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Ballyclare Secondary School

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19 Doagh Road, Ballyclare, BT39 9BG

Non-selective · Mixed · Controlled

Pupils
1,036
Year 8
194
Council
Antrim and Newtownabbey

Your chances

against these criteria.

How it chooses when it has more applicants than places, in order:

  1. Children whose parent/guardian has indicated a first or second preference for the school.
  2. Children for whom the school is the nearest controlled secondary school to their normal residence, measured as the crow flies.
  3. Children with siblings currently enrolled at the school, or who are former pupils.
  4. Children who are the eldest or only child in the family.
  5. Tie-breaker, if still tied at criterion 4: surname initial letter in a published randomised order, then random selection.

The school's criteria

Getting in

Everyone who put it first was offered a place in 2026/27 (147 children).

Applications per place (all preferences): 1 in 2024/25, 1 in 2025/26, 0.9 in 2026/27.

Results for its intake

Expected about 65%, got 52.7% (5+ GCSEs A* to C with English and maths, 2024/25).

0%50%100%0%40%80%Pupils on free school meals
Each dot is a non-selective school with 30 or more Year 12 pupils. The dashed line is what schools usually get at each free school meals level.

Getting there

School bus from Ballyboley, Carrickfergus, Cloughfern/Monkstown, Dixons Corner, Glengormley, Moorfields/The Battery, New Mossley, Steens Corner. Routes

Who applied

Applications by the preference families gave the school, and children admitted
YearPlacesPut it 1st2nd3rd or laterAdmitted
2024/25180166128180
2025/26180158213180
2026/27180147164167

In 2026/27, 147 of the 147 children who put it first got a place here.

Each child counts once, at the preference their family gave this school. Figures at the end of the admissions procedure, from the Education Authority's analysis of preferences.

Pupils (October 2025)

Free school meals
24.7%
Special educational needs
219 pupils (104 with a statement)
Has Years 13 and 14
Yes
Area
Urban

Religious background of pupilsProtestant 69.2%, Catholic 2.8%, other or none 28%

Exam results (2024/25)

5+ GCSEs A* to C, with English and maths
52.7%
5+ GCSEs A* to C
67.9%
3+ A-levels A* to C
46.2%
2+ A-levels A* to E
94.2%
Year 12 pupils counted
165
A-level pupils counted
52

Source: Department of Education, SAER 2024/25, Open Government Licence.

Admissions

From the school's admissions criteria for September 2026.

Year 8 places: 180 (whole school: 960)

Applications and admissions in recent years
YearPlacesApplications (all preferences)Admitted
2023/24180189180
2024/25180190180
2025/26180193193

Applications count every family that named the school at any preference, not only first preferences.

School's note: *The Total Admissions for year 2025/2026 includes all Year 8 children admitted to the school including those who have a statement of special educational needs and/or may be attending SPiMS. (SPiMS = Specialist Provision in Mainstream School)

Does not use transfer test results in its admissions criteria.

Sources

DENI reference 3210134

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