SEAGReady

Kilkeel High School

Save or compare in the school finderFind schools near you

Knockchree Avenue, Kilkeel, BT34 4BP

Non-selective · Mixed · Controlled

Pupils
762
Year 8
138
Council
Newry, Mourne and Down

Open events

Your chances

against these criteria.

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

  1. Children resident in Northern Ireland selected before non-resident children.
  2. Pupils attending primary schools in the Barony of Mourne.
  3. Pupils from other primary schools who moved to the Barony of Mourne in the prior three months.
  4. Pupils attending primary schools outside the Barony of Mourne from which transfer has been traditional.
  5. Other pupils.
  6. Sub-criterion: pupils with a brother or sister enrolled at the school.
  7. Sub-criterion: pupils with a parent enrolled or employed in the school.
  8. Sub-criterion: pupils with Special Circumstances (medical, social or security).
  9. Sub-criterion: those who live closest to the school.
  10. Final tie-breaker: random computer selection.

The school's criteria

Getting in

Usually has spare places

Everyone who put it first was offered a place in 2026/27 (109 children).

Applications per place (all preferences): 0.9 in 2024/25, 0.9 in 2025/26, 0.8 in 2026/27.

Results for its intake

Expected about 70%, got 72.9% (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.

School life

  • Has a learning support centre source

Who applied

Applications by the preference families gave the school, and children admitted
YearPlacesPut it 1st2nd3rd or laterAdmitted
2024/2513511131115
2025/2613512700127
2026/2713510910110

In 2026/27, 109 of the 109 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
14.7%
Special educational needs
130 pupils (37 with a statement)
Has Years 13 and 14
Yes
Area
Urban

Religious background of pupilsProtestant 83.1%, Catholic 3.1%, other or none 13.8%

Exam results (2024/25)

5+ GCSEs A* to C, with English and maths
72.9%
5+ GCSEs A* to C
78.5%
3+ A-levels A* to C
46%
2+ A-levels A* to E
96.8%
Year 12 pupils counted
107
A-level pupils counted
63

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

Admissions

From the school's admissions criteria for September 2026.

Year 8 places: 135 (whole school: 753)

Applications and admissions in recent years
YearPlacesApplications (all preferences)Admitted
2023/24135115115
2024/25135121121
2025/26135138137

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.

Does not use transfer test results in its admissions criteria.

Sources

DENI reference 5210016

Schools near Kilkeel High School