About Regent House School Newtownards
Regent House School is a co-educational voluntary grammar school in Newtownards, County Down, admitting approximately 200 pupils into Year 8 via the SEAG Transfer Test. It is one of the largest grammar schools in Northern Ireland and is known for strong academic results.
Regent House School Newtownards provides an outstanding academic education in Northern Ireland, with strong results and a wide range of extracurricular activities. GCSE 9–7: 70%.
About the SEAG Transfer Test at Regent House School Newtownards
Regent House School Newtownards is a co-educational voluntary grammar school in Down, Northern Ireland, with a non-denominational ethos. Entry to Year 8 (Form 1) for September 2026 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. Regent House School Newtownards admits 230 Year 8 pupils per year.
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 (28 questions on punctuation, grammar, spelling and comprehension) and Mathematics (28 questions, mix of multiple-choice and free response). The combined result is the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) — a numerical score normalised against the cohort age distribution, which Regent House School Newtownards uses to rank applicants for admission.
For 2026 entry, 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 Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards. 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 Regent House School Newtownards
Regent House School Newtownards Admissions Criteria
Regent House School is a co-educational voluntary grammar school in Newtownards, County Down, admitting approximately 200 pupils into Year 8 via the SEAG Transfer Test. It is one of the largest grammar schools in Northern Ireland and is known for strong academic results.
- ✓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 Regent House School Newtownards.
- ✓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 Regent House School Newtownards.
- ✓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 Regent House School Newtownards via the online Transfer Application — deadline typically February. Full Admissions Criteria: www.regenthouse.org.uk.
Regent House School Newtownards Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 230 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
- FSME applicants
- Eldest/only child or sibling currently attending Regent House
- Highest TSAS ranked order
Key Dates & Deadlines — Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards as a preference
Enter your child's SEAG TSAS and Unique Pupil Number on the Transfer Application and list Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards
The SEAG Entrance Assessment for Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards
Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Regent House is one of the largest grammar schools in Northern Ireland and has a strong academic profile, with pupils consistently achieving well at GCSE and A-Level.
- GCSE: most pupils take around 9 or 10 subjects from the 24 currently on offer.
- A-Level / post-16: a large sixth form with strong progression into higher education.
- 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 Regent House School Newtownards
Regent House is a co-educational, non-denominational controlled grammar school (with a preparatory department for ages 4–11) of around 1,480 grammar pupils, on a single spacious campus at Circular Road, Newtownards, County Down (BT23 4QA). Established in 1924 — with roots back to an earlier Newtownards school — it is one of Northern Ireland's largest schools and, as a controlled school, charges no tuition fees.
The school is regularly oversubscribed and draws pupils from a wide area — Newtownards, Bangor, Donaghadee, the Ards Peninsula, Comber, Killinchy and Dundonald — without a fixed catchment boundary. Where applications exceed places, the Board of Governors ranks applicants on the SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS). Always confirm the current criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Regent House's philosophy is that each pupil should be encouraged to fulfil their potential in a supportive, caring environment — reflected in its motto "Virtus Repulsae Nescia" (Virtue knows no defeat). Pastoral care is organised around a house system: Castlereagh, Clandeboye, Scrabo and Strangford, supported by 75+ teachers, a school nurse and a pupil counsellor.
Its modern facilities (including around a dozen science labs and a technology department with three workshops) support an exceptional co-curricular programme: more than 20 sports and 16 other clubs, two theatrical performances each year, and national competitions such as F1 in Schools.
Regent House School Newtownards — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to Regent House School Newtownards for Year 8?
Applications to Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards as a preference on the application form.
Does Regent House School Newtownards use the SEAG Transfer Test?
Yes — Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards?
The minimum SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) required for Regent House School Newtownards is see Regent House admissions page. Regent House School Newtownards ranks applicants by TSAS from highest to lowest, with places allocated up to the admission number of 230 Year 8 places per year. Tie-break criteria apply for tied scores.
How many Year 8 places does Regent House School Newtownards have?
Regent House School Newtownards admits 230 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 Regent House School Newtownards Transfer Application.
When is Offers Day for Regent House School Newtownards 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 Regent House School Newtownards?
Regent House School Newtownards is a co-educational voluntary grammar school with a non-denominational ethos, located in Down, Northern Ireland. It is academically selective via the SEAG Transfer Test and admits 230 pupils into Year 8 each September.
How can my child prepare for the SEAG Test for Regent House School Newtownards?
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 Regent House School Newtownards's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Criteria document for Regent House School Newtownards 2026 entry is published on the school's official website at https://www.regenthouse.org.uk/en/year8-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.