St Paul's High School, Bessbrook: admissions and open evenings

108 Camlough Road, Bessbrook, BT35 7EE

Non-selective · Mixed · Catholic maintained

against these criteria.

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

Category A(a): Parish of Lower Killeavy (traditional catchment, listed not in priority order).
Category A(b): Parish of Loughgilly.
Category A(c): Parish of Dromintee.
Category A(d): Parish of Upper Killeavy.
Category A(e): Newtownhamilton part of Lower Creggan Parish that traditionally contributes to the school.
Category A(f): Cladybeg and Ballylane parts of Ballymacnab Parish that traditionally contribute to the school.
Category A(g): part of the parish of Newry west of the railway line between Kidd’s Road and the A25 Camlough Road.
Category A(h): pupils whose parent or guardian is a permanent member of staff.
Category B: pupils normally resident in the Parish of Middle Killeavy.
Category C: all other applicants.
Sub-criterion 1: first preference and a sibling currently attending the school, applied within each category.
Sub-criterion 2: first preference and a sibling previously attending the school, applied within each category.
Sub-criterion 3: first preference and the first eligible child in the family transferring to second level education.
Sub-criterion 4: first preference, not qualifying under sub-criteria 1 to 3.
Sub-criterion 5: second preference for the school.
Sub-criterion 6: third preference for the school.
Sub-criterion 7: fourth preference for the school.
Sub-criterion 8: fifth preference for the school.
Final tie-break: random selection using surname-based numbering, by nominated persons.

Uses a parish list: check it in the criteria.

16 of the 277 children who put it first were not offered a place in 2026/27.

Applications per place (all preferences): 1.1 in 2024/25, 1.3 in 2025/26, 1.1 in 2026/27.

Expected about 64%, got 77.1% (5+ GCSEs A* to C with English and maths, 2024/25).

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.

Sport: Gaelic football, Hurling, Netball, Football, Rugby, Golf, Athletics source
Has a learning support centre source

Applications by the preference families gave the school, and children admitted
Year	Places	Put it 1st	2nd	3rd or later	Admitted
2024/25	250	276	2	0	254
2025/26	250	311	2	4	265
2026/27	250	277	1	2	261

In 2026/27, 261 of the 277 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.

Religious background of pupilsProtestant 0.6%, Catholic 98%, other or none 1.4%

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

From the school's admissions criteria for September 2026.

Year 8 places: 250 (whole school: 1,555)

Applications and admissions in recent years
Year	Places	Applications (all preferences)	Admitted
2023/24	260	320	305
2024/25	254	280	288
2025/26	267	311	315

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

School's note: *These figures include pupils with statements of SEN and Appeals

Does not use transfer test results in its admissions criteria.

DENI reference 5230157

St Paul's High School