Familiarisation Morning ... Saturday 14th November (10.00 – 11.20 am – arrival time prior to this) – SEAG transfer test 1 ... Saturday 21st November (10.00 – 11.10 am – arrival time prior to this) – SEAG transfer test 2 ... Saturday 23rd January – SEAG releases results to familiesView the official source
If your child is sitting the test at RSD, the familiarisation morning is a chance to see the building before the real day. Children can sit at any centre, and the choice of centre has no effect on where they can apply.
Our SEAG transfer test guide has the full picture, and results explained shows how to read the TSAS.
Open days
Next: P7 Open Mornings, Wed 20 Jan 2027
Done: P7 open morning visits (passed)
Done: P6 open evening (passed)
7.15 pm
Coming up: P7 Open Mornings
Coming up: P6 Open Evening
Source: Royal School Dungannon, 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 RSD does not offer your child a place, the Education Authority considers your next preference. Parents who think the criteria were not followed can appeal.
- Who hears it: 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 start with 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 single ground is: 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 - Appeal deadline for 2027 entry: 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.
Because RSD ranks by score and then by a fixed set of tie-breaks, an appeal usually means checking the score recorded and each fact you gave on the form, such as an older sibling or free school meals.
Official documents and sources
4 sources, each kept as an archived copy
- Royal School Dungannon
PDF document · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
- Royal School Dungannon
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 11 Oct 2026
- SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group)
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
- SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group)
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
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