St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel: Year 8 entry

St Louis is a SEAG member and a test centre. Children who sit the test take two papers, English (or Irish) and mathsSource for SEAG (Northern Ireland): the two test papersSEAG (Northern Ireland): the two test papersCloseChecked 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 on two Saturdays in November.

What makes St Louis different is how little of the intake depends on the result. The school's own summary for 2026 entry: 40% of places (52 of 130) at Stage Two are allocated by SEAG band to first-preference applicants; Stage One (local area, first preference) and Stage Three use non-academic criteria.Source for St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel: Academic selection (2026)St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel: Academic selection (2026)CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel.The source says: A total of 52 students out of 130 are selected on the basis of academic ability or 40% of our annual (Stage 2) intake.View the official source

Where it does use the result, St Louis looks at the band, not the exact TSAS. SEAG's bands: Band 1 = top 40%; Bands 2–5 = 10% each; Band 6 = below the 20th percentileSource for SEAG (Northern Ireland): BandsSEAG (Northern Ireland): BandsCloseChecked 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. It started with Band 1 and worked down; no minimum band was set.

So should your child sit? If you live in the local area and will put St Louis first, the test is not needed for the first stage. It may still help at the second stage, and for other schools on your list. A child without a SEAG result can still be placed at Stage One (local Mourne first-preference applicants) or Stage Three (leftover places), which do not use SEAG. Only the 52 Stage Two places use SEAG bands; Special Provision (SP Form) covers Stage Two applicants who could not sit it.Source for St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel: Applicants without result (2026)St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel: Applicants without result (2026)CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel.The source says: was EITHER unable to sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment OR has an estimated outcome because they only sat one of the two Entrance Assessment papers. [...] Applies to pupils who make an application at Stage 2 (see below) [...] All applications will be considered for Stage One initially and applications which are not admitted at Stage One will automatically be considered at Stage Two. Applications will be considered at Stage Three in the event that residual places remain unfilled.View the official source

The SEAG transfer test guide and results explained go into bands and scores in more depth.

This is general information, not legal advice.

If St Louis cannot offer your child a place, the Education Authority will try your next preference. You can appeal as well; the AT1 form, via the EA websiteSource for Northern Ireland: FormNorthern Ireland: FormCloseChecked 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 starts the process.

St Louis relies heavily on family facts, so the transfer application matters. A school uses only the information on the child's Transfer application when applying its criteria.Source for Northern Ireland: Only form info usedNorthern Ireland: Only form info usedCloseChecked 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 The form covers any brothers or sisters at the school; whether the child is the eldest child, only child or eldest boy or girl in the family; whether the child is registered as entitled to free school mealsSource for Northern Ireland: Transfer form infoNorthern Ireland: Transfer form infoCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: On the Transfer application, a post-primary school can ask if your child: ... has any brothers or sisters at the school you’re applying to ... is the eldest child, only child or eldest boy or girl in the family ... is registered as entitled to free school mealsView the official source. Fill in every part that applies.

An appeal can only succeed on one ground: The school did not apply, or did not correctly apply, its admissions criteria.Source for Northern Ireland: GroundsNorthern Ireland: GroundsCloseChecked 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 The deadline for 2027 entry is 4pm, Thursday 20 May 2027Source for Northern Ireland transfer: Appeal deadlineNorthern Ireland transfer: Appeal deadlineCloseChecked 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 2026Source for Northern Ireland 2026 entry: Appeal deadlineNorthern Ireland 2026 entry: Appeal deadlineCloseChecked 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.