As reported on the Belfast Telegraph 27th January 2017, please find attached the details of the grammar school intakes that took place in September 2016. To offer a comparison and a trend, I have also included the information that was available for previous years and detailed the lowest scores that were accepted by the schools in 2015 and 2014.
Unlike the Belfast Telegraph, I have placed the schools into alphabetical order and they are in three groups – schools that accept AQE & GL, schools that accept only GL results and schools that accept only AQE results.
Parents should really only use these scores as a guide when completing their school preference form. The normal advice would be to opt for the school that is truly your first choice, regardless of previous scores, as each year these scores will vary (going up and down) depending on the number of applicants to each particular school. But it is my hope that this helps parents make some informed decisions during their child’s transition to ‘big school’.
Schools – where both AQE & GL scores / grades are used:
Antrim Grammar (Antrim)
Total Applications – 165
1st Preference – 141
Approved Enrolment – 105
Highest Grade – AQE 106+
Lowest Grade – AQE 94-98
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – AQE 89, GL 31
Lowest Grade 2014 – AQE 89, no GL
Campbell College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 153
1st Preference – 111
Approved Enrolment – 140
Highest Grade – AQE 119, GL A
Lowest Grade – AQE 88
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – AQE 89
Lowest Grade 2014 – AQE 84
Hunterhouse College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 180
1st Preference – 73
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Grade – AQE 122, GL 87
Lowest Grade – AQE 88, GL 20
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – AQE 88, GL 26
Lowest Grade 2014 – AQE 88, no GL
Lagan College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 408
1st Preference – 324
Approved Enrolment – 200
Highest Grade – AQE 121, GL 98
Lowest Grade – AQE 94, GL 33
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – AQE 99, GL 40 (and 35% admitted via non-ability route)
Lowest Grade 2014 – Not available
Slemish Integrated College (Ballymena)
Total Applications – 202
1st Preference – 170
Approved Enrolment – 120
Highest Grade – AQE 113, GL 80
Lowest Grade – AQE 94-98, GL 30-39
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – GL C1
Lowest Grade 2014 – GL C1
St Patrick’s Grammar School (Downpatrick)
Total Applications – 118
1st Preference – 112
Approved Enrolment – 96
Highest Grade – Band 1
Lowest Grade – Band 4
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – unknown
Lowest Grade 2014 – unknown
Victoria College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 180
1st Preference – 100
Approved Enrolment – 130
Highest Grade – Band 1 (AQE 124 GL A)
Lowest Grade – Band 4
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – AQE 99, GL 40
Lowest Grade 2014 – AQE 94, GL D
Wellington College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 233
1st Preference – 105
Approved Enrolment – 110
Highest Grade – Band 1
Lowest Grade – Band 4
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – AQE 94
Lowest Grade 2014 – AQE 94
Schools – where GL scores / grades are used:
Abbey Christian Brother’s Grammar School (Newry)
Total Applications – 168
1st Preference – 142
Approved Enrolment – 125
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – B1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – B1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School (Belfast)
Total Applications – 133
1st Preference – 117
Approved Enrolment – 110
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – A
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – A
Lowest Grade 2014 – A
Assumption Grammar School (Ballynahinch)
Total Applications – 173
1st Preference – 156
Approved Enrolment – 120
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – B2
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – B2
Lowest Grade 2014 – C2
Christian Brothers School (Omagh)
Total Applications – 151
1st Preference – 149
Approved Enrolment – 135
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – D
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – C1
Lowest Grade 2014 – D
Dominican College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 160
1st Preference – 140
Approved Enrolment – 150
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – C2
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – C1
Lowest Grade 2014 – C2
Dominican College (Portstewart)
Total Applications – 116
1st Preference – 100
Approved Enrolment – 69
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – C1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – C2
Lowest Grade 2014 – C1
Loreto Grammar School (Omagh)
Total Applications – 150
1st Preference – 145
Approved Enrolment – 125
Highest Score – 282
Lowest Score – 221
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2015 – 216
Lowest Score 2014 – 217
Lumen Christi College (Derry / Londonderry)
Total Applications – 185
1st Preference – 183
Approved Enrolment – 120
Highest Score – 278
Lowest Score – 244
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2015 – 245
Lowest Score 2014 – 250
Mount Lourdes Grammar School (Enniskillen)
Total Applications – 102
1st Preference – 102
Approved Enrolment – 96
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – C2
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – B2
Lowest Grade 2014 – C1
Our Lady’s Grammar School (Newry)
Total Applications – 151
1st Preference – 125
Approved Enrolment – 120
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – B1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – B1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
Our Lady & St Patrick’s College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 212
1st Preference – 205
Approved Enrolment – 180
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – A
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2015 – 234
Lowest Score 2014 – 242
Rainey Endowed School (Magherafelt)
Total Applications – 170
1st Preference – 140
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Score – 282
Lowest Score – 226
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2015 – 223
Lowest Score 2014 – 225
Rathmore Grammar School (Belfast)
Total Applications – 226
1st Preference – 217
Approved Enrolment – 180
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – A
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – A
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
Sacred Heart Grammar (Newry)
Total Applications – 191
1st Preference – 181
Approved Enrolment – 120
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – A
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – B1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
St Colman’s College (Newry)
Total Applications – 192
1st Preference – 172
Approved Enrolment – 125
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – A
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – B1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
St Columb’s College (Derry / Londonderry)
Total Applications – 242
1st Preference – 219
Approved Enrolment – 220
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – D
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – D
Lowest Grade 2014 – C1
St Dominic’s School (Belfast)
Total Applications – 213
1st Preference – 200
Approved Enrolment – 141
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – B1
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2015 – 231
Lowest Score 2014 – 224
St. Joseph’s Grammar School (Donaghmore)
Total Applications – 122
1st Preference – 104
Approved Enrolment – 70
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – A
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – A
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
St Louis Grammar School (Ballymena)
Total Applications – 199
1st Preference – 191
Approved Enrolment – 139
Highest Score – 279
Lowest Score – 230
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2015 – 226
Lowest Score 2014 – 225
St Louis Grammar School (Kilkeel)
Total Applications – 122
1st Preference – 101
Approved Enrolment – 80
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – C1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – C1
Lowest Grade 2014 – C2
St Malachy’s College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 161
1st Preference – 149
Approved Enrolment – 150
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – C1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – B1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
St. Mary’s Christian Brother’s Grammar (Belfast)
Total Applications – 201
1st Preference – 183
Approved Enrolment – 175
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – D
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – D
Lowest Grade 2014 – D
St Mary’s Grammar School (Magherafelt)
Total Applications – 183
1st Preference – 173
Approved Enrolment – 153
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – B2
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2015 – 228
Lowest Grade 2014 – B2
St Michael’s College (Enniskillen)
Total Applications – 102
1st Preference – 98
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – D
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2015 – 202
Lowest Grade 2014 – B2
St Patrick’s Academy (Dungannon)
Total Applications – 298
1st Preference – 269
Approved Enrolment – 189
Highest Score – 274
Lowest Score – 229
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2015 – 224
Lowest Grade 2014 – D
Thornhill College (Derry / Londonderry)
Total Applications – 239
1st Preference – 209
Approved Enrolment – 200
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – C2
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – C1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B2
Schools – where AQE scores are used:
Ballyclare High School (Ballyclare)
Total Applications – 219
1st Preference – 194
Approved Enrolment – 186
Highest Score – 124
Lowest Score – 97
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2015 – 98
Lowest Score 2014 – 96
Ballymena Academy (Ballymena)
Total Applications – 202
1st Preference – 192
Approved Enrolment – 176
Highest Score – 124
Lowest Score – 94
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – unknown
Lowest Grade 2014 – unknown
Banbridge Academy (Banbridge)
Total Applications – 243
1st Preference – 229
Approved Enrolment – 184
Highest Score – 124
Lowest Score – 102
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 102
Lowest Grade 2014 – 99
Bangor Grammar (Bangor)
Total Applications – 196
1st Preference – 178
Approved Enrolment – 125
Highest Score – 122
Lowest Score – 102
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 98
Lowest Grade 2014 – 101
Belfast High School (Belfast)
Total Applications – 220
1st Preference – 179
Approved Enrolment – 136
Highest Score – 124
Lowest Score – 101
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 95
Lowest Grade 2014 – 99
Belfast Royal Academy (Belfast)
Total Applications – 272
1st Preference – 240
Approved Enrolment – 200
Highest Score – 126
Lowest Score – 97
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 97
Lowest Grade 2014 – 99
Bloomfield Collegiate (Belfast)
Total Applications – 137
1st Preference – 71
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Score – 116
Lowest Score – 85
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 90
Lowest Grade 2014 – 91
Cambridge House Grammar (Ballymena)
Total Applications – 189
1st Preference – 147
Approved Enrolment – 140
Highest Score – 120
Lowest Score – 87
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 85
Lowest Grade 2014 – 84
Carrickfergus Grammar (Carrickfergus)
Total Applications – 201
1st Preference – 167
Approved Enrolment – 116
Highest Score – 122
Lowest Score – 97
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 80
Lowest Grade 2014 – 94
Coleraine Grammar School (Coleraine)
Total Applications – 218
1st Preference – 157
Approved Enrolment – 156
Highest Score – 126
Lowest Score – 94
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 92
Lowest Grade 2014 – unknown
Dalriada School (Ballymoney)
Total Applications – 198
1st Preference – 192
Approved Enrolment – 125
Highest Score – 125
Lowest Score – 105
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 101
Lowest Grade 2014 – 103
Down High School (Downpatrick)
Total Applications – 163
1st Preference – 154
Approved Enrolment – 128
Highest Score – 124
Lowest Score – 100
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 98
Lowest Grade 2014 – 101
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School (Enniskillen)
Total Applications – 159
1st Preference – 158
Approved Enrolment – 130
Highest Score – 121
Lowest Score – 94
Previous Years
This is an amalgamation of Collegiate Grammar Enniskillen & Portora Royal School
Lowest Grade 2015 – Collegiate AQE 63, Portora GL 214
Lowest Grade 2014 – Collegiate AQE 98, Portora GL 206
Foyle College (Derry / Londonderry)
Total Applications – 159
1st Preference – 152
Approved Enrolment – 121
Highest Score – 119
Lowest Score – 86
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 83
Lowest Grade 2014 – 77
Friends School (Lisburn)
Total Applications – 272
1st Preference – 220
Approved Enrolment – 140
Highest Score – 127
Lowest Score – 106
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 106
Lowest Grade 2014 – 106
Glenola Collegiate (Bangor)
Total Applications – 160
1st Preference – 135
Approved Enrolment – 157
Highest Score – 120
Lowest Score – 80
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 91
Lowest Grade 2014 – 90
Grosvenor Grammar (Belfast)
Total Applications – 306
1st Preference – 235
Approved Enrolment – 155
Highest Score – 125
Lowest Score – 101
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 76
Lowest Grade 2014 – 104
Larne Grammar (Larne)
Total Applications – 156
1st Preference – 140
Approved Enrolment – 110
Highest Score – 124
Lowest Score – 92
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 86
Lowest Grade 2014 – 90
Limavady Grammar (Limavady)
Total Applications – 150
1st Preference – 129
Approved Enrolment – 130
Highest Score – 123
Lowest Score – 86
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 86
Lowest Grade 2014 – 87
Methodist College Belfast
Total Applications – 306
1st Preference – 267
Approved Enrolment – 240
Highest Score – 127
Lowest Score – 100
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 100
Lowest Grade 2014 – 95
Omagh Academy (Omagh)
Total Applications – 112
1st Preference – 112
Approved Enrolment – 95
Highest Score – 122
Lowest Score – 89
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 63
Lowest Grade 2014 – 90
Regent House (Newtownards)
Total Applications – 313
1st Preference – 243
Approved Enrolment – 210
Highest Score – 124
Lowest Score – 99
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 94
Lowest Grade 2014 – 98
Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Belfast)
Total Applications – 231
1st Preference – 137
Approved Enrolment – 150
Highest Score – 125
Lowest Score – 94
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 94
Lowest Grade 2014 – 91
Royal School Armagh
Total Applications – 138
1st Preference – 134
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Score – 125
Lowest Score – 102
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – unknown
Lowest Grade 2014 – unknown
Royal School Dungannon
Total Applications – 121
1st Preference – 116
Approved Enrolment – 93
Highest Score – 129
Lowest Score – 91
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 92
Lowest Grade 2014 – 72
Strabane Academy (Strabane)
Total Applications – 75
1st Preference – 75
Approved Enrolment – 54
Highest Score – 118
Lowest Score – 82
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 98
Lowest Grade 2014 – 101
Strathearn School (Belfast)
Total Applications – 154
1st Preference – 140
Approved Enrolment – 110
Highest Score – 125
Lowest Score – 102
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 104
Lowest Grade 2014 – 98
Sullivan Upper (Holywood)
Total Applications – 191
1st Preference – 168
Approved Enrolment – 150
Highest Score – 125
Lowest Score – 98
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 102
Lowest Grade 2014 – 100
Wallace High School (Lisburn)
Total Applications – 299
1st Preference – 221
Approved Enrolment – 170
Highest Score – 121-125
Lowest Score – 101-105
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2015 – 94
Lowest Grade 2014 – 94
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