How many schools should I put on the transfer application?

The Department of Education advises naming at least four schools, including at least one non-grammar school, in order of preference. There is no limit on how many you can list. Listing too few risks a child being left with only the schools that still have places at the end of the process (DE Circular 2026/19).

When do post-primary applications open for September 2027?

The Education Authority publishes each school’s admissions criteria on Wednesday 9 December 2026. The online application portal opens at 12 noon on Wednesday 27 January 2027 and closes at 12 noon on Wednesday 3 March 2027. Outcomes are sent on Saturday 8 May 2027 (DE Circular 2026/18).

Which grammar schools are not SEAG members?

6 of Northern Ireland’s 66 grammar schools are not on SEAG’s member list: Dominican College, Portstewart; Loreto College, Coleraine; Lurgan College; Portadown College; St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh; St Ronan's College, Lurgan. Check each school’s admissions criteria to see how it gives out places. Three non-grammar integrated colleges are SEAG members: Lagan College, Belfast; Slemish Integrated College, Ballymena; Strangford Integrated College, Newtownards.

Where do the figures come from?

School type, management, council, pupil numbers, free school meals, special educational needs and religious background come from the Department of Education school census of October 2025. Exam results come from the Department of Education SAER 2024/25. SEAG membership comes from SEAG’s member list. Each school card lists its sources.

How are distances worked out?

Distances are straight lines from the point you choose to each school’s address, not travel distances. If you use “near me” or a postcode, the location is used in your browser for the search and is not saved.

Free for Northern Ireland families

Find post-primary schools near you

Every grammar and non-selective school near you, nearest first, with official figures. Save the ones you like and plan your transfer list for September 2027.

Nearest first
Enter a postcode or use your location to see the schools closest to you, grammar and non-selective.
Official figures
Facts from the Department of Education and each school’s own admissions criteria, each with its source and date. No rankings.
Plan your list
Save schools in the order you prefer. We check it against the Department’s advice: at least four, including a non-grammar.

All 188 post-primary schools in Northern Ireland

66 grammar schools and 122 non-selective schools, by council area. From the DE school census 2025/26 (October 2025).

Antrim and Newtownabbey10 schools

Newtownabbey · Non-selective
Antrim · Grammar
Ballyclare · Grammar
Ballyclare · Non-selective
Newtownabbey · Grammar
Crumlin · Non-selective
Newtownabbey · Non-selective
Newtownabbey · Non-selective
Antrim · Non-selective
Randalstown · Non-selective

Ards and North Down12 schools

Bangor · Non-selective
Bangor · Grammar
Ballyhalbert · Non-selective
Bangor · Grammar
Newtownards · Non-selective
Comber · Non-selective
Holywood · Non-selective
Newtownards · Grammar
Portaferry · Non-selective
Bangor · Non-selective
Millisle · Non-selective
Holywood · Grammar

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon23 schools

Banbridge · Grammar
Banbridge · Non-selective
Armagh · Non-selective
Craigavon · Non-selective
Craigavon · Non-selective
Portadown · Non-selective
Dromore · Non-selective
Portadown · Non-selective
Craigavon · Non-selective
Lurgan · Grammar
Lurgan · Non-selective
Markethill · Non-selective
Loughbrickland · Non-selective
Portadown · Grammar
Rathfriland · Non-selective
Armagh · Non-selective
Portadown · Non-selective
Banbridge · Non-selective
Armagh · Grammar
Keady · Non-selective
Lurgan · Grammar
Tandragee · Non-selective
Armagh · Grammar

Belfast32 schools

Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Grammar
Newtownabbey · Non-selective
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Grammar
Dunmurry · Non-selective
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Non-selective
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Grammar
Belfast · Grammar

Causeway Coast and Glens14 schools

Ballycastle · Non-selective
Ballymoney · Non-selective
Coleraine · Non-selective
Coleraine · Grammar
Ballycastle · Non-selective
Ballymoney · Grammar
Portstewart · Grammar
Dungiven · Non-selective
Limavady · Grammar
Limavady · Non-selective
Coleraine · Grammar
Ballymoney · Non-selective
Limavady · Non-selective
Dungiven · Non-selective

Derry City and Strabane14 schools

Castlederg · Non-selective
Londonderry · Grammar
Strabane · Non-selective
Londonderry · Non-selective
Londonderry · Grammar
Londonderry · Non-selective
Londonderry · Non-selective
Londonderry · Non-selective
Londonderry · Grammar
Londonderry · Non-selective
Londonderry · Non-selective
Claudy · Non-selective
Strabane · Grammar
Londonderry · Grammar

Fermanagh and Omagh18 schools

Omagh · Grammar
Carrickmore · Non-selective
Enniskillen · Non-selective
Omagh · Non-selective
Enniskillen · Grammar
Enniskillen · Non-selective
Omagh · Grammar
Enniskillen · Grammar
Omagh · Grammar
Omagh · Non-selective
Omagh · Non-selective
Derrylin · Non-selective
Enniskillen · Non-selective
Dromore · Non-selective
Enniskillen · Non-selective
Lisnaskea · Non-selective
Irvinestown · Non-selective
Enniskillen · Grammar

Lisburn and Castlereagh9 schools

Belfast · Non-selective
Dundonald · Non-selective
Lisburn · Non-selective
Lisburn · Grammar
Castlereagh · Non-selective
Lisburn · Non-selective
Lisburn · Non-selective
Lisburn · Non-selective
Lisburn · Grammar

Mid and East Antrim13 schools

Ballymena · Grammar
Ballymena · Grammar
Carrickfergus · Non-selective
Carrickfergus · Grammar
Cullybackey · Non-selective
Ballymena · Non-selective
Larne · Grammar
Larne · Non-selective
Ballymena · Non-selective
Carnlough · Non-selective
Ballymena · Grammar
Ballymena · Non-selective
Carrickfergus · Non-selective

Mid Ulster20 schools

Aughnacloy · Non-selective
Cookstown · Non-selective
Dungannon · Non-selective
Fivemiletown · Non-selective
Cookstown · Non-selective
Dungannon · Non-selective
Magherafelt · Non-selective
Magherafelt · Grammar
Magherafelt · Non-selective
Ballygawley · Non-selective
Draperstown · Non-selective
Clady · Non-selective
Coalisland · Non-selective
Dungannon · Grammar
Magherafelt · Grammar
Dungannon · Grammar
Dungannon · Non-selective
Maghera · Non-selective
Magherafelt · Non-selective
Dungannon · Grammar

Newry, Mourne and Down23 schools

Newry · Grammar
Ballynahinch · Grammar
Downpatrick · Non-selective
Downpatrick · Grammar
Kilkeel · Non-selective
Downpatrick · Grammar
Newry · Non-selective
Newtownhamilton · Non-selective
Newry · Grammar
Newry · Grammar
Saintfield · Non-selective
Newcastle · Non-selective
Newry · Grammar
Ballynahinch · Non-selective
Crossgar · Non-selective
Newry · Non-selective
Crossmaglen · Non-selective
Kilkeel · Grammar
Castlewellan · Non-selective
Warrenpoint · Non-selective
Newry · Non-selective
Bessbrook · Non-selective
Ballynahinch · Non-selective

Questions parents ask

How many schools should I put on the transfer application?: The Department of Education advises naming at least four schools, including at least one non-grammar school, in order of preference. There is no limit on how many you can list. Listing too few risks a child being left with only the schools that still have places at the end of the process (DE Circular 2026/19).
When do post-primary applications open for September 2027?: The Education Authority publishes each school’s admissions criteria on Wednesday 9 December 2026. The online application portal opens at 12 noon on Wednesday 27 January 2027 and closes at 12 noon on Wednesday 3 March 2027. Outcomes are sent on Saturday 8 May 2027 (DE Circular 2026/18).
Which grammar schools are not SEAG members?: 6 of Northern Ireland’s 66 grammar schools are not on SEAG’s member list: Dominican College, Portstewart; Loreto College, Coleraine; Lurgan College; Portadown College; St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh; St Ronan's College, Lurgan. Check each school’s admissions criteria to see how it gives out places. Three non-grammar integrated colleges are SEAG members: Lagan College, Belfast; Slemish Integrated College, Ballymena; Strangford Integrated College, Newtownards.
Where do the figures come from?: School type, management, council, pupil numbers, free school meals, special educational needs and religious background come from the Department of Education school census of October 2025. Exam results come from the Department of Education SAER 2024/25. SEAG membership comes from SEAG’s member list. Each school card lists its sources.
How are distances worked out?: Distances are straight lines from the point you choose to each school’s address, not travel distances. If you use “near me” or a postcode, the location is used in your browser for the search and is not saved.

Sources and notes

School list, type, management, council, pupil numbers, free school meals, special educational needs and religious background: Department of Education, School enrolment: post primary school level data 2025/26, census day 10 October 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results: Department of Education, SAER 2024/25. Source: Department of Education, SAER 2024/25, Open Government Licence.
SEAG membership: SEAG member schools, checked 15 October 2026 (63 schools).
Admissions figures and criteria come from each school's own admissions criteria document. Applications count every family that named the school at any preference, not only first preferences. Find every school's criteria on the Education Authority website.
Causeway Academy in Coleraine opened in September 2026, replacing Dunluce School, Coleraine College and North Coast Integrated College. Its pupil numbers will appear after the next census.

Preparing for the SEAG test? Read the parents' guide or try the free gap check.

Find post-primary schools near you

Nearest first

Official figures

Plan your list

All 188 post-primary schools in Northern Ireland

Questions parents ask

Sources and notes