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St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Year 8 entry

147A Glen Road, Belfast, BT11 8NR

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 or band stated; Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) ranked and places allocated in rank order 1-175.

    Checked, source: St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, checked

  • Year 8 places

    175

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

    Checked, source: St Mary's Christian Brothers' 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 Mary’s Christian Brothers' 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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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 Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School in brief

tap a value for its source

Pupils
boysPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: St. Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School is a boys, selective voluntary grammar school.View the official source
Who the school admits.
Year 8 places
175Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: Admissions No: 175View 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

For a feel of the timetable, last year's application ran like this: Education Authority online Transfer Application (EA Post Primary Applications portal) with the SEAG TSAS entered and results statement uploaded; opened 27 January 2026 12 noon, punctual closing date 19 February 2026 12 noon.St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' 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 ... application.View the official source Late forms were taken until a few days later but looked at only after the punctual ones.

How places are given

13 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, St Mary’s Christian Brothers' 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

    A: TSAS in Band 1 (plus SC/SP applicants judged comparable)

    The policy's own words
    A Applicants who have been awarded a total Standardised aged score (TSAS) which resides in Band 1
  2. 2

    B: TSAS in Band 2 (plus comparable SC/SP)

    The policy's own words
    B Applicants who have been awarded a total Standardised aged score (TSAS) which resides in Band 2
  3. 3

    C: TSAS in Band 3 (plus comparable SC/SP)

    The policy's own words
    C Applicants who have been awarded a total Standardised aged score (TSAS) which resides in Band 3
  4. 4

    D: TSAS in Band 4 (plus comparable SC/SP)

    The policy's own words
    D Applicants who have been awarded a total Standardised aged score (TSAS) which resides in Band 4
  5. 5

    E: TSAS in Band 5 (plus comparable SC/SP)

    The policy's own words
    E Applicants who have been awarded a total Standardised aged score (TSAS) which resides in Band 5
  6. 6

    F: TSAS in Band 6 (plus comparable SC/SP)

    The policy's own words
    F Applicants who have been awarded a total Standardised aged score (TSAS) which resides in Band 6
  7. 7

    G: other applicants

    The policy's own words
    G Other applicants.
  8. 8

    TSAS rank order; places to those ranked 1 to 175; H1-H5 only if tied at the 175th place

    The policy's own words
    The Total Standardised Aged Scores (TSAS) will be placed in rank order for all applicants. Places will be allocated
  9. 9

    H1: brother currently enrolled

    The policy's own words
    H1 Applicants who have a brother currently enrolled in St Mary’s
  10. 10

    H2: eldest son / eldest or only child

    The policy's own words
    H2 Applicants who, at the date of their application, are the eldest son of the family
  11. 11

    H3: from John Paul II PS or St Patrick's PS (ERST Christian Brothers trusteeship)

    The policy's own words
    H3 Boys transferring from Primary Schools under the ERST trusteeship of the Christian Brothers
  12. 12

    H4: from a listed feeder school

    The policy's own words
    H4 Boys transferring from our listed feeder schools (not listed in order of preference):
  13. 13

    H5: surname initial letter in randomised order, then forenames, then date of birth (oldest first)

    The policy's own words
    H5 In the event of oversubscription at the last criterion, selection for all places remaining in this category will be

Source: St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, checked

More detail from our guide

The rules below are the school's September 2026 entry criteria (Admissions Criteria for entry September 2026St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: Admissions Criteria for entry September 2026View the official source). St Mary's has not yet published criteria for September 2027, and any part of them could change.

The main rule. Criteria A-F admit by SEAG band (Band 1 to Band 6), G other applicants; TSAS placed in rank order and places allocated to those ranked 1 to 175; subsidiary criteria H1-H5 only for a tie at the 175th place.St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Selection metric (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: The Total Standardised Aged Scores (TSAS) will be placed in rank order for all applicants. Places will be allocated to those applicants ranked in order from 1 to 175. In the event that the Total Standardised Aged Scores are ... ranked and there is a tie in ranks which means that the 175 place cannot be determined, the following subsidiary criteria of H1 to H5 will be applied to the tied applicantsView the official source No minimum band or score was set. Before the list was drawn up, boys living in Northern Ireland came ahead of boys who did not, and on-time forms ahead of late ones. Where you ranked St Mary's among your preferences was not used.

When boys tie for the last place. Only then did the subsidiary criteria apply, in this order:

Tie-break stepWho it covers (September 2026 criteria)
First: a brother at the schoolA brother currently enrolled in St Mary's (name and year group required on the Transfer Application). Used only as subsidiary criterion H1 for a tie at the last place.St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: H1 Applicants who have a brother currently enrolled in St Mary’s (The name of the child of the family and his year group are required on the Transfer Application).View the official source
Second: eldest son or eldest childH2: eldest son of the family, or eldest/only child, eligible to transfer; twins/multiples joint eldest; a boy whose older brother did not gain entry (did not sit or did not achieve the grade) is treated as eldest. Verifier letter required (family known for at least two years).St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: H2 Applicants who, at the date of their application, are the eldest son of the family (“of the family” will be defined in accordance with Department of Education guidance), or the eldest child or the only child at the date of application, eligible to transfer to St Mary’s. This criterion will treat twins or other multiples as jointeldest.View the official source
Third and fourth: primary schoolH3: boys from the two ERST (Christian Brothers) primaries; H4: boys from listed feeder schools. Both are subsidiary criteria used only for a tie at the 175th place. Named schools: John Paul II Primary School (ERST / Christian Brothers trusteeship, H3), St Patrick’s Primary School (ERST / Christian Brothers trusteeship, H3), Ballymacrickett, Ballymacward, Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain, Bunscoil Phobal Feirste, Bunscoil an tSleibhe Dhuibh, Christ the Redeemer, Cranmore Integrated, Good Shepherd, Gaelscoil na bhFal, Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach, Gaelscoil na Móna, Hazelwood, Holy Child, Holy Cross, Holy Evangelists, Holy Family, Holy Rosary, Holy Trinity, Oakwood, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Our Lady of Lourdes, Scoil na Fuiseoige, Sacred Heart Primary School, St. Aloysius, St. Anne’s, St. Bernard’s, St. Bride’s, St. Clare’s, St. Colman’s (Lambeg), St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph’s (Slate Street), St. Joseph’s (Carryduff), St. Joseph’s (Lisburn), St. Joseph’s (Crumlin), St. Ita’s, St. Kevin’s, St. Kieran’s, St MacNissi’s, St. Malachy’s, St. Mary’s (Divis Street), St Mary’s- on-the-Hill, St. Matthew’s, St. Michael’s, St. Oliver Plunkett, St. Paul’s, St. Peter’s, St. Teresa’s, St. Therese of Lisieux, St Vincent de Paul, Scoil an Droichid, Scoil NBa fuiseoige, Tonagh (Lisburn)St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Feeder criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: H3 Boys transferring from Primary Schools under the ERST trusteeship of the Christian Brothers: John Paul II Primary School and St Patrick’s Primary School. H4 Boys transferring from our listed feeder schools (not listed in order of preference):View the official source
Last: names, then ageSurname (then forename) letter order using a sequence predetermined by random computerised selection; where names cannot separate applicants, the oldest by date of birth is preferred.St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: Where names cannot be separated by this process, children will be accepted by date of birth with preference given to the oldest. [...] The order was predetermined by random computerised selection, witnessed by a representative from the Board of Governors.View the official source

Two details are easy to miss. The eldest-son rule also covers a boy whose older brother did not get into St Mary's, whether or not that brother sat the test. The feeder list includes several Irish-medium primaries as well as the two Christian Brothers schools.

Free school meals. No places are held back. The governors explain that they looked at a free school meals criterion and decided their intake already reflects it.

Without a SEAG result. Special Provisions for children with more than half their education outside NI, transferring from outside NI (these need not sit SEAG), or unable to sit/only sat one paper for documented serious medical or other problems: Form SP uploaded with the Transfer Application by 19 February 2026 12 noon; the school may arrange an additional special provision test (AAT) and assigns a TSAS equivalent. Others without a result fall under criterion G 'Other applicants'.St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: Applicants under criterion 1 and 2 above, who wish to apply under Special Provisions, do not need to take the SEAG Entrance Assessment unless their parents/guardians so wish ... The Admissions Committee will then determine, based on the information available, an appropriate TSAS equivalent for the applicant.View the official source

Special circumstances. The school asks for detailed evidence: Form SC with independent documentary evidence (verified by a primary Principal, health/social care professional, medical practitioner, lawyer or clergy) and educational evidence (KS2 CAT4 and/or PTE/PTM results verified by the primary Principal), uploaded with the Transfer Application on the EA portal. Four-stage consideration; the committee may award a mark up to the top of the confidence band under its Special Circumstance Protocol (available on request). Lost teaching time due to COVID-19 alone is not accepted.St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: Special Circumstances must be outlined on Claim for Special Circumstances (Form SC) and supported by documentary evidence of a medical, educational or other appropriate nature. Documentary evidence must be submitted with the Transfer Application and Form SC on the Education Authority’s online Portal – EA Post Primary Applications.View the official source

Waiting list. All refused applications go on a waiting list; for vacancies after transfer results, additional information and new applications are accepted; the list runs until 30 June 2027.St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: All applications that are refused will be placed on a waiting list. Should a vacancy arise after the transfer results are published, we will accept additional information not received at the time of the transfer process. We will also accept new applications from pupils who did not initially apply through the Transfer process. The published criteria above ... will be 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

SEAG sets 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, and 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. That matters on the Glen Road. Last year St Mary's was on SEAG's list of centres for the Irish-language papers, so families from Irish-medium primaries may want to ask SEAG whether the school is a centre again this year.

Last year the school used both parts of the result. Boys were grouped by band, from Band 1 down to Band 6, with boys who had no band after them. Within that order the TSAS put every boy in a single ranked list. The school's own summary: Selective: SEAG outcomes used to admit applicants (criteria A-F by band, G other applicants); TSAS placed in rank order and places allocated 1 to 175.St Mary’s Christian Brothers' Grammar School: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.The source says: The Board of Governors has determined that the educational outcomes from the SEAG Entrance Assessment will be used to admit applicants (see criteria A to F and subsidiary criteria H1 to H5)View the official source

New to bands and scores? Our SEAG transfer test guide and results explained go through them.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Evening (passed)

    7.00 pm

  2. Done: Open Evening (passed)

    7.00 pm

Source: St Mary's Christian Brothers' 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 your son is not offered a place, you have the right to appeal, and the EA will explain how. The basics: 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 The question is whether St Mary's applied its criteria properly, so it helps to check that every tie-break detail on your form was correct. 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.

There is also the Exceptional Circumstances Body, for the rare boy who must attend one particular school for reasons personal to him. It does not hear cases based on type of education provided at a school; a child's academic ability; availability of transport to a schoolNorthern Ireland: Ecb not exceptionalChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The ECB may not find the following circumstances exceptional: ... type of education provided at a school ... a child’s academic ability ... availability of transport to a schoolView the official source.

Official documents and sources

4 sources, each kept as an archived copy

ExamKind is independent. We are not connected with St Mary’s Christian Brothers' 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