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St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena: Year 8 entry

Cullybackey Road, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT43 5DW

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 Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) stated; strict rank order to 139.

    Checked, source: St Louis Grammar School, checked

  • Year 8 places

    139

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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

St Louis Grammar School in brief

tap a value for its source

Year 8 places
139Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: Admissions Number: 139View the official source2026 entry
The (PAN): how many children the school plans to admit.
Pupils
co-educationalPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena is a Catholic coeducational school in the St Louis education tradition in the trusteeship of St. MacNissi’s Education Trust.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

Applying on time mattered at St Louis last year. The 2026 route: Apply on the Education Authority online Transfer Application: opened 12 noon 27 Jan 2026, on time by 12 noon 19 Feb 2026, late up to 4pm 24 Feb 2026. Special Provision forms also had to go straight to the school by 12 noon 19 Feb 2026.St Louis Grammar School: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: 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 treated as a punctual ... An application received after 12 noon (GMT) on 19 February 2026 and up to 4pm on 24 February 2026 will be treated as a late application. [...] directly to St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena by 12 noon on Thursday 19 February 2026.View the official source Late forms were handled like this: After 12 noon 19 February 2026 up to 4pm 24 February 2026; considered after punctual applicationsSt Louis Grammar School: Late applicationsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: An application received after 12 noon (GMT) on 19 February 2026 and up to 4pm on 24 February 2026 will be treated as a late application.View the official source.

How places are given

5 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, St Louis 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

    Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () TSAS strict rank order (including SC/SP equivalents) up to 139

    The policy's own words
    Preference will be given in the strict order of SEAG Assessment Total Standardised Age Score in rank order until all places have been filled up to the School admissions number of 139 pupils.
  2. 2

    AC1 Sibling: child of the family currently enrolled

    The policy's own words
    AC1 Sibling Applicants who, at the date of their application, have a *child of the family currently enrolled at the School.
  3. 3

    AC2 Eldest Child

    The policy's own words
    AC2 Eldest Child This criterion to be defined as “children who, at the date of their application, are the eldest *child of the family to be eligible to apply for admission to the School”.
  4. 4

    AC3 Basis of Age: oldest first by birth certificate date of birth

    The policy's own words
    AC3 Basis of Age Applicants will be selected on the basis of age with the oldest applicant being selected first, established by date of birth as entered on a birth certificate.
  5. 5

    AC4 Random Selection of Letters: surname initial in order M, X, O, U, W, Y, S, V, R, Mc, A, K, D, T, Z, O’, Mac, J, H, Q, C, I, B, P, F, E, G, L, N; then subsequent letters, then forenames

    The policy's own words
    AC4 Random Selection of Letters The final selection will be made on the basis of initial letter(s) of surname (as entered on birth certificate) in the order set out below:

Source: St Louis Grammar School, checked

More detail from our guide

All of this comes from the school's "Admissions criteria for entry September 2026St Louis Grammar School: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: Admissions criteria for entry September 2026View the official source". Those are last year's rules. The criteria for September 2027 entry are St Louis Grammar School: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by St Louis Grammar School; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: Admissions Criteria for entry September 2026 DownloadView the official source, and they can change, so check the new version once it is online.

The school set out its order like this, including the random surname-letter order it drew for 2026:

Order of criteria (2026 entry)
(1) SEAG TSAS strict rank order (including SC/SP equivalents) up to 139. (2) AC1 Sibling: child of the family currently enrolled. (3) AC2 Eldest Child. (4) AC3 Basis of Age: oldest first by birth certificate date of birth. (5) AC4 Random Selection of Letters: surname initial in order M, X, O, U, W, Y, S, V, R, Mc, A, K, D, T, Z, O’, Mac, J, H, Q, C, I, B, P, F, E, G, L, N; then subsequent letters, then forenames.St Louis Grammar School: Oversubscription criteria (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: In the event that two or more applicants are eligible for the remaining place or places because they have the same SEAG Assessment Total Standardised Age Score the Tie Breaker criteria below will be applied in the order set down until the final place has been allocated.View the official source

Read in steps, it works like this.

First, residence. Children living in Northern Ireland at the time of admission were considered before anyone else. Where you placed St Louis among your preferences made no difference, but punctual applications came before late ones.

Second, the score. SEAG takers (and SC/SP equivalents) admitted first in strict TSAS rank order up to 139; any remaining places go to others, including children who did not take SEAG, via AC1-AC4.St Louis Grammar School: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: Preference will be given in the strict order of SEAG Assessment Total Standardised Age Score in rank order until all places have been filled up to the School admissions number of 139 pupils.View the official source There was no minimum score: No minimum TSAS stated; strict rank order to 139.St Louis Grammar School: Entrance threshold (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: Preference will be given in the strict order of SEAG Assessment Total Standardised Age Score in rank orderView the official source

Third, the AC tie-breakers. These are used when children tie for the last places, and for any places left after the SEAG ranking:

  • AC1, sibling. a child of the family currently enrolled at the date of application (DE definition, including half-brothers and sisters, adopted or fostered children); name and year group of the present pupil requiredSt Louis Grammar School: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: AC1 Sibling Applicants who, at the date of their application, have a *child of the family currently enrolled at the School. Name and year group of present pupil must be provided. ... *Child of the family as defined by the Department of Education to include, for example, half-brothers and sisters, together with children who are adopted or fosteredView the official source.
  • AC2, eldest child. Eldest child of the family eligible to apply; covers only children; twins/multiples joint eldest; must be stated on the application; primary school letter may be requested.St Louis Grammar School: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: AC2 Eldest Child This criterion to be defined as “children who, at the date of their application, are the eldest *child of the family to be eligible to apply for admission to the School”. This wording covers “only” children and is also intended to treat twins (or other multiples) as joint eldest.View the official source
  • AC3, age. The oldest child, by date of birth on the birth certificate, comes first.
  • AC4, surname letters. Surname initial letter(s) in a randomly determined order; then subsequent letters alphabetically; identical surnames by forename(s); hyphenated surnames treated as one word.St Louis Grammar School: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: M, X, O, U, W, Y, S, V, R, Mc, A, K, D, T, Z, O’, Mac, J, H, Q, C, I, B, P, F, E, G, L, N This order was determined by random selection.View the official source

There was no free school meals criterion and no feeder primary list.

If the test went badly because of illness or another problem, you can claim special circumstances. In 2026: SC Form from the 'Claiming Special Circumstances Pack' plus independent documentary and educational evidence (KS2 standardised tests) uploaded with the online Transfer Application; Admissions Panel may adjust the score using its Special Circumstances Protocol (available on request).St Louis Grammar School: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: Parents/Guardians/Carers wishing to claim Special Circumstances must complete the SC Form contained in the ‘Claiming Special Circumstances Pack’ available from the school website. Following this, the completed SC Form, together with appropriate documentary evidence which corroborates the Special Circumstances claim, must be uploaded with the online Transfer Application.View the official source

If your child has no SEAG result, for example because they could not sit it: Only if places remain after SEAG takers (and SC/SP admissions); then allocated by AC1-AC4. Special Provision applicants must sit the school's Special Provision test.St Louis Grammar School: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: In the event that places remain, after those who have taken the SEAG Assessment have been admitted (including those admitted following claims for Special Circumstances/Special Provision), then remaining places will be allocated using the above criteria in the order set down until the final place has been allocated. This includes children who have not taken the SEAG Assessment required by the School.View the official source If that applies to your child, contact the school early.

Waiting list. This is not automatic. Write to the Principal to join the Year 8 waiting list; criteria applied to vacancies after 1 September 2026St Louis Grammar School: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: Parents/Guardians/Carers who wish to have their child considered for admission to the School, in the event of a place becoming available in Year 8, should write to the Principal clearly stating this request.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

St Louis is a SEAG member and runs the test on its own site. Children applying for September 2027 sit the SEAG Entrance AssessmentSt Louis 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 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 (Paper 1) and 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 (Paper 2). It covers 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.

Families who want the Irish-medium papers should know that SEAG offers English and Irish versionsSEAG (Northern Ireland): Irish versionChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Both English and Gaeilge versions of the Assessment will be available.View the official source, and that St Louis was one of the places where the Irish papers were sat in 2025. SEAG's list of those centres: 12 centres in 2025: Abbey CBS (Newry), Assumption Grammar (Ballynahinch), Christian Brothers' Grammar (Omagh), Loreto Grammar (Omagh), Limavady Grammar, Mount Lourdes Grammar (Enniskillen), St Dominic's High (Belfast), St Joseph's Grammar (Donaghmore), St Louis Grammar (Ballymena), St Mary's CBGS (Belfast), St Mary's Grammar (Magherafelt), Thornhill College (Derry)Northern Ireland: Irish invigilation centresChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: For 2025, SEAG has 12 Centres providing invigilation in Irish.View the official source.

What St Louis ranks on is the Total Standardised Age Score, 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. The statement arrives 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, and the school asked for it to be uploaded with the application last year: On the online Transfer Application (Documents Section), state your child's SEAG Total Standardised Age Score and upload the statement of results (issued Saturday 24 January 2026).St Louis Grammar School: Transfer application adviceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School.The source says: On the online Transfer Application (Documents Section) parents/guardians/carers must state the Total Standardised Age Score achieved by the pupil and upload a copy ... of the statement of results which they receive on Saturday 24 January 2026.View the official source

Our SEAG transfer test guide and results explained say more about the scores.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Night (passed)

    from 7.00pm

  2. Done: Open Night (passed)

    from 7.00pm

Source: St Louis 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.

If St Louis cannot offer a place, the EA looks at the next school on your form, and so on down the list.

Separately, you have a right of appeal. It is heard by a tribunal that is independent of the school, and its ruling binds both sides. The tribunal does not re-score the test or rewrite the rules. It asks whether St Louis followed its published criteria when it ranked your child. Because the school only knows what was on the transfer application, a missing sibling name or eldest-child claim usually cannot be fixed later. Check every box before you submit.

Appeals for September 2027 entry close on 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. The 2026 deadline 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. Use 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.

Official documents and sources

3 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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