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St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon: Year 8 entry

37 Killymeal Road, Dungannon BT71 6DS

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 stated; strict rank order to 189.

    Checked, source: St Patrick's Academy Dungannon, checked

  • Year 8 places

    189

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

    Checked, source: St Patrick's Academy Dungannon, 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 Patrick’s Academy Dungannon'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Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached.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 Patrick’s Academy Dungannon in brief

tap a value for its source

Year 8 places
189Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: Admissions No: 189View 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 comparison, the 2026 timetable at the academy was: Transfer Application (opened 27 January 2026; punctual by 19 February 2026; late after 24 February 2026), recording candidate number and SEAG result.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Application route (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: The application procedure opens on 27th January 2026 and an application submitted by the closing date of 19th February 2026 will be treated as a punctual application. An application received after 24th February 2026 will be treated as a late application.View the official source Punctual applications were dealt with before late ones.

How places are given

5 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon 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: strict Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) rank order to 189 places; equal scores ranked using criteria 2-3.

    The policy's own words
    1. St Patrick’s Academy will allocate places based on the TSAS obtained in the SEAG Entrance Assessment
  2. 2

    Criterion 2: the Academy listed as first preference on the Transfer Form.

    The policy's own words
    2. A child on whose Transfer Form St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon is listed as their first preference post-primary school
  3. 3

    Criterion 3: sibling enrolled, only/eldest child, or sibling previously attended.

    The policy's own words
    3. A pupil who has a sibling (another child of the family;
  4. 4

    Criterion 4 (tie-breaker): (i) surname initial in a balloted letter order, then subsequent letters/forenames alphabetically; (ii) computerised random selection.

    The policy's own words
    4. Tie Breaker: If necessary, where over-subscription still exists, final selection will be on the basis of random selection, using the methods listed below, in the order in which they are given:
  5. 5

    Criterion 5: remaining places after Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () candidates allocated by criteria 2-3.

    The policy's own words
    5. In the event that places remain after those who have taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment have been admitted,

Source: St Patrick's Academy Dungannon, checked

More detail from our guide

The academy's latest published rules are its "Admissions criteria for entry September 2026St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: Admissions criteria for entry September 2026View the official source". They applied to last year's intake. The criteria for September 2027 entry are St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by St Patrick's Academy Dungannon; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: Download Admissions Criteria for 2026-27View the official source, and the governors can change them, so use what follows as a guide only.

The main rule: score order

Places allocated in strict TSAS rank order to the admission number of 189; non-takers considered only if places remain.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Academic selection (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: The School will initially consider, for the 189 available places, those candidates who have taken the Assessment provided.View the official source Is there a minimum? No minimum score stated; strict rank order to 189.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Entrance threshold (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: in rank order, highest score to lowest, until all places have been filled up to the school admission number of 189.View the official source Children living in Northern Ireland had priority over those living elsewhere.

When scores are equal

Here, the order of your preferences counts. The 2026 tie-break chain:

  • First preference. Children whose transfer form listed the academy first.
  • Family. One combined group. It covered a brother or sister there now or in the past: Criterion 3 (joint with eldest/only child): a sibling (another child of the family, including half brothers and sisters, adopted and fostered children and orphaned cousins brought up by the family) enrolled at the time of application, or a sibling who previously attended.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: 3. A pupil who has a sibling (another child of the family; to include half brothers and sisters, adopted and fostered children and orphaned cousins being brought up by the family) enrolled in the school at the time of application or a pupil who is the only child or eldest child in the family* eligible to transfer to a mainstream post primary school ** in Northern Ireland or a pupil who is the sibling of a pupil who previously attended St Patrick’s Academy.View the official source It also covered the eldest or only child: Criterion 3 (joint with sibling): only child or eldest child eligible to transfer to a mainstream post-primary school in NI; twins/multiples first-born count as eldest; an older sibling in a Learning Support unit is not treated as having transferred to mainstream; verification (GP, clergy, primary school) required.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: If Parents/Carers indicate on an application that the child is the eldest in the family eligible to transfer to a mainstream post primary school in Northern Ireland or an only child, verification must be provided e.g. a letter from GP, local clergy, Primary School.View the official source
  • Random selection. A balloted surname-letter order, then a computer draw for identical names. The full letter order is in the table below.
Final tie-break as printed (2026 entry)
Surname initial in the balloted order Q P A R C V L M W N T B Z H O G F K U S Y X D I J E (approved by the Board 23 October 2025), subsequent letters and forenames alphabetically; identical names by computerised random selection.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: (ii) Random selection: In the event that the school cannot distinguish between pupils with exactly the same surname and forenames, computerised random selection will be used to determine rank order.View the official source

So if your child is near the cut-off score, putting St Patrick's first could make a difference. Only do that if it really is your first choice.

Other points from the 2026 criteria

  • No feeder schools or free school meals rule. Neither was part of the criteria.
  • No SEAG result: Expected to sit SEAG unless resident in NI only after 25 September 2025; if places remain after SEAG candidates, remaining places allocated by criteria 2-3. Pupils who sat only one paper must apply for Special Provision or will not be ranked.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: 5. In the event that places remain after those who have taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment have been admitted, then remaining places will be allocated using the Admissions Criteria 2–3, in the order set down, until the final place has been allocated. ... Applicants who were only able to sit one test should apply for Special Provision (See Section 3). Failure to do so will result in the applicant not being ranked.View the official source
  • Special circumstances: SC Form from the Special Circumstances Pack uploaded with verified independent evidence (medical evidence adjacent to the assessment; P5-P7 standardised English/Maths results) to the Transfer Application; Sub-Committee decides whether to adjust the score.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: Parents/Carers who have any concerns that medical or other problems affected their child just before or during the SEAG Entrance Assessment must complete a claim for Special Circumstances (SC Form) and upload it with the verified independent evidence to the Transfer Application.View the official source
  • Waiting list: Ranked list used as a waiting list up to 31 October 2026.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: The school will retain the list of applicants in ranked order according to the published criteria and this list will be used ... as a waiting list by the school to determine which child or children can be admitted up to 31 October 2026.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

The academy has confirmed its plans for next year's intake: The Academy states it will use the SEAG Entrance Test (sat November 2026) for entry in 2027/28.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Entry2027 selectionChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: The Academy will be using the SEAG Entrance Test for entry in 2027/28. Test undertaken in November 2026.View the official source

It is also a test centre, and it is giving children who sit there a chance to get used to the rooms and the routine first. The school's own list of dates: Familiarisation sessions 19 and 20 October 2026; SEAG Paper 1 Saturday 14 November 2026, Paper 2 Saturday 21 November 2026; results Saturday 23 January 2027.St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: Seag test centre datesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Patrick's Academy Dungannon.The source says: Saturday 14th November 2026 – Entrance Assessment Paper 1 ... Saturday 21st November 2026 – Entrance Assessment Paper 2 ... Saturday 23rd January 2027 – SEAG Outcomes Available ... Familiarisation will take place on 19th & 20th October 2026.View the official source

The test is the SEAG Entrance AssessmentSt Patrick’s Academy Dungannon: 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, set by GL AssessmentSEAG (Northern Ireland): Setter markerChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: The SEAG Entrance Assessment is being set and marked by GL Assessment.View the official source. St Patrick's ranks children on their Total Standardised Age Score (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), from highest to lowest. It does not group them by band. One thing to watch: a child who only manages one of the two papers will not be ranked unless the family applies for Special Provision.

Our SEAG transfer test guide and results explained cover the scoring in more depth.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Day (passed)

Source: St Patrick's Academy Dungannon, 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 the academy cannot offer your child a place, the Education Authority moves on to the next school you listed.

You may appeal against the decision. Appeals go to: 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 A tribunal checks one thing: The school did not apply, or did not correctly apply, its admissions criteria.Northern Ireland: GroundsChecked 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 At St Patrick's that might be your child's score position, whether first preference was recorded, or whether a sibling or eldest-child claim was counted. Only information on the form counts, so fill it in fully.

Appeals for September 2027 entry must be in by 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. Last year's 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. You apply on 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

5 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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