About Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment
Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment is a voluntary grammar school in Northern Ireland, admitting pupils into Year 8 via the SEAG Entrance Assessment, the Northern Ireland 11 plus transfer test. The SEAG Transfer Test, taken in Primary 7 (P7), consists of two papers each covering English and Mathematics. The school allocates places by SEAG Band (Band 1 highest), applying its published sub-criteria within the band where places run out.
Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment provides an outstanding academic education in Northern Ireland, with strong results and a wide range of extracurricular activities. GCSE 9–7: 74.4%.
About the SEAG Transfer Test at Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment
Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment is a co-educational catholic maintained grammar school in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland, with a roman catholic ethos. Entry to Year 8 (Form 1) is academically selective via the SEAG Entrance Assessment — administered by the Schools' Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG) on behalf of voluntary, controlled and Catholic-maintained grammar schools across Northern Ireland. Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment admits its DE-approved admissions number of Year 8 pupils each year — confirm the current figure in the school's official criteria document.
The SEAG Transfer Test consists of two papers, each 60 minutes long, taken in November of Primary 7 (P7) and spaced one week apart. Each paper covers English (punctuation, grammar, spelling and comprehension) and Mathematics (the Key Stage 2 curriculum), in a mix of multiple-choice and free-response questions. The combined result is the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) — a numerical score normalised against the cohort age distribution, which Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment uses to rank applicants for admission.
For the current cycle (September 2027 entry), registration at seagni.co.uk closes at 11:59pm on Friday 18 September 2026 (£20 fee; families with Free School Meals Entitlement are exempt). Paper 1 is Saturday 14 November 2026 and Paper 2 is Saturday 21 November 2026, with results released on Saturday 23 January 2027. The Education Authority NI Transfer Portal window is TBC — last cycle it opened 27 January and closed at 12 noon on 19 February — with Offers Day expected in late April 2027.
ℹ️ Which criteria apply to your child: pupils sitting the November 2026 test are applying for September 2027 entry. Schools publish criteria for each entry year the preceding December, so the criteria on this page reflect the most recent official document. The mechanism changes rarely; this page will be updated when the September 2027 document is published.
This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, dates and oversubscription rules for Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment. 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 Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment
Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment Admissions Criteria
Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment is a voluntary grammar school in Northern Ireland, admitting pupils into Year 8 via the SEAG Entrance Assessment (Transfer Test). The SEAG Transfer Test, taken in Primary 7 (P7), consists of two papers each covering English and Mathematics. The school allocates places by SEAG Band (Band 1 highest), applying its published sub-criteria within the band where places run out.
- ✓Register for the SEAG Transfer Test at seagni.co.uk — registration opened 18 May 2026 and closes at 11:59pm on Friday 18 September 2026. The fee is £20 (families with Free School Meals Entitlement are exempt).
- ✓Sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment in November of Primary 7 (P7) — two papers, one week apart (Saturdays 14 and 21 November 2026), each 60 minutes and each covering English and Mathematics.
- ✓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) and are considered under Special Provisions only, with supporting evidence.
- ✓Upload your Statement of Outcomes (available from the SEAG portal from Saturday 23 January 2027) with the online Transfer Application to Lumen Christi College.
- ✓Special Circumstances / Special Provisions: a two-stage process reviewed by the Admissions Committee, with medical or professional documentation plus P5/P6 standardised-test evidence.
- ✓Eligibility — applicants who sat the SEAG Entrance Assessment (with or without a Special Circumstances claim) and applicants with a valid Special Provisions claim are considered on equal terms.
- ✓Model — Lumen Christi College operates places allocated by SEAG Band. We have not yet verified the current-year document line by line, so the specific sub-criteria and figures should be confirmed directly in the school's official Admissions Criteria.
- ✓Lumen Christi's most recent openly retrievable criteria document is from an earlier cycle — confirm the current document on the College website before relying on specific figures.
- ✓Duty to verify — the school can require evidence for information on the application; false or missing information can cost the place. Full Admissions Criteria: www.lumenchristicollege.co.uk.
Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment Oversubscription Criteria
Places at Lumen Christi College are allocated according to the school's official published Admissions Criteria, summarised above (places allocated by SEAG Band). Confirm the current document before relying on specific sub-criteria or figures.
- The school's published criteria, applied in the official order — see the school's admissions page for the current document.
Key Dates & Deadlines — November 2026 Test (September 2027 Entry)
| 📌 SEAG Registration opens | Monday 18 May 2026 at seagni.co.uk |
| 📌 SEAG Registration closes | 11:59pm, Friday 18 September 2026 (£20 fee; FSME exempt) |
| 📌 Pupil Cards available | Friday 9 October 2026 |
| 📌 Assessment Paper 1 | Saturday 14 November 2026 |
| 📌 Assessment Paper 2 | Saturday 21 November 2026 |
| 📌 SEAG Results released | Saturday 23 January 2027 — download from your SEAG portal account |
| 📌 Re-mark request window | 25 January – 3 February 2027 |
| 📌 EA Portal opens / closes | TBC — EA to confirm (last cycle: 27 Jan / 12 noon 19 Feb) |
| 📌 Offers issued (Offers Day) | TBC — expected late April 2027 (last cycle: 24 April) |
How to Apply to Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment via SEAG & EA NI
Step 1 — Register your child for SEAG
Register online at seagni.co.uk before 11:59pm on Friday 18 September 2026. The fee is £20 (FSME families exempt — upload EA evidence). A completed Pupil Application is required; an account alone does not register your child.
Step 2 — Sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment
Your child sits two SEAG papers — Saturdays 14 and 21 November 2026 — each 60 minutes, each covering English and Mathematics. Both must be sat for a full TSAS; a single-paper ‘e’ score goes through Special Provisions only.
Step 3 — Download your SEAG Statement of Outcomes
SEAG releases the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) on Saturday 23 January 2027. Download it from your SEAG portal account.
Step 4 — Open the EA NI Transfer Portal
The Education Authority NI confirms the 2027 window in due course (last cycle: opened 27 January, closed 12 noon 19 February) — you apply through this portal, NOT directly to the school.
Step 5 — List Lumen Christi College as a preference
Enter your child's SEAG TSAS and Unique Pupil Number on the Transfer Application and upload the Statement of Outcomes plus any evidence relevant to the school's sub-criteria (sibling details, primary school).
Step 6 — Submit by the EA Portal deadline
Submit before the EA's published deadline (TBC; last cycle 12 noon, 19 February). Late applications are considered at the EA's discretion in exceptional circumstances only.
Step 7 — Receive your offer on Offers Day
Offers are issued via the EA Portal, expected late April 2027. If unsuccessful you can appeal or join the waiting list through the EA.
SEAG Subjects Tested at Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment
The SEAG Entrance Assessment for Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment 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 mix of multiple-choice and free-response questions 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 Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment 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 Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment
Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment 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 Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment 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 Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Lumen Christi College is consistently ranked among the very top grammar schools in Northern Ireland. In the 2017 Sunday Times Parent Power survey it was ranked first in Northern Ireland and 22nd in the UK.
- GCSE: exceptional results — around 96% of entrants achieved five or more GCSEs at A*–C (including English and Maths) in 2016/17, rising to 100% in 2017/18. Most pupils take at least nine GCSEs.
- A-Level / post-16: strong A-Level outcomes (around 82% A*–C in 2017/18); all sixth-formers take at least three A-Levels.
- Progression: high rates of entry to Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University and Russell Group universities.
Exam results vary year to year, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school website.
Catchment Area for Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment
Lumen Christi College is a Catholic co-educational voluntary grammar school of around 840 pupils on Bishop Street, within the historic Walls of Derry (BT48 6UJ). Founded in September 1997 on the former Thornhill / St Columb's Bishop Street site, it is open to students of all faiths and draws pupils from across the Derry~Londonderry area; it does not operate a fixed catchment boundary.
Where applications exceed the available Year 8 places, the Board of Governors ranks applicants on the SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS). For post-16 study the college is part of the Foyle Learning Community, widening subject choice across local providers. Always confirm the current criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Guided by its motto "In Tuo Lumine Videmus Lumen" (In your light, we see light) and its name — Light of Christ — Lumen Christi sets out to combine the highest academic standards with a caring environment imbued with Christian values and service to others, welcoming students of all faiths.
The college has a strong record beyond the classroom, with success in Gaelic football and rugby, debating and mock-trial competitions (its Bar Mock Trial team won national honours) and STEM events such as the BT Young Scientist exhibition, alongside a wide range of other clubs and societies.
Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to Lumen Christi College for Year 8?
Applications to Lumen Christi College are made through the Education Authority NI Transfer Portal — NOT directly to the school. For September 2027 entry the EA window is TBC (last cycle it opened 27 January and closed at 12 noon on 19 February). You will need your child's SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) and SEAG Unique Pupil Number, and to upload the Statement of Outcomes. List Lumen Christi College among your preferences.
Does Lumen Christi College use the SEAG Transfer Test?
Yes — Lumen Christi 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 each covering English and Mathematics in a mix of multiple-choice and free-response questions. The combined result is the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS).
What SEAG score do I need for Lumen Christi College?
We have not yet verified this school's current criteria document line by line. Lumen Christi College operates places allocated by SEAG Band; check the official Admissions Criteria on the school's website for how places were allocated in recent cycles.
How many Year 8 places does Lumen Christi College have?
The current Department of Education approved admissions number should be confirmed in Lumen Christi College's official criteria document, published each December via the Education Authority — we will update this page once verified.
When are SEAG results released?
SEAG results (the Statement of Outcomes) for the November 2026 assessment are released on Saturday 23 January 2027. Parents/guardians can download the Statement of Outcomes from their SEAG portal account at seagni.co.uk and must upload it with their Transfer Application.
When is Offers Day for Lumen Christi College?
Offers Day for September 2027 entry is TBC — expected late April 2027 (last cycle it was Friday 24 April). Offers are issued through the Education Authority NI Transfer Portal. If unsuccessful you can join the waiting list or lodge an appeal through the EA NI.
What type of school is Lumen Christi College?
Lumen Christi College Derry - SEAG Entrance Assessment is a co-educational catholic maintained grammar school with a roman catholic ethos, located in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland.
How can my child prepare for the SEAG Test for Lumen Christi 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 GL Assessment SEAG 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 Lumen Christi College's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Criteria document for Lumen Christi College is published on the school's official website at https://www.lumenchristicollege.co.uk and via the Education Authority NI. Criteria for each entry year are published the preceding December — the September 2027 entry document is due around December 2026. Always check for the most up-to-date criteria, Open Day dates and required documents.
Sources: seagni.co.uk and EA NI (cycle dates). School-specific criteria summarised pending line-by-line verification of the current document.