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.

St Columb's College: Year 8 entry

23 Buncrana Road, Derry, BT48 8NH

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 stated: Bands 1-6 are criteria 1-6 and applicants without a band are criterion 7.

    Checked, source: St Columb's College, checked

  • Year 8 places

    220

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

    Checked, source: St Columb's College, 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. St Columb's 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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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.

At a glance

St Columb's College in brief

tap a value for its source

Pupils
boysPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: Boys Age Range 11 – 18View the official source
Who the school admits.
Year 8 places
220Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: Admissions Number: 220View 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

Last year the online application window ran like this: Online Transfer Application via the EA portal (EA Connect opened 12 noon Tuesday 27 January 2026, closed 12 noon Thursday 19 February 2026), stating the SEAG Band and attaching the official result notification.St Columb's College: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: EA Connect opens for Post Primary Applications at 12 noon on Tuesday 27th January 2026 and closes at 12 noon on Thursday 19th February 2026.View the official source Expect a similar shape for 2027, but wait for the Education Authority's dates.

How places are given

12 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

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

  1. 1

    Criterion 1: Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () Band 1 (and accepted SC/SP claims judged comparable to Band 1).

    The policy's own words
    Applicants awarded BAND 1 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  2. 2

    Criterion 2: Band 2 (and comparable SC/SP).

    The policy's own words
    Applicants awarded BAND 2 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  3. 3

    Criterion 3: Band 3 (and comparable SC/SP).

    The policy's own words
    Applicants awarded BAND 3 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  4. 4

    Criterion 4: Band 4 (and comparable SC/SP).

    The policy's own words
    Applicants awarded BAND 4 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  5. 5

    Criterion 5: Band 5 (and comparable SC/SP).

    The policy's own words
    Applicants awarded BAND 5 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  6. 6

    Criterion 6: Band 6 (and comparable SC/SP).

    The policy's own words
    Applicants awarded BAND 6 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  7. 7

    Criterion 7: all other applicants.

    The policy's own words
    Applicants other than those satisfying any one of criteria 1 - 6 above.
  8. 8

    Sub-criterion (a): brother currently at the school or joining in the coming year.

    The policy's own words
    a. Applicants of whom a brother* is a pupil in the school or will be in the coming year.
  9. 9

    Sub-criterion (b): eldest/first boy of the family; or first boy since arrival in the traditional catchment area (families arriving on/after 1 Jan 2021); or brother previously attended; or all elder brothers educated elsewhere.

    The policy's own words
    b. (i) Applicants who are the eldest/first** boy of the family or,
  10. 10

    Sub-criterion (c): parent/step-parent/adoptive parent is permanent staff.

    The policy's own words
    c. Applicants of whom a parent or step-parent or legally adopted parent is a permanent member of staff
  11. 11

    Sub-criterion (d): all other applicants.

    The policy's own words
    d. Applicants other than those satisfying any one of the sub-criteria (a) – (c) above.
  12. 12

    Surname initial letter in a randomly determined order (then subsequent letters, then forenames); finally lot.

    The policy's own words
    the authorised Sub-Committee shall fill the remaining places by selecting on the basis of the initial letter of the surname

Source: St Columb's College, checked

More detail from our guide

What follows is from the St. Columbs College Derry Year 8 Admissions Criteria (2026)St Columb's College: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: St. Columbs College Derry Year 8 Admissions Criteria (2026)View the official source, which covered September 2026 entry. The college has not yet published its criteria for September 2027, and they may change. Treat this as a guide to how the school has worked, not as this year's rules.

Before any band: boys living in Northern Ireland came ahead of those who did not.

Band by band. Admission is by the SEAG entrance assessment; applicants are ranked by SEAG Band 1-6 (criteria 1-6); applicants without a band (other than accepted SC/SP claims) come last under criterion 7.St Columb's College: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: The Board of Governors has determined that admission to St Columb’s College in 2026 will be by an entrance assessment.View the official source There was no minimum band.

Inside the band where places ran out, family links came next, then a surname order:

Order within a band (September 2026 entry)
Sub-criteriaWithin each Band: (a) brother at the school; (b) eldest/first boy (or first boy since the family moved into the catchment area, or brother previously attended, or elder brothers all schooled elsewhere); (c) parent on permanent staff; (d) others; then a random surname-letter order, then lot.St Columb's College: Tie breakers (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: pupils shall be selected to fill the remaining places by applying the following Sub-Criteria, in the order of priority set down below:View the official source
Surname order and lotSurname initial (then subsequent letters, then forenames) in the order I P R K U E N B D S J T Z M X O L H F Q W A Y V G C, determined by random selection witnessed by the Board; if still oversubscribed in the last criterion, decided by lot.St Columb's College: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: The order was determined by a random selection, witnessed by the Board of Governors. ... In the event of over-subscription in the last criterion that can be applied, selection for available places will be decided by lot.View the official source

A few points parents often ask about:

  • Brothers. Sub-criterion (a): a brother is a pupil in the school or will be in the coming year; 'brother' = 'child of the family' as defined in Article 2(2) of the Domestic Proceedings (NI) Order 1980 (includes step, adopted, fostered children etc.). Sub-criterion (b)(iii) also covers a brother who previously attended but has left.St Columb's College: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: a. Applicants of whom a brother* is a pupil in the school or will be in the coming year. [...] Brother refers to the phrase ‘child of the family’ as defined in Article 2 (2) of the Domestic Proceedings (NI) Order 1980.View the official source
  • Eldest boy. Sub-criterion (b): (i) eldest/first boy of the family; or (ii) for a family arriving in the traditional catchment area on or after 1 January 2021, the first boy of that family to reach transfer age since arrival; or (iii) a brother previously attended but has left; or (iv) all elder brothers completed post-primary education at another school. Eldest/first boy claims need a verifying letter (primary principal, doctor, solicitor or clergy). Includes cases where an older brother cannot attend mainstream school.St Columb's College: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: b. (i) Applicants who are the eldest/first** boy of the family or,View the official source
  • The traditional catchment area. It appears in one place only: Co-terminous with the Catholic parishes of Derry City (Templemore), Ardmore, Banagher, Castlederg, Claudy, Dunamanagh, Dungiven, Faughanvale, Holy Family Ballymagroarty, Leckpatrick, Limavady, Magilligan, Melmount, Steelstown, Creggan, Sion Mills, Strabane, Strathfoyle, Three Patrons, Waterside, and the NI part of Doneyloop; used only in sub-criterion (b)(ii).St Columb's College: Traditional catchment areaChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: Our “Traditional Catchment Area” is co-terminous with the area covered by the following Catholic parishes:View the official source
  • Feeder primaries: noSt Columb's College: Feeder criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: applicants shall be selected in the order of priority set down belowView the official source. No primary school gave an advantage.
  • Free school meals: there was no FSME criterion.
  • Children of staff: a parent on the permanent staff counted, after brothers and eldest boys.

Special circumstances. If illness or another serious problem affected your son on a test day, the claim goes to the school, not SEAG. At St Columb's: Medical or other problems affecting performance; SC Form (available from the College) plus independent professional evidence attached to the Online Transfer Application; P5, P6 and P7 standardised Literacy and Numeracy scores required; results in a post-examination adjustment to the Band. No separate SC deadline stated; Special Provision forms by 4.00 pm Friday 6 February 2026.St Columb's College: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: If an application is being made for Special Circumstances, an Application Form for Special Circumstances (SC Form), available from the College, must be completed. This documentation, SC Form– together with the appropriate independent evidence which corroborates the Special Circumstances – must be attached to the Online Transfer Application. ... It is a post examination adjustment to the Band of a candidate who is eligible for consideration.View the official source

Boys without a band: Ranked under criterion 7 after all banded applicants, unless a Special Provision claim is accepted (education mostly outside NI, transferring from outside NI, or unable to sit / sat only one paper through serious medical or other problems), in which case the Board may arrange an assessment to determine a Band.St Columb's College: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: 7 Applicants other than those satisfying any one of criteria 1 - 6 above. ... The Board of Governors, where it deems it necessary/advisable, will arrange for a suitably qualified person to conduct an assessment to determine the pupil’s Band to be used in the admissions process.View the official source

Statemented pupils: Boys with a Statement of SEN are handled by the Education Authority separately and are supernumerary to the admissions and enrolment numbers.St Columb's College: Statement pupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: Boys who have a Statement of Special Educational Needs will have their application dealt with by the Education Authority under separate arrangements and are supernumerary to the College’s Admissions and Enrolment Numbers.View the official source

Waiting list: Places arising between Saturday 9 May 2026 and Friday 25 September 2026 filled by applying the Year 8 criteria; thereafter a new written application is needed.St Columb's College: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Columb's College.The source says: If a place(s) become(s) available in Year 8 between Saturday 9 May 2026 and Friday 25 September 2026 and there are more applicants than there are places available in Year 8, pupils will be selected to fill the available place(s) by applying the criteria for admission of pupils in Year 8.View the official source

The college's own figures for recent years show fewer applications than places each year. That pattern can change, and it says nothing certain about next year.

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

Boys applying to St Columb's sit the SEAG papers in November. The Statement of Outcomes gives a score and a 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. For this school, the band is what counts. Boys in the same band were treated alike in last year's criteria, whatever their exact scores. Family links and a surname order then decided who came first.

Where a boy sits the papers makes no difference to where he can apply. See our SEAG transfer test guide and results explained for how bands are worked out.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Day (passed)

    Session 1 10.00 am - 11.30 am (surnames A - L); Session 2 12.00 noon - 1.30 pm (surnames M - Z); Principal's Address 9.45 a.m. / 1.15 p.m.

Source: St Columb's College, 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.

When a school cannot offer a place, the Education Authority passes your application to your next preference. Separately, you can 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. About the panel: 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

An appeal can succeed only if both of these are true: 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. It does not reopen the criteria themselves. With band-based criteria, the usual question is whether the correct band, family details and special circumstances were applied.

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; 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.

Official documents and sources

6 sources, each kept as an archived copy

ExamKind is independent. We are not connected with St Columb's College, its council or any test provider, and nobody pays to appear on this page. How we check facts · Report an error on this page