As reported on the Belfast Telegraph 24th January 2017 (and this is a such a valued piece of research) , please find attached the details of the grammar school intakes that took place in September 2017. 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 2016, 2015 and 2014.
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:
Campbell College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 168
1st Preference – 127
Approved Enrolment – 130
Highest Grade 2017 – AQE 124, GL A
Lowest Grade 2017 – AQE 94, GL C1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – AQE 88, GL C1
Lowest Grade 2015 – AQE 89
Lowest Grade 2014 – AQE 84
Hunterhouse College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 180
1st Preference – 73
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Grade 2017 – AQE 117, GL 98
Lowest Grade 2017 – AQE 88, GL 20
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – AQE 88, GL 20
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 – 214
1st Preference – 192
Approved Enrolment – 140
Highest Grade 2017 – Band 1
Lowest Grade 2017 – Band 4
Previous Years
Lowest Grade – AQE 94-98, GL 30-39
Lowest Grade 2015 – GL C1
Lowest Grade 2014 – GL C1
St Patrick’s Grammar School (Downpatrick)
Total Applications – 129
1st Preference – 109
Approved Enrolment – 96
Highest Grade 2017 – Band 1
Lowest Grade 2017 – Band 4
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – Band 4
Lowest Grade 2015 – unknown
Lowest Grade 2014 – unknown
Victoria College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 150
1st Preference – 99
Approved Enrolment – 130
Highest Grade 2017 – Band 1 (AQE 124 GL A)
Lowest Grade 2017 – Band 5
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – Band 4
Lowest Grade 2015 – AQE 99, GL 40
Lowest Grade 2014 – AQE 94, GL D
Wellington College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 110
1st Preference – 89
Approved Enrolment – 160
Highest Grade 2017 – AQE 123, GL A
Lowest Grade 2017 – AQE 88, GL C1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – Band 4
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 – 146
1st Preference – 134
Approved Enrolment – 125
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – C1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – B1
Lowest Grade 2015 – B1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School (Belfast)
Total Applications – 203
1st Preference – 165
Approved Enrolment – 110
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – A
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – A
Lowest Grade 2015 – A
Lowest Grade 2014 – A
Assumption Grammar School (Ballynahinch)
Total Applications – 145
1st Preference – 126
Approved Enrolment – 120
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – C1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – B2
Lowest Grade 2015 – B2
Lowest Grade 2014 – C2
Christian Brothers School (Omagh)
Total Applications – 150
1st Preference – 150
Approved Enrolment – 135
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – C2
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – D
Lowest Grade 2015 – C1
Lowest Grade 2014 – D
Dominican College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 187
1st Preference – 158
Approved Enrolment – 150
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – C2
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – C2
Lowest Grade 2015 – C1
Lowest Grade 2014 – C2
Dominican College (Portstewart)
Total Applications – 118
1st Preference – 117
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – C2
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – C1
Lowest Grade 2015 – C2
Lowest Grade 2014 – C1
Loreto Grammar School (Omagh)
Total Applications – 190
1st Preference – 151
Approved Enrolment – 125
Highest Score 2017 – 282
Lowest Score 2017 – 222
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 221
Lowest Score 2015 – 216
Lowest Score 2014 – 217
Lumen Christi College (Derry / Londonderry)
Total Applications – 200
1st Preference – 198
Approved Enrolment – 120
Highest Score 2017 – 282
Lowest Score 2017 – 246
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 244
Lowest Score 2015 – 245
Lowest Score 2014 – 250
Mount Lourdes Grammar School (Enniskillen)
Total Applications – 132
1st Preference – 130
Approved Enrolment – 96
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – B2
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – C2
Lowest Grade 2015 – B2
Lowest Grade 2014 – C1
Our Lady’s Grammar School (Newry)
Total Applications – 173
1st Preference – 123
Approved Enrolment – 120
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – B1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – B1
Lowest Grade 2015 – B1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
Our Lady & St Patrick’s College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 225
1st Preference – 200
Approved Enrolment – 180
Highest Grade 2017 – A (282)
Lowest Grade 2017 – A (234)
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – A
Lowest Score 2015 – 234
Lowest Score 2014 – 242
Rainey Endowed School (Magherafelt)
Total Applications – 170
1st Preference – 140
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Score 2017 – 280
Lowest Score 2017 – 228
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 226
Lowest Score 2015 – 223
Lowest Score 2014 – 225
Rathmore Grammar School (Belfast)
Total Applications – 275
1st Preference – 261
Approved Enrolment – 180
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – A
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – A
Lowest Grade 2015 – A
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
Sacred Heart Grammar (Newry)
Total Applications – 194
1st Preference – 174
Approved Enrolment – 120
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – A
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – A
Lowest Grade 2015 – B1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
St Colman’s College (Newry)
Total Applications – 148
1st Preference – 136
Approved Enrolment – 125
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – C1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – A
Lowest Grade 2015 – B1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
St Columb’s College (Derry / Londonderry)
Total Applications – 238
1st Preference – 196
Approved Enrolment – 220
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – D
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – D
Lowest Grade 2015 – D
Lowest Grade 2014 – C1
St Dominic’s School (Belfast)
Total Applications – 205
1st Preference – 184
Approved Enrolment – 141
Highest Grade – A
Lowest Grade – B1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – B1
Lowest Score 2015 – 231
Lowest Score 2014 – 224
St. Joseph’s Grammar School (Donaghmore)
Total Applications – 103
1st Preference – 90
Approved Enrolment – 70
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – B1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – A
Lowest Grade 2015 – A
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
St Louis Grammar School (Ballymena)
Total Applications – 204
1st Preference – 200
Approved Enrolment – 139
Highest Score 2017 – 277
Lowest Score 2017 – 230
Previous Years
Lowest Score – 230
Lowest Score 2015 – 226
Lowest Score 2014 – 225
St Louis Grammar School (Kilkeel)
Total Applications – 99
1st Preference – 89
Approved Enrolment – 80
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – D
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – C1
Lowest Grade 2015 – C1
Lowest Grade 2014 – C2
St Malachy’s College (Belfast)
Total Applications – 238
1st Preference – 200
Approved Enrolment – 150
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – B1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – C1
Lowest Grade 2015 – B1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B1
St. Mary’s Christian Brother’s Grammar (Belfast)
Total Applications – 225
1st Preference – 176
Approved Enrolment – 175
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – D
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – D
Lowest Grade 2015 – D
Lowest Grade 2014 – D
St Mary’s Grammar School (Magherafelt)
Total Applications – 165
1st Preference – 142
Approved Enrolment – 153
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – C1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – B2
Lowest Score 2015 – 228
Lowest Grade 2014 – B2
St Michael’s College (Enniskillen)
Total Applications – 115
1st Preference – 114
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – D
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – D
Lowest Score 2015 – 202
Lowest Grade 2014 – B2
St Patrick’s Academy (Dungannon)
Total Applications – 262
1st Preference – 249
Approved Enrolment – 193
Highest Score 2017 – 274
Lowest Score 2017 – 230
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 229
Lowest Score 2015 – 224
Lowest Grade 2014 – D
Thornhill College (Derry / Londonderry)
Total Applications – 240
1st Preference – 215
Approved Enrolment – 200
Highest Grade 2017 – A
Lowest Grade 2017 – C1
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – C2
Lowest Grade 2015 – C1
Lowest Grade 2014 – B2
Schools – where AQE scores are used:
Antrim Grammar (Antrim)
Total Applications – 159
1st Preference – 140
Approved Enrolment – 112
Highest Grade 2017 – 106+
Lowest Grade 2017 – 99-102
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – AQE 94-98
Lowest Grade 2015 – AQE 89, GL 31
Lowest Grade 2014 – AQE 89, no GL
Ballyclare High School (Ballyclare)
Total Applications – 186
1st Preference – 170
Approved Enrolment – 186
Highest Score 2017 – 123
Lowest Score 2017 – 54*
*This score of 54 may look very low but Ballyclare High School had 186 applications and also 186 approved enrolment, so in 2017 they were able to take everyone who applied last year and the lowest score of all the applications was 54.
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016- 97
Lowest Score 2015 – 98
Lowest Score 2014 – 96
Ballymena Academy (Ballymena)
Total Applications – 176
1st Preference – 170
Approved Enrolment – 176
Highest Score 2017 – 122
Lowest Score 2017 – 81
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 94
Lowest Grade 2015 – unknown
Lowest Grade 2014 – unknown
Banbridge Academy (Banbridge)
Total Applications – 211
1st Preference – 195
Approved Enrolment – 184
Highest Score 2017 – 127
Lowest Score 2017 – 99
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 102
Lowest Grade 2015 – 102
Lowest Grade 2014 – 99
Bangor Grammar (Bangor)
Total Applications – 170
1st Preference – 155
Approved Enrolment – 125
Highest Score 2017 – 124
Lowest Score 2017 – 100
Previous Years
Lowest Grade 2016 – 102
Lowest Grade 2015 – 98
Lowest Grade 2014 – 101
Belfast High School (Belfast)
Total Applications – 187
1st Preference – 168
Approved Enrolment – 136
Highest Score 2017 – 127
Lowest Score 2017 – 99
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 101
Lowest Grade 2015 – 95
Lowest Grade 2014 – 99
Belfast Royal Academy (Belfast)
Total Applications – 268
1st Preference – 203
Approved Enrolment – 200
Highest Score 2017 – 128
Lowest Score 2017 – 99
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 97
Lowest Grade 2015 – 97
Lowest Grade 2014 – 99
Bloomfield Collegiate (Belfast)
Total Applications – 162
1st Preference – 106
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Score 2017 – 122
Lowest Score 2017 – 90
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 85
Lowest Grade 2015 – 90
Lowest Grade 2014 – 91
Cambridge House Grammar (Ballymena)
Total Applications – 171
1st Preference – 152
Approved Enrolment – 140
Highest Score 2017 – 120
Lowest Score 2017 – 85
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 87
Lowest Score 2015 – 85
Lowest Score 2014 – 84
Carrickfergus Grammar (Carrickfergus)
Total Applications – 172
1st Preference – 133
Approved Enrolment – 116
Highest Score 2017 – 124
Lowest Score 2017 – 95
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 97
Lowest Grade 2015 – 80
Lowest Grade 2014 – 94
Coleraine Grammar School (Coleraine)
Total Applications – 171
1st Preference – 124
Approved Enrolment – 156
Highest Score 2017 – 124
Lowest Score 2017 – 86
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 94
Lowest Grade 2015 – 92
Lowest Grade 2014 – unknown
Dalriada School (Ballymoney)
Total Applications – 174
1st Preference – 173
Approved Enrolment – 125
Highest Score 2017 – 124
Lowest Score 2017 – 104
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 105
Lowest Grade 2015 – 101
Lowest Grade 2014 – 103
Down High School (Downpatrick)
Total Applications – 139
1st Preference – 122
Approved Enrolment – 128
Highest Score 2017 – 125
Lowest Score 2017 – 77
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 100
Lowest Grade 2015 – 98
Lowest Grade 2014 – 101
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School (Enniskillen)
Total Applications – 163
1st Preference – 159
Approved Enrolment – 130
Highest Score 2017 – 121
Lowest Score 2017 – 95
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 94
Lowest Grade 2015 – Collegiate AQE 63, Portora GL 214
Lowest Grade 2014 – Collegiate AQE 98, Portora GL 206
Foyle College (Derry / Londonderry)
Total Applications – 151
1st Preference – 139
Approved Enrolment – 126
Highest Score 2017 – 123
Lowest Score 2017 – 88
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 86
Lowest Grade 2015 – 83
Lowest Grade 2014 – 77
Friends School (Lisburn)
Total Applications – 267
1st Preference – 211
Approved Enrolment – 140
Highest Score 2017 – 126
Lowest Score 2017 – 106
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 106
Lowest Grade 2015 – 106
Lowest Grade 2014 – 106
Glenlola Collegiate (Bangor)
Total Applications – 178
1st Preference – 156
Approved Enrolment – 157
Highest Score 2017 – 125
Lowest Score 2017 – 85
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 80
Lowest Grade 2015 – 91
Lowest Grade 2014 – 90
Grosvenor Grammar (Belfast)
Total Applications – 246
1st Preference – 205
Approved Enrolment – 155
Highest Score 2017 – 128
Lowest Score 2017 – 102
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 101
Lowest Grade 2015 – 76
Lowest Grade 2014 – 104
Larne Grammar (Larne)
Total Applications – 161
1st Preference – 140
Approved Enrolment – 110
Highest Score 2017 – 124
Lowest Score 2017 – 93
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 92
Lowest Grade 2015 – 86
Lowest Grade 2014 – 90
Limavady Grammar (Limavady)
Total Applications – 157
1st Preference – 150
Approved Enrolment – 130
Highest Score 2017 – 124
Lowest Score 2017 – 88
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 86
Lowest Grade 2015 – 86
Lowest Grade 2014 – 87
Methodist College Belfast
Total Applications – 279
1st Preference – 222
Approved Enrolment – 240
Highest Score 2017 – 127
Lowest Score 2017 – 95
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 100
Lowest Grade 2015 – 100
Lowest Grade 2014 – 95
Omagh Academy (Omagh)
Total Applications – 103
1st Preference – 99
Approved Enrolment – 95
Highest Score 2017 – 125
Lowest Score 2017 – 81
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 89
Lowest Grade 2015 – 63
Lowest Grade 2014 – 90
Regent House (Newtownards)
Total Applications – 281
1st Preference – 240
Approved Enrolment – 210
Highest Score 2017 – 125
Lowest Score 2017 – 97
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 99
Lowest Grade 2015 – 94
Lowest Grade 2014 – 98
Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Belfast)
Total Applications – 188
1st Preference – 105
Approved Enrolment – 150
Highest Score 2017 – 126
Lowest Score 2017 – 93
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 94
Lowest Grade 2015 – 94
Lowest Grade 2014 – 91
Royal School Armagh
Total Applications – 119
1st Preference – 111
Approved Enrolment – 100
Highest Score 2017 – 123
Lowest Score 2017 – 92
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 102
Lowest Grade 2015 – unknown
Lowest Grade 2014 – unknown
Royal School Dungannon
Total Applications – 102
1st Preference – 99
Approved Enrolment – 93
Highest Score 2017 – 124
Lowest Score 2017 – 81Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 91
Lowest Grade 2015 – 92
Lowest Grade 2014 – 72
Strabane Academy (Strabane)
Total Applications – 88
1st Preference – 88
Approved Enrolment – 110
Highest Score 2017 – 121
Lowest Score 2017 – 74
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 82Lowest Grade 2015 – 98
Lowest Grade 2014 – 101
Strathearn School (Belfast)
Total Applications – 124
1st Preference – 117
Approved Enrolment – 110
Highest Score 2017 – Band 103-125
Lowest Score 2017 – Band 96 – 102
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 102
Lowest Grade 2015 – 104
Lowest Grade 2014 – 98
Sullivan Upper (Holywood)
Total Applications – 185
1st Preference – 153
Approved Enrolment – 150
Highest Score 2017 – 126
Lowest Score 2017 – 99
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 98
Lowest Grade 2015 – 102
Lowest Grade 2014 – 100
Wallace High School (Lisburn)
Total Applications – 289
1st Preference – 205
Approved Enrolment – 170
Highest Score 2017 – 121+
Lowest Score 2017 – Band 101-105
Previous Years
Lowest Score 2016 – 101-105
Lowest Grade 2015 – 94
Lowest Grade 2014 – 94
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