About St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore
St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore 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.
St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore
St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore is a co-educational catholic maintained grammar school in Tyrone, 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. St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore. 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore
St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore Admissions Criteria
St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore.
- ✓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 — St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore 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.
- ✓St Joseph's includes an Irish-medium stream (Sruth na Gaeilge).
- ✓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.stjosephsdonaghmore.com.
St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore Oversubscription Criteria
Places at St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore
The SEAG Entrance Assessment for St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore
St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore (GCSE & A-Level Results)
St Joseph's Grammar School has an excellent reputation for results at GCSE and A-Level — in 2017/18 around 99% of entrants achieved five or more GCSEs at A*–C including English and Maths, ranking it 15th of 188 schools that year.
- GCSE & A-Level: high achievement across STEM, Modern Languages, Business Studies and the Humanities.
- Bilingual education: a distinctive Irish-medium stream (Sruth na Gaeilge) sits alongside the English-medium school.
- Progression: strong support for Oxbridge, Medicine and STEM pathways, with 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 St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore
St Joseph's Grammar School is a Catholic co-educational voluntary grammar school of around 850 pupils in the village of Donaghmore, near Dungannon, County Tyrone (BT70 3HE), under the trusteeship of St Patrick's Educational Trust (Archdiocese of Armagh). Founded in the early 1920s by the Daughters of the Cross, it was an all-girls school until 2003, when it became co-educational. It draws pupils from a wide area of County Tyrone and does not operate a fixed catchment boundary.
The school admits around 73 pupils into Year 8 and has been regularly oversubscribed for many years; 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
St Joseph's describes itself as a Catholic educational community in which students are nurtured, respected and guided, with a strong faith-based ethos and a sense of community — captured in its motto, 'A Proud Past, A Better Future'. The school also offers cultural enrichment through its Irish-medium stream.
Sport and the arts feature strongly: in 2023 the school won the All-Ireland Paddy Drummond Cup in Gaelic football for the first time in its history, alongside a wide programme of other clubs and activities.
St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore for Year 8?
Applications to St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore among your preferences.
Does St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore use the SEAG Transfer Test?
Yes — St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore?
We have not yet verified this school's current criteria document line by line. St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore 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 St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore have?
The current Department of Education approved admissions number should be confirmed in St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore'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 St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore?
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 St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore?
St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore is a co-educational catholic maintained grammar school with a roman catholic ethos, located in Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
How can my child prepare for the SEAG Test for St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore?
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 St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Criteria document for St Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore is published on the school's official website at https://www.stjosephsdonaghmore.com 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.