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Rathfriland High School

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78 Newry Street, Rathfriland, BT34 5PZ

Non-selective · Mixed · Controlled

Pupils
380
Year 8
69
Council
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

Your chances

against these criteria.

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

  1. Children attending one of 12 named primary schools.
  2. Children for whom Rathfriland High School is the nearest controlled secondary school.
  3. Other children.
  4. Sub-criterion (i): child of the family currently enrolled at the school, and children of present permanent staff.
  5. Sub-criterion (ii): eldest child of the family, plus other listed family circumstances.
  6. Sub-criterion (iii): children living closest to the school (as the crow flies, measured by Google Maps).
  7. Sub-criterion (iv): eldest child by date of birth on birth certificate (deciding factor).
  8. Sub-criterion (v): surname initial in the order set out in the document (deciding factor).
  9. Sub-criterion (vi): computer-based ranking using names on the online application (deciding factor).

The school's criteria

Getting in

Usually has spare places

Everyone who put it first was offered a place in 2026/27 (68 children).

Applications per place (all preferences): 0.9 in 2024/25, 0.8 in 2025/26, 1 in 2026/27.

Results for its intake

Expected about 68%, got 79.7% (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.

School life

  • School day 8.30am to 2.45pm source
  • Sport: Netball, Rugby, Football, Hockey, Athletics, Dance, Tennis, Equestrian source

Who applied

Applications by the preference families gave the school, and children admitted
YearPlacesPut it 1st2nd3rd or laterAdmitted
2024/2576635270
2025/2676595064
2026/2776684274

In 2026/27, 68 of the 68 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
18.2%
Special educational needs
89 pupils (22 with a statement)
Has Years 13 and 14
No
Area
Rural

Religious background of pupilsProtestant 70.3%, Catholic 2.6%, other or none 27.1%

Exam results (2024/25)

5+ GCSEs A* to C, with English and maths
79.7%
5+ GCSEs A* to C
96.2%
3+ A-levels A* to C
none
2+ A-levels A* to E
none
Year 12 pupils counted
79
A-level pupils counted
0

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

Admissions

From the school's admissions criteria for September 2026.

Year 8 places: 76 (whole school: 380)

Applications and admissions in recent years
YearPlacesApplications (all preferences)Admitted
2023/24767376
2024/25767076
2025/26766669

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

School's note: * Includes pupils with a statement of educational need. **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.

Does not use transfer test results in its admissions criteria.

Sources

DENI reference 5210127

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