About Lagan College
Lagan College is Northern Ireland's first integrated school, founded in 1981. It is a co-educational college in Castlereagh, Belfast, admitting around 200 pupils into Year 8 — about 70 places through a grammar-stream (using SEAG or AQE transfer-test scores) and the remainder on an all-ability basis. The school celebrates diversity and is open to all faiths and backgrounds.
Lagan College provides an outstanding academic education in Northern Ireland, with strong results and a wide range of extracurricular activities. GCSE 9–7: 70%.
Admissions and the Transfer Test at Lagan College
Lagan College is a co-educational, grant-maintained integrated school in Castlereagh, Belfast — Northern Ireland's first integrated school (founded 1981) — with an all-ability intake balanced across Catholic, Protestant and other backgrounds. It is not a grammar school, and admits 200 pupils into Year 8 each year.
Lagan College is partially selective. Around 70 of its 200 Year 8 places (about 35%) form a grammar-stream intake allocated on a pupil's transfer-test result — the school accepts either the SEAG (GL-set) Entrance Assessment or the AQE Common Entrance Assessment score. The remaining places form an all-ability intake for which no test is required, allocated on the school's other criteria (including sibling and feeder links and the integrated-balance criteria). Once admitted, all pupils are placed into ability bands using internal assessment, not the transfer test.
For 2026 entry, transfer-test results are released to parents/guardians on Saturday 24 January 2026 via the SEAG portal. The Education Authority NI Transfer Portal opens at 12 noon on Tuesday 27 January 2026 and applications must be submitted by 12 noon on Thursday 19 February 2026. Late applications may be considered up to 4pm on Wednesday 4 March 2026 in exceptional circumstances. Offers Day for Lagan College and all other Northern Ireland post-primary schools is Friday 24 April 2026.
This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, dates and oversubscription rules for Lagan College. For the most up-to-date guidance, refer to the school's official admissions page (linked in the Quick Facts panel below) and the SEAG website at seagni.co.uk.
Year 8 Transfer Test Guide for Lagan College
Lagan College Admissions Criteria
Lagan College is Northern Ireland's first integrated school, founded in 1981. It is a co-educational college in Castlereagh, Belfast, admitting around 200 pupils into Year 8 — about 70 places through a grammar-stream (using SEAG or AQE transfer-test scores) and the remainder on an all-ability basis. The school celebrates diversity and is open to all faiths and backgrounds.
- ✓Register for the SEAG Transfer Test at seagni.co.uk — registration typically opens in May and closes in October.
- ✓Sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment in November every year of Primary 7 (P7) — two papers covering English and Mathematics, tests are one week apart (60 minutes per paper).
- ✓Both papers must be sat to receive a full Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS). Pupils sitting only one paper receive an estimated score (shown as ‘e’ on results).
- ✓Upload your Statement of Outcomes (available from the SEAG website from late January) with the online Transfer Application to Lagan College.
- ✓Special Circumstances / Special Provisions: Applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee who may award an equivalent TSAS and Band.
- ✓Criterion (i) — Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Criterion (ii) — Medical, disability or pastoral need that specifically requires attendance at this school — professional documentation required.
- ✓Criterion (iii) — Siblings: applicants with a child of the family currently or previously enrolled at Lagan College.
- ✓Criterion (iv) — All remaining applicants ranked by SEAG Band achieved, then by Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS), highest first — up to the admissions number of 200 places.
- ✓Tie-break (within Criterion iv): First priority to pupils receiving Free School Meals Entitlement; remaining places allocated by a computer-based process using applicant names.
- ✓Apply to Lagan College via the online Transfer Application — deadline typically February. Full Admissions Criteria: www.lagancollege.com.
Lagan College Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 200 place admission number, the Board of Governors applies the following criteria in order. Final ranking uses the SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) achieved in the November SEAG Entrance Assessment.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children
- Equal balance of Catholic, Protestant and 'Other'/non-religious applicants (integrated ethos)
- Children of staff
- Eldest/only child or sibling currently attending Lagan
- Distance from school
Key Dates & Deadlines — Lagan College 2026 Entry
| 📌 SEAG Registration opens | ~May 2025 at seagni.co.uk |
| 📌 SEAG Registration closes | ~October 2025 |
| 📌 SEAG Entrance Assessment | November 2025 — two papers, one week apart (60 mins each, English & Maths) |
| 📌 SEAG Results released | Saturday 24 January 2026 — download from your SEAG portal account |
| 📌 EA Portal opens for school applications | 12 noon, Tuesday 27 January 2026 |
| 📌 EA Portal closes (apply by) | 12 noon, Thursday 19 February 2026 |
| 📌 Late applications deadline | 4pm, Wednesday 4 March 2026 (treated equally if circumstance verified) |
| 📌 Offers issued (Offers Day) | Friday 24 April 2026 |
How to Apply to Lagan College via SEAG & EA NI
Step 1 — Register your child for SEAG
Register online at seagni.co.uk when registration opens around May. Closes around October. There is no fee to sit the SEAG test.
Step 2 — Sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment
Your child sits two SEAG papers in November of Primary 7 (P7), one week apart, each 60 minutes covering English (28 questions) and Mathematics (28 questions).
Step 3 — Download your SEAG Statement of Outcomes
SEAG releases the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) on Saturday 24 January 2026. Download from your SEAG portal account.
Step 4 — Open the EA NI Transfer Portal
The Education Authority NI Transfer Portal opens at 12 noon, Tuesday 27 January 2026 — you apply through this portal, NOT directly to the school.
Step 5 — List Lagan College as a preference
Enter your child's SEAG TSAS and Unique Pupil Number on the Transfer Application and list Lagan College as one of your school preferences. Upload supporting documents (e.g. FSME, sibling, looked-after evidence).
Step 6 — Submit by the EA Portal deadline
Submit your application by 12 noon, Thursday 19 February 2026. Late applications accepted until 4pm Wed 4 March 2026 in exceptional cases.
Step 7 — Receive your offer on Offers Day
Offers are issued via the EA Portal on Friday 24 April 2026. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join a waiting list via the EA.
SEAG Subjects Tested at Lagan College
The SEAG Entrance Assessment for Lagan College tests two subjects across two papers, sat about a week apart in November of Primary 7 (P7). Each paper lasts roughly 60 minutes and uses a multiple-choice format with no negative marking.
- English — reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Wide reading is the single biggest advantage here, building the vocabulary and inference skills the paper rewards.
- Mathematics — the full Key Stage 2 curriculum: number, fractions, decimals, percentages, measures, shape, data handling and multi-step problem solving, with an emphasis on speed and accuracy.
Both papers are combined into a single Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS), which Lagan College uses to rank applicants for its Year 8 places. There is no separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning paper in the SEAG test.
SEAG Practice Papers for Lagan College
Lagan College uses the SEAG format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 12 × English & Mathematics tests
- 672 video explanations
- 30.5 hours of video content
- 4 English & Maths practice tests
- 224 video explanations
- 12 hrs video content
- 4 English & Maths practice tests
- 224 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
- 4 English & Maths practice tests
- 224 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Lagan College SEAG Transfer Test
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Lagan College (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Lagan College is not a grammar school but an integrated, all-ability college. It offers a grammar-style academic pathway for higher-ability pupils alongside a comprehensive all-ability curriculum, and performs strongly across the board.
- Curriculum: around 40 GCSE subjects and 33 A-Levels, spanning both academic (GCSE/A-Level) and vocational (BTEC) pathways.
- Higher-ability route: top pupils typically take 9–10 GCSEs and a full range of A-Level options.
- Progression: an excellent record of progression to Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University, Russell Group and specialist art and technical institutions.
Exam results vary year to year, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school website.
Catchment Area for Lagan College
Lagan College is a grant-maintained integrated, co-educational, all-ability college — not a selective grammar school — of around 1,480 pupils, based at 44 Manse Road in the Castlereagh Hills, South-East Belfast (BT8 6SA), on a National Trust site. Founded in 1981, it was the first integrated school in Northern Ireland, and is now one of the most oversubscribed schools in the region.
Lagan admits around 200 pupils into Year 8. It uses the SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) to allocate up to 35% of places through a grammar-stream entry route, with remaining places filled on an all-ability basis; as an integrated school it also balances its intake between Protestant, Roman Catholic and other backgrounds. Always confirm the current criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Lagan College's integrated ethos — expressed in its motto "Ut Sint Unum" (That they may be one) and its founding aim to educate Catholics, Protestants and others of goodwill, of all abilities, together — rests on four core values: respect, reconciliation, equality and service. The school is notably student-centred, placing wellbeing and mental health at the heart of its work.
Set on a stunning National Trust hillside site overlooking Belfast, the college offers a wide co-curricular programme of sport, music, drama and many other clubs and activities for pupils of all backgrounds and abilities.
Lagan College — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to Lagan College for Year 8?
Applications to Lagan College are made through the Education Authority NI Transfer Portal — NOT directly to the school. The EA NI portal opens at 12 noon on Tuesday 27 January 2026 and closes at 12 noon on Thursday 19 February 2026. You will need your child's SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) and SEAG Unique Pupil Number. List Lagan College as a preference on the application form.
Does Lagan College use the SEAG Transfer Test?
Yes — Lagan College uses the SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group) Entrance Assessment for admission to Year 8. Pupils sit two SEAG papers in November of Primary 7 (P7), each lasting 60 minutes and covering English (28 questions) and Mathematics (28 questions).
What SEAG score do I need for Lagan College?
The minimum SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) required for Lagan College is see Lagan College admissions page. Lagan College ranks applicants by TSAS from highest to lowest, with places allocated up to the admission number of 200 Year 8 places per year. Tie-break criteria apply for tied scores.
How many Year 8 places does Lagan College have?
Lagan College admits 200 pupils into Year 8 each year. Demand typically exceeds supply, so the Board of Governors applies the published oversubscription criteria in priority order — looked-after children first, then SEAG TSAS ranking, with school-specific tiebreakers (e.g. FSME, siblings, distance).
When are SEAG results released in 2026?
SEAG results (Statement of Outcomes) for the 2026 entry round are released on Saturday 24 January 2026. Parents/guardians can download the Statement of Outcomes from their SEAG portal account at seagni.co.uk and must upload it with their Lagan College Transfer Application.
When is Offers Day for Lagan College in 2026?
Offers Day for Year 8 admission in 2026 is Friday 24 April 2026. Offers are issued through the Education Authority NI Transfer Portal. If unsuccessful you can join a waiting list or lodge an appeal through the EA NI.
What type of school is Lagan College?
Lagan College is a co-educational grant-maintained integrated school with a integrated (catholic, protestant, other) ethos, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is partially selective: about 70 of its 200 Year 8 places form a grammar-stream allocated on SEAG or AQE transfer-test scores, with the remaining places filled on an all-ability basis.
How can my child prepare for the SEAG Test for Lagan College?
ExamTutor offers a complete SEAG preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all SEAG topic areas), and downloadable resources mapped to the SEAG Transfer Test specification. We recommend starting preparation 6-12 months before the November SEAG test to allow time for diagnostic, focused practice and confidence building.
Where can I find Lagan College's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Criteria document for Lagan College 2026 entry is published on the school's official website at https://www.lagancollege.com/admissions. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, Open Day dates, and any school-specific application forms or required documents.