SEAGReady

Carrickfergus Grammar School

Save or compare in the school finderFind schools near you

120 North Road, Carrickfergus, BT38 7RA

Grammar · Mixed · Controlled · SEAG member

Pupils
761
Year 8
119
Council
Mid and East Antrim

Your chances

against these criteria.

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

  1. (1.1) Children resident in Northern Ireland at proposed admission are selected before any child not so resident.
  2. (1.2) SEAG TSAS (or a Special Circumstances/Provisions score) allocated in strict rank order, highest first, up to the admissions number of 116.
  3. (1.3 I) Another child of the family currently enrolled at the school; name and registration group must be stated on the form.
  4. (1.3 II) Eldest eligible child of the family, supported by a letter from a listed type of verifier who is not a family member.
  5. (1.3 III) Attends one of the listed contributory primary schools, or a school closer as the crow flies than any of them.
  6. (1.3 IV) Random selection by electronically generated number, higher numbers ranked first.

The school's criteria

Getting in

3 of the 92 children who put it first were not offered a place in 2026/27.

Places depend mostly on the SEAG score, so how many apply says little on its own.

Applications per place (all preferences): 1.3 in 2024/25, 1.2 in 2025/26, 1 in 2026/27.

Results for its intake

Expected about 95%, got 100% (5+ GCSEs A* to C with English and maths, 2024/25).

0%50%100%0%20%40%Pupils on free school meals
Each dot is a grammar school with 30 or more Year 12 pupils. The dashed line is what schools usually get at each free school meals level.

School life

  • School day 8.45am to 3.25pm source

Who applied

Applications by the preference families gave the school, and children admitted
YearPlacesPut it 1st2nd3rd or laterAdmitted
2024/251161082811116
2025/26116100297116
2026/2711692235116

In 2026/27, 89 of the 92 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
9.3%
Special educational needs
28 pupils (17 with a statement)
Has Years 13 and 14
Yes
Area
Urban

Religious background of pupilsProtestant 58.5%, Catholic 6%, other or none 35.5%

Exam results (2024/25)

5+ GCSEs A* to C, with English and maths
100%
5+ GCSEs A* to C
100%
3+ A-levels A* to C
90%
2+ A-levels A* to E
100%
Year 12 pupils counted
110
A-level pupils counted
80

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

Admissions

From the school's admissions criteria for September 2026.

Year 8 places: 116 (whole school: 800)

Applications and admissions in recent years
YearPlacesApplications (all preferences)Admitted
2023/24116169116
2024/25116158116
2025/26116151118

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)

Uses transfer test results in its admissions criteria.

Open event: Open night Thursday 15 January 2026, 6.30pm to 9.00pm

Sources

DENI reference 3410098

Schools near Carrickfergus Grammar School