St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel Information

🏫 St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel – SEAG Practice Papers with Video Explanations

Voluntary Grammar School | Co-educational | Catholic Ethos | Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland | Ages 11–18

📚 History of St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel

St Louis Grammar School in Kilkeel was founded in 1922 by the St. Louis Order of Catholic Sisters, originally as an all-girls school. In 1970, it became co-educational and has grown into one of Northern Ireland’s most respected Catholic grammar schools.

The school is named after St. Louis, King of France, and it follows the ethos of the St Louis Sisters: “Ut Sint Unum” (“That they may be one”). Its mission focuses on academic achievement, spiritual formation, and holistic personal development, serving students from Kilkeel and surrounding communities in South Down.

👨‍🎓 Pupil Numbers & Structure

• Total Pupils: ~850

• Year 8 Intake: ~120 pupils

• Sixth Form: ~220 students

• Gender: Co-educational

• Age Range: 11–18

• School Type: Voluntary Grammar School (Catholic Maintained)

🎓 Academic Reputation

St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel is widely recognised for its outstanding academic results, strong Catholic ethos, and focus on pastoral care and character education.

✅ Academic Strengths:

• Broad, balanced curriculum across STEM, Languages, Humanities, and Creative Arts

• High number of pupils progressing to university, including Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, and UK-wide institutions

• Special focus on STEM and business studies

• Strong culture of student support, faith formation, and achievement

📊 Academic Performance:

• GCSEs:

  • ~98–100% of pupils achieve 7+ GCSEs at Grades A–C*

  • ~75–80% achieve A–A* in at least 5 subjects

• A-Levels:

  • ~80–85% of students achieve A–C grades*

  • Many students progress to Medicine, Teaching, Engineering, Law, and Healthcare

🏆 Awards & Recognition

• Top-performing Catholic grammar school in South Down

🏫 St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel – Contact Information

School Name: St. Louis Grammar School
Type: Catholic Co-educational Grammar School (Ages 11–18)
Location: Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland

📍 Address:

St. Louis Grammar School
151 Newry Road
Kilkeel
Newry
County Down
BT34 4EU
Northern Ireland
United Kingdom

☎️ Telephone:

+44 (0)28 4176 2747

📧 Email:

info@stlouis.org.uk

🌐 Website:

https://www.stlouis.org.uk

📱 Social Media:

• Facebook: St. Louis Grammar School Kilkeel

• Twitter/X: @StLouisKilkeel

• Instagram: @stlouiskilkeel

You can view the school’s location on the map below:

SEAG Score Needed to get into St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel

Below is historical scores for St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel from 2022 to 2014.

2022 Lowest Grade – PPTC/GL – Academic selection not used.
2021 N/A
2020 Lowest Grade – PPTC/GL – less than 213
2019 Lowest Grade – PPTC/GL – less than 213
2018 Lowest Grade – PPTC/GL – less than 213
2017 Lowest Grade – PPTC/GL – 219
2016 Lowest Grade – PPTC/GL – 219
2015 Lowest Grade – PPTC/GL – 219
2014 Lowest Grade – PPTC/GL – 213
As you can see from the above stats and 213 in PPTC/GL in most years will have got you into St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel. The highest score needed was 219 in 2016 & 2017.
A 2019 score in old PPTC/GL test is equivalent to 183 in new SEAG test so based on past intake a minimum score of 183+ in SEAG test would give your child a very high chance of getting accepted into St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel.

SEAG Comparison with historical AQE and PPTC outcomes:

*This is the minimum cohort percentile needed for that Band

Two examples:
A SEAG TSAS of 215 would be “equivalent” to a PPTC SAS of about 242 or an AQE SAS of about 109. A SEAG TSAS of 185 would be “equivalent” to a PPTC SAS of about 220 or an AQE SAS of about 94.

📘 How to Use ExamTutor SEAG Transfer Test Practice Papers (with Video Explanations) to Achieve High Scores for St Louis Grammar School

Preparing for the SEAG Transfer Test effectively is crucial to securing a place at highly competitive grammar schools like St Louis Grammar School. Using ExamTutor’s SEAG Transfer Test Practice Papers with video explanations is one of the smartest ways to build exam confidence, improve accuracy, and boost scores.

Below is a step-by-step strategy to help you make the most of your resources and target success.

🎯 Why ExamTutor Practice Papers Work

ExamTutor provides:

• Authentic SEAG-style questions in Maths and English

• Step-by-step video solutions that explain how and why each answer works

✅ Step-by-Step Strategy for Using ExamTutor SEAG Practice Papers

Step 1: Set a Study Schedule

• Begin preparation at least 6–9 months before the SEAG test (ideally by January or February of Primary 6)

• Aim for 2–3 practice sessions per week, gradually increasing frequency closer to the test (in November)

Step 2: Start with One Full Practice Paper

• Attempt a paper without a time limit

• Use the ExamTutor printable PDF

• Do not use help or calculators

📌 Tip: Start with a “practice” paper to assess your current level in:

• English (comprehension, grammar, punctuation)

• Maths (mental arithmetic, problem-solving, word problems)

Step 3: Review Your Answers Using Video Explanations

• After each paper, watch the video solutions provided by ExamTutor for every question you got wrong — and those you got right by guessing

• Pay attention to:

  • Why an answer is correct

  • How to avoid common traps

  • Time-saving strategies

• Take notes in a dedicated SEAG notebook

• How to Use Video Explanations Effectively:

  ✅ Review incorrect answers with video solutions – Identify and correct mistakes early.
  ✅ Take notes on key strategies – Record important problem-solving techniques for future reference.
  ✅ Rewatch explanations for difficult topics – Reinforce learning by revisiting challenging areas.

  ✔ Video explanations ensure pupils fully understand concepts rather than just memorising answers.

Step 4: Focus on Weak Areas

• Track the types of questions you consistently get wrong:

  • In English: Inference, vocabulary, punctuation, grammar

  • In Maths: Fractions, word problems, percentages, multi-step logic

• Use targeted ExamTutor video lessons or supplementary topic-specific questions

📌 Tip: Keping a detailed track of questions you got incorrect can be reviewed at a later date to reinforce the topic.

Step 5: Develop Strong Time Management & Exam Techniques

Success in the SEAG entrance exam isn’t just about knowledge—it’s also about:
✔ Time management – Completing questions quickly and accurately under exam conditions.
✔ Skipping tricky questions – Avoid wasting time on difficult questions and returning to them later.
✔ Eliminating wrong answers – Using logical reasoning to improve accuracy.

📌 Tip: Regular timed practice with ExamTutor tests ensures students develop these key exam skills.

Step 6: Use Spaced Repetition

• Rotate papers every few weeks — don’t repeat the same one too soon

• Revisit older papers to ensure retention

• Use the “mark and reflect” method:

  • Mark answers

  • Watch relevant videos

  • Reflect on what you’ve learned and write a short summary

Step 7: Mock Exam Month (October)

• In the month before the SEAG test:

  • Do 2 full practice papers per week

  • Use ExamTutor’s practice test papers under realistic timed conditions

  • Review your mistakes using the videos within 24 hours

✅ How This Helps with Rainey Endowed Admission

• St Louis Grammar School ranks applicants by SEAG score, giving priority to high scorers

• By using ExamTutor:

  • You build familiarity with SEAG-style questions

  • You strengthen core exam techniques

  • You develop accuracy under time pressure

  • You avoid repeat mistakes

📦 Suggested ExamTutor SEAG Resources

• 📘 SEAG Practice Papers Pack 1,2 & 3 with Video Explanations

👉 Available at: www.examtutor.co.uk through subscription packages

💡 Bonus Tips for Parents

• Avoid low quality repetitive practice tests, will only create a negative attitude

• Build a calm and positive home environment for study

• Focus on progress, not perfection

• Celebrate small wins to keep motivation high

• Use breaks and rewards to avoid burnout

📍 Final Thoughts

Why Choose ExamTutor 11+ Practice Papers for St Louis Grammar School Preparation?

✔ SEAG style practice papers covering all tested subjects.
✔ Video explanations for step-by-step learning.
✔ Used successfully by thousands of pupils every year.

Achieving a high SEAG score for St Louis Grammar School is very possible with the right strategy and tools. With ExamTutor’s exam-style papers and video explanations, you get both practice and expert guidance — exactly what’s needed to turn mistakes into mastery.

✏️ Year 8 Admissions Criteria & How to Apply

✅ Entry via SEAG Transfer Test

St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel is part of the SEAG (Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group) and admits pupils into Year 8 based on performance in the SEAG Transfer Test.

🧪 SEAG Transfer Test Format

• The SEAG test replaces the previous AQE/GL systems

• Taken in November of Primary 7

• Two test papers:

  1. SEAG Test Paper 1

  2. SEAG Test Paper 2

• Each paper is 1 hour

• Questions are multiple choice and written responses

• Results are standardised and age-adjusted

St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel uses SEAG scores to rank applicants and apply admissions criteria.

📋 Admissions Criteria 

If the school is oversubscribed, places are allocated using the following criteria (in order):

1. Looked-after or previously looked-after children

2. Children with the highest SEAG scores

3. Siblings of current or past pupils

4. Children from feeder primary schools

5. Proximity to the school (measured by home address)

6. Other applicants, ranked by SEAG score

Special Circumstances and Special Provisions may be considered (e.g. illness, SEN, recent relocation).

📅 Admissions Timeline

📌 Register for the SEAG test at: www.seagni.co.uk

📍 Contact Information

• 🌐 Website: www.stlouis.org.uk

• 📧 Email: info@stlouis.kilkeel.ni.sch.uk

• ☎️ Phone: 028 4176 2747

• 🏫 Address: 151 Newry Road, Kilkeel, Newry, County Down, BT34 4EU

SEAG Information for ‘St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel’.

The SEAG Group’ consists of 63 Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland that use academic selection for all or part of their Year 8 intake. The SEAG 2024 Entrance Assessment is for pupils who will be transferring to post primary schools and whose parents may be considering a place at a SEAG school for their child. Our Rainey Endowed School is a SEAG School. Rainey Endowed School will use the results from the SEAG Test to determine who gets offered a place at the school.

SEAG Registration and Exam Details
Parents can register their child at the SEAG website at the following address. The SEAG Entrance Assessment consists of two papers. Both papers assess English and Mathematics and both have an identical format consisting of three Sections:

1st Section – The Practice Test Section
This section contains 5 English followed by 5 Maths questions. These questions are designed to help pupils settle before the Main Test begins. The Practice Test is not assessed or timed.
2nd Section – English Main Test.
The English section of the paper consists of 28 questions (Q1-Q28) and is broken down into 4 sections:
1) “Punctuation Exercise” containing 5 multiple choice questions.
2) “Grammar Exercise” 5 multiple choice questions.
3) “Spelling Exercise” with 5 multiple choice questions.
4) Comprehension”. Contains a passage and are then asked 13 questions on the passage; 7 of these are multiple choice (Q16-Q22). The final 6 questions (Q23-Q28) are described as “free response”; the pupil writes the answer to each in the space provided in the Answer Sheet.
3rd Section – Maths Main Test.
The Maths section also has 28 questions (Q29-Q56) and is broken down into 2 sections:
1) The first 22 Maths questions (Q29-Q50) are multiple choice questions.
2) The final 6 Maths questions (Q51-Q56) are described as “free response”. For each of these questions the pupil works out the correct answer and writes the answer in the space provided in the Answer Sheet.
Pupils will have 60 minutes to answer the 56 Main Test questions.
They can choose to start with the English questions or with the Maths questions.
Each of the multiple choice questions has 5 possible answers.

Admissions Criteria for St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel

Most Northern Ireland Grammar Schools are now using the SEAG Entrance Assessment instead of Transfer Test AQE or PPTC/GL Assessment. As part of their admissions criteria each school uses slightly different criteria versions for admissions. The vast majority of schools will have SEAG Band one as 1st criteria which means you need to score 206+ in the SEAG Entrance Assessment Test. If you don’t get band one then you will not be guaranteed a grammar school place in any school in Northern Ireland.
After criteria one, criteria two can vary depending on Grammar School. The majority of Grammar Schools 2nd criteria will be if a family member currently or in some cases has attended the school, other schools will go straight to SEAG TSAS scores. The main key point to note is that you need to aim for band one which is 206 in SEAG Entrance Assessment for the vast majority of Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland. Another key point is school preference, most schools don’t stipulate they have to be number one preference on the SEAG Application form to be considered for a place at their school. So, if you put down a Grammar School as 1st preference and don’t get the grade to get in, as long as your 2nd choice school doesn’t stipulate their school has to be 1st preference then it’s the same as putting the 2nd school down 1st on the SEAG application form.
Our advice is to read the Grammar School criteria carefully and know what your child needs to achieve to gain entry as a lot of parents get confused over the criteria. We keep an up-to-date database of past Transfer Test and SEAG scores you need to gain entry to all Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland.
Our SEAG products at bottom of the page are proven resources to give you child the best chance of getting a high score in SEAG, our Practice Test Papers with video explanations are a great starting point for the SEAG Exam. Our online and live tutor bootcamps are a great alternative to an expensive tutor and our mock exams are a great way to find out what level your child is currently at compared to other children who have taken our mock exams in the same area. Our mock exams will be pitched at examination level difficulty so you have an exact understanding of the level your child needs to aim for. Below is the criteria for this Grammar School. If you have any questions please contact us:
During the admissions procedure when applying the criteria punctual applications will be considered before late applications are considered. For admission St Louis Grammar School will operate a 3-stage application process. All applications will be considered for Stage One initially and applications which are not admitted at Stage One will automatically be considered at Stage Two. Applications will be considered at Stage Three in the event that residual places remain unfilled.
Stage One Places will initially be allocated to those pupils applying for admission from the local area of Lower and Upper Mourne who have indicated St Louis Grammar School as their first preference. The local areas of Lower and Upper Mourne are geographically defined by the Diocese of Down and Conor parish boundaries. Pupils will be considered as being from the local area if they (i) live in the area, or (ii) attend a primary school in the local area. It will be the responsibility of parents to provide sufficient evidence that their child falls into this category. If there are more eligible applications than there are places available, the following criteria will apply:
1. Applicants who have a sister or brother enrolled at the school at the time of application; full responsibility rests with Parents/Guardians to provide sufficient details at the time of application on the Transfer Form to allow the sibling relation to be identified. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
2. Applicants who, at the date of their application, have a Parent/Guardian who is a member of the permanent teaching, administrative or support staff of the school.
3. Applicants whose brother or sister previously attended the school; full responsibility rests with the Parents/Guardians to provide sufficient details at the time of application on the Transfer Form to allow the sibling relation to be identified.
4. Applicants whose mother/father attended St Louis Grammar School as a pupil; full responsibility rests with the Parents/Guardians to provide sufficient details at the time of application on the Transfer Form to allow the parent/guardian to be identified.
5. Applicants who are the first child of the family to transfer to secondary education, i.e., the eldest child of the family.
6. Applicants who are the first child of the family to apply to a Grammar School.
7. Applicants who, at the date of their application, are entitled to Free School Meals Provision.
8. Other applicants ranked by date of birth with the youngest child admitted first and all other children admitted by age (youngest first) until all places have been filled. If two or more children have been born on the same date a random order selection will be used as a tie breaker.
Stage Two For those pupils who have named St Louis Grammar School as their first preference on the application form, 40% of places (52 students) will be allocated based upon the results achieved by pupils in the Entrance Assessment provided by SEAG Entrance Assessment and administered by the Assessment Centres on Saturday 11th November 2023 and Saturday 25th November 2023. This will form the primary evidence to be considered by the subcommittee at Stage Two. Places will be allocated to pupils placed in Band 1 of the SEAG Entrance Assessment. If there are then more eligible applicants within Band 1 than there are places available, the following Criteria will be applied in the order shown.
1. Applicants who have a sister or brother enrolled at the school at the time of application; full responsibility rests with Parents/Guardians to provide sufficient details at the time of application on the Transfer Form to allow the sibling relation to be identified. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
2. Applicants who, at the date of their application, have a Parent/Guardian who is a member of the permanent teaching, administrative or support staff of the school.
3. Applicants whose brother or sister previously attended the school; full responsibility rests with the Parents/Guardians to provide sufficient details at the time of application on the Transfer Form to allow the sibling relation to be identified.
4. Applicants whose mother/father attended St Louis Grammar School as a pupil; full responsibility rests with the Parents/Guardians to provide sufficient details at the time of application on the Transfer Form to allow the parent/guardian to be identified.
5. Applicants who are the first child of the family to transfer to secondary education, i.e., the eldest child of the family.
6. Applicants who are the first child of the family to apply to a Grammar School.
7. Applicants who, at the date of their application, are entitled to Free School Meals Provision.
8. Other applicants ranked by date of birth with the youngest child admitted first and all other children admitted by age (youngest first) until all places have been filled. If two or more children have been born on the same date a random order selection will be used as a tie breaker.
Remaining places may be allocated to pupils who are placed in lower Bands in the SEAG Entrance Assessment. If, at this stage, there are more applicants placed in lower Bands than places available, the Criteria 1 to 8 will be applied first to applicants placed in Band 2, in the SEAG Entrance Assessment, then to applicants placed in Band 3, then to applicants placed in Band 4, then to applicants placed in Band 5, then to applicants placed in Band 6. Applicants in Band 2, will be admitted in priority to those in Band 3, Applicants in Band 3, will be admitted in priority to those in Band 4, applicants in Band 4, will be admitted in priority to those in Band 5, and applicants within Band 5, will be admitted in priority to those in Band 6. If after application of a particular criterion there are still places to be filled then the next criterion will be applied to select applicants for places, in the order set out above through to criterion number 8. In the event of two or more applicants having the same date of birth and thereby qualifying for the last place(s), the applicants will be ranked by alphabetical order of surname and then forenames as listed on the birth certificate.
Stage 3 If, after Stage One and Stage Two have been completed there remain unfilled places, all applications which remain unplaced after Stage One and Stage Two will automatically be considered at Stage Three. Pupils will be admitted in the following order until 130 places have been filled in total between Stage One, Stage Two and Stage Three:-
1 Preference will be given to all pupils who name St Louis Grammar School as their 1st preference school on the application form.
2 Where selection has to be made between pupils after application of criterion 1 of Stage Three, the following sub-criteria will be applied in the order set down until all places are filled:-
I. Applicants who have a sister or brother enrolled at the school at the time of application; full responsibility rests with Parents/Guardians to provide sufficient details at the time of application on the Transfer Form to allow the sibling relation to be identified.
II. Applicants who, at the date of their application, have a Parent/Guardian who is a member of the permanent teaching, administrative or support staff of the school.
III. Applicants whose brother or sister previously attended the school; full responsibility rests with the Parents/Guardians to provide sufficient details at the time of application on the Transfer Form to allow the sibling relation to be identified.
IV. Applicants whose mother/father attended St Louis Grammar School as a pupil; full responsibility rests with the Parents/Guardians to provide sufficient details at the time of application on the Transfer Form to allow the parent/guardian to be identified.
V. Applicants who are the first child of the family to transfer to secondary education, i.e., the eldest child of the family.
VI. Applicants, who at the date of their application, are entitled to Free School Meals Provision.
VII. Other applicants ranked by date of birth with the youngest child admitted first and all other children admitted by age (youngest first) until all places have been filled.
VIII. Remaining places will be allocated to pupils who have not indicated St Louis Grammar School as their first preference, these children will be rank ordered for admission by application of I – VII above.
Visit St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel website for a more detailed Admissions Policy document – the https://www.stlouis.org.uk