NI Grammar School Admission criteria for
September 2024
Admission criteria for grammar schools in Northern Ireland for entrance in September 2024 will have changed.
The previous Transfer Tests - either the AQE or GL (PPTC) version has been replaced by the SEAG Transfer Test. Almost all grammar schools will be using the results in the SEAG Transfer Tests as one of many criteria used as part of the admissions policy for entry into year 8 (first form).
Grammar School admission criteria can vary greatly from school to school and you should make yourself aware of all the criteria details as they will determine which children will be admitted to this school in September 2024.
Make sure that you provide the school with all the information that they require as the school will use the information that you provide when making their decision about which children are admitted in September 2024.
Down High School
Down High School a brief history.
The town commissioner and Cathedral organist, Mr AJH Coulter, was central to the founding of Down High School which opened its gates in September 1933 with ninety-six pupils. Down High School has a beautiful setting being built on one of the four distinctive hills in the town of Downpatrick. The walls surrounding the school are part of the original boundary walls of the old gaol. Originally there were two schools on the same site – the Grammar School and the Technical School. The complete site is now occupied by the grammar school – Down High School. The school continues to grow in size and now has over 900 pupils and over 50 teaching staff.
Down High School uses the new SEAG Single Entrance Transfer Test results as part of its intake criteria into year 8.