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St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Year 8 entry

Chanterhill Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, BT74 6DE

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; criteria run Band 1 to Band 6 then '1.7 All other boys who have applied'.

    Checked, source: St Michael's College, Enniskillen, checked

  • Year 8 places

    100

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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

tap a value for its source

Pupils
boysPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: | ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE | Voluntary Grammar School | | --- | --- | | Drumclay | Boys |View the official source
Who the school admits.
Year 8 places
100Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: | Telephone: 028 6632 2935 | Admissions Number: 100 |View 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

How it ran in 2026: Online Transfer Application (EA): opens 12 noon Tuesday 27 January 2026; punctual by 12 noon Thursday 19 February 2026; late until 4pm Tuesday 24 February 2026.St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: The application procedure opens on Tuesday 27 January 2026 ... at 12 noon and an application submitted by the closing date of Thursday 19 February 2026 at 12 noon will be ... treated as a punctual application.View the official source On-time applications considered before late ones (late = after 12 noon 19 February to 4pm 24 February 2026).St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Late applicationsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: During the admissions procedure when applying the criteria applications that have been received on time will be ... considered before late applications are considered.View the official source

How places are given

11 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

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

  1. 1

    1.1 Band 1 (and SC/SP boys judged comparable)

    The policy's own words
    1.1 Boys awarded Band 1 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  2. 2

    1.2 Band 2 (and comparable SC/SP boys)

    The policy's own words
    1.2 Boys awarded Band 2 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  3. 3

    1.3 Band 3 (and comparable SC/SP boys)

    The policy's own words
    1.3 Boys awarded Band 3 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  4. 4

    1.4 Band 4 (and comparable SC/SP boys)

    The policy's own words
    1.4 Boys awarded Band 4 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  5. 5

    1.5 Band 5 (and comparable SC/SP boys)

    The policy's own words
    1.5 Boys awarded Band 5 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  6. 6

    1.6 Band 6 (and comparable SC/SP boys)

    The policy's own words
    1.6 Boys awarded Band 6 in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  7. 7

    1.7 All other boys who applied

    The policy's own words
    1.7 All other boys who have applied to St. Michael’s College
  8. 8

    2a Brother (incl. half/step/adopted) at the school or selected for next year

    The policy's own words
    2a. Applicants whose brother or half-brother or step-brother or legally adopted brother or legally adopted half- brother is currently enrolled in the school
  9. 9

    2b Eldest boy eligible for mainstream post-primary, or only boy (verified per 2c)

    The policy's own words
    2b. Applicants who are the eldest boy in the family, eligible to transfer to a mainstream Post-Primary school, or the only boy in the family will be admitted next.
  10. 10

    2d Entitled to Free School Meals

    The policy's own words
    2d. Applicants who are entitled to Free School Meals will be admitted next.
  11. 11

    2e Oversubscription within a criterion: surname initial in random-determined order, then letters/forenames, then random computerised selection

    The policy's own words
    2e. In the event of over subscription in any one criterion when applied in the order set out, the selection of available places will be carried out using a method of random selection.

Source: St Michael's College, Enniskillen, checked

More detail from our guide

Read this as last year's picture. It summarises the college's Admissions criteria for entry September 2026St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: Admissions criteria for entry September 2026View the official source. The version for boys starting in September 2027 is St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by St Michael's College, Enniskillen; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: St Michael's College Admissions Criteria 2026-2027View the official source, and it could differ.

Boys normally living in Northern Ireland had priority. Then the governors worked down the bands: Band 1 first, then Band 2, and so on to Band 6, and finally every other boy who applied. There was no minimum band.

Inside the band where places run out

At some point a band will hold more boys than there are places left. Inside that band, St Michael's used these steps in turn:

  • A brother at the college. Brother, half-brother, step-brother or legally adopted (half-)brother currently enrolled or selected for admission in the coming year (sub-criterion 2a).St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: 2a. Applicants whose brother or half-brother or step-brother or legally adopted brother or legally adopted half- brother is currently enrolled in the school, or having been selected for admission to the school in the coming year, will be admitted first. (Please name the brother(s)).View the official source
  • The eldest boy. Sub-criterion 2b: eldest boy in the family eligible to transfer to a mainstream post-primary school, or the only boy; twins/multiples joint eldest; verifying letter (2c) from a medical practitioner, solicitor, clergyman or primary principal.St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: 2b. Applicants who are the eldest boy in the family, eligible to transfer to a mainstream Post-Primary school, or the only boy in the family will be admitted next.View the official source
  • Free school meals. There were no reserved places, but entitlement counted at this stage.
  • Surname letter, then a computer draw. After the surname/forename letter ordering, any remaining tie for a final place is resolved by random computerised selection.St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: If, after this process, any applicants still tie for a final place, the place(s) will be allocated by random computerised selection.View the official source

The eldest-boy rule is worth reading twice. It is about boys, not all children, so a boy with only older sisters can still count as the eldest boy. You need a verifying letter to claim it.

Full order (September 2026 entry)
Band steps(1) 1.1 Band 1 (and SC/SP boys judged comparable). (2) 1.2 Band 2 (and comparable SC/SP boys). (3) 1.3 Band 3 (and comparable SC/SP boys). (4) 1.4 Band 4 (and comparable SC/SP boys). (5) 1.5 Band 5 (and comparable SC/SP boys). (6) 1.6 Band 6 (and comparable SC/SP boys). (7) 1.7 All other boys who applied. (8) 2a Brother (incl. half/step/adopted) at the school or selected for next year. (9) 2b Eldest boy eligible for mainstream post-primary, or only boy (verified per 2c). (10) 2d Entitled to Free School Meals. (11) 2e Oversubscription within a criterion: surname initial in random-determined order, then letters/forenames, then random computerised selection.St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Oversubscription criteria (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: In the event of the number of applications being greater than the number of places available, applicants will be selected in the following order. 1. The Board of Governors will admit boys strictly in the following rank order.View the official source
Surname letter order(1) 2a Brother at the school or selected for the coming year. (2) 2b Eldest boy eligible for mainstream post-primary, or only boy. (3) 2d Entitled to Free School Meals. (4) 2e Surname initial in the random-determined order Z, G, O, H, L, N, T, K, Y, B, S, W, M, P, D, J, Q, X, V, R, C, U, A, F, I, E; then subsequent letters and forenames. (5) Random computerised selection if still tied.St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Tie breakers (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: 2. If there are more applicants with a particular band in the order of priority set out above than places remaining, then the remaining places will be allocated by the application of the following criteria in the order and priority set down below:View the official source

Claims for special circumstances

St Michael's decides these before applying any criteria, and a successful claim can change the band a boy is placed in. 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 What the college asked for in 2026: Special Circumstances: SC Form, primary school report with all KS2 standardised Literacy/Numeracy results (obtained by parents; the school will not contact the primary school), and independent verifiable medical/social evidence, uploaded with the online application by 12.00 noon Thursday 19 February 2026. Claims decided before criteria are applied; committee decides band and TSAS.St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: Independent, verifiable documentary evidence such as medical or social reports providing evidence that medical or other problems directly influenced the outcome of the SEAG Entrance Assessment tests must ... be uploaded when completing the online application by 12.00 noon on Thursday 19 February 2026.View the official source

Note that parents collect the primary school report themselves. Ask your son's primary school in good time.

For boys with no band at all: Boys with no SEAG band come after Bands 1-6 (criterion 1.7). Boys who could not sit or finish the test for serious medical or other reasons, or who were schooled outside NI, can claim Special Provision: the school then sets a band, possibly after its own assessment.St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: who due to a serious medical or other problem, were either unable to sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment ... On the basis of this information the Selection Committee will determine a band for the boy which will be the band used in the application of the Admissions Criteria. The Selection Committee may require an assessment of the boy’s abilities to be carried out by a suitably qualified person or body approved by St Michael’s College. ... 1.7 All other boys who have applied to St. Michael’s CollegeView the official source

After allocation

Waiting list for unsuccessful boys after the Transfer Process; places after 1 September 2026 allocated by the Year 8 criteria among current seekers; list lapses 30 June of the year following application.St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: Following the conclusion of the Transfer Process a Waiting List will be maintained for boys who have sought ... admission but have been unsuccessful in securing a place. [...] The Waiting List will be held open until 30 June of the year following application when the Waiting List is deemed to have lapsed.View the official source

The college also prints how many boys applied and were admitted in recent years: year, admissions number, applications, admissions. It notes that the admissions figures include boys with statements, which is why some run above the admissions number.

Applications and admissions, as printed
Recent years{"year": "2023/2024", "admissionsNumber": 100, "totalApplications": 100, "totalAdmissions": 106}; {"year": "2024/2025", "admissionsNumber": 100, "totalApplications": 119, "totalAdmissions": 109}; {"year": "2025/2026", "admissionsNumber": 100, "totalApplications": 109, "totalAdmissions": 105}St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Applications and admissions historyChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: | 2023/2024 | 100 | 100 | *106 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2024/2025 | 100 | 119 | *109 | | 2025/2026** | 100 | 109 | *105 |View the official source

Parents can read admissions criteria and the number of applications schools received for the previous three years.Northern Ireland: Previous years dataChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: You can read admissions criteria and number of applications schools received for the previous three years.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

Boys applying to St Michael's sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment: 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. The college is one of the test centres, though a boy can sit at any centre.

The key point is that St Michael's works with bands. Last year's criteria put it plainly: SEAG Band order 1-6 then others; within an oversubscribed band: brother at school, eldest/only boy, FSME, then surname-letter random order. TSAS is not used as a ranking sub-criterion (only applicants' Band is requested).St Michael's College, Enniskillen: Selection metric (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Michael's College, Enniskillen.The source says: 2. If there are more applicants with a particular band in the order of priority set out above than places remaining, then the remaining places will be allocated by the application of the following criteria in the order and priority set down below:View the official source The transfer application asked for the band.

For reference, SEAG's bands are: 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. A boy at the top of Band 2 and a boy at the bottom of Band 2 stood level here.

There is more about bands in results explained, and about the test itself in our SEAG transfer test guide.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Night (2026 entry cycle) (passed)

    Principal's Welcome 7.00 pm

Source: St Michael's College, Enniskillen, 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 Michael's cannot offer your son a place, your transfer application moves to your next preference. You may appeal to an independent tribunal, starting 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. Its decision is binding.

An appeal cannot argue that the band system is unfair. Only the evidence the board of governors had when it offered places; the tribunal does not challenge the criteria.Northern Ireland: Evidence limitChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The tribunal considers the evidence available to the school's board of governors when they offered school places to children. The tribunal cannot take into account any additional information that wasn't available to the board of governors when they offered places. The tribunal doesn't challenge a school's admissions criteria.View the official source In practice it is about whether the band, a brother at the school, the eldest-boy rule or free school meals were applied correctly to your son.

For September 2027 entry the 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 September 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

4 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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