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Lecale Trinity Grammar School

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109 Saul Street, Downpatrick, BT30 6NJ

Grammar · Mixed · Voluntary · SEAG member

Pupils
1,484
Year 8
205
Council
Newry, Mourne and Down

Your chances

against these criteria.

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

  1. Route A (non-selective, up to 180 places): applicants transferring from the 12 named Category A primary schools.
  2. Route A sub-criterion i: Category A applicant with a child of the family currently enrolled at the school.
  3. Route A sub-criterion ii: Category A applicant with a child of the family enrolled within the last five years.
  4. Route A sub-criterion iii: Category A applicant who is the eldest child of the family, subject to LTV1 verification.
  5. Route A final tie-break: surname initial in the order set out in the document.
  6. Route B (selective, up to 70 places): applicants who completed SEAG and transfer from one of the 33 named Category B primary schools.
  7. Route B sub-criterion i: SEAG Band 1 (or accepted Special Circumstances/Special Provision of comparable ability).
  8. Route B sub-criterion ii: SEAG Band 2 (or accepted Special Circumstances/Special Provision of comparable ability).
  9. Route B sub-criterion iii: SEAG Band 3 (or accepted Special Circumstances/Special Provision of comparable ability).
  10. Route B sub-criterion iv: SEAG Band 4 (or accepted Special Circumstances/Special Provision of comparable ability).
  11. Route B sub-criterion v: SEAG Band 5 (or accepted Special Circumstances/Special Provision of comparable ability).
  12. Route B sub-criterion vi: SEAG Band 6 (or accepted Special Circumstances/Special Provision of comparable ability).
  13. Route B sub-criterion 2.i: Category B applicant with a child of the family currently or within the last five years enrolled at the school.
  14. Route B sub-criterion 2.ii: Category B applicant who is the eldest child of the family, subject to LTV1 verification.
  15. Route B final tie-break: surname initial in the order set out in the document.
  16. Stage 2: Category A primary school applicants (unfilled places after Stage 1).
  17. Stage 2: Category B applicants who have completed SEAG.
  18. Stage 2: Category B applicants who have not completed SEAG.
  19. Stage 2: all other applicants.
  20. Stage 2 sub-criterion I: applicant with a child of the family currently or within the last five years enrolled at the school.
  21. Stage 2 final tie-break: surname initial in the order set out in the document.

The school's criteria

Getting in

Usually has spare places

Everyone who put it first was offered a place in 2026/27 (160 children).

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

Applications per place (all preferences): 0.8 in 2024/25, 0.7 in 2025/26, 0.7 in 2026/27.

Results for its intake

Expected about 83%, got 74.1% (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.

Who applied

Applications by the preference families gave the school, and children admitted
YearPlacesPut it 1st2nd3rd or laterAdmitted
2024/25250178144196
2025/2625017541180
2026/27250160111172

In 2026/27, 160 of the 160 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
22.4%
Special educational needs
295 pupils (141 with a statement)
Has Years 13 and 14
Yes
Area
Urban

Religious background of pupilsProtestant 0.7%, Catholic 95.4%, other or none 3.9%

Exam results (2024/25)

5+ GCSEs A* to C, with English and maths
74.1%
5+ GCSEs A* to C
85.4%
3+ A-levels A* to C
66.9%
2+ A-levels A* to E
98.6%
Year 12 pupils counted
212
A-level pupils counted
148

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

Admissions

From the school's admissions criteria for September 2026.

Year 8 places: 250 (whole school: 1,600)

Applications and admissions in recent years
YearPlacesApplications (all preferences)Admitted
2024/25250224224
2025/26250206206

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

School's note: *The Total Admissions 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.

Uses transfer test results in its admissions criteria.

Sources

DENI reference 4420325

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