About St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast provides an outstanding academic education in Northern Ireland, with strong results and a wide range of extracurricular activities. GCSE 9–7: 75%.
About the SEAG Transfer Test at St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast is a boys catholic maintained grammar school in Belfast, 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast admits 181 Year 8 pupils per year per its most recent published document (confirm the current figure in the official criteria).
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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast. 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast Admissions Criteria
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School.
- ✓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.
- ✓Band-based allocation — Places are allocated by SEAG Band (Criterion A = Band 1 first), with TSAS as a sub-criterion within band, then other applicants — per the most recent published document.
- ✓Within-band sub-criteria, in order: H1 — brother enrolled; H2 — eldest son; H3–H4 — named feeder primary schools; H5 — randomised alphabetical surname order, then forename, then date of birth.
- ✓Preference order is NOT used — a child listing St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School second or later on the Transfer Application is considered equally with first-preference applicants.
- ✓The school deliberately includes no FSME criterion: its published document notes around 34% of pupils held Free School Meals entitlement in 2023-24 (grammar average 13.7%), and the Board regards FSME inclusion as a natural outcome of its intake.
- ✓Please note — figures shown are from the most recent published document; confirm the current-year document on the school's website before relying on them.
- ✓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.stmaryscbgs.com.
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast Oversubscription Criteria
Places are allocated by SEAG Band (Criterion A = Band 1 first), with TSAS as a sub-criterion within band, then other applicants — per the most recent published document. The sub-criteria below apply within the band where the 181-place admission number is reached — transcribed from the official published criteria.
- H1 — brother enrolled
- H2 — eldest son
- H3–H4 — named feeder primary schools
- H5 — randomised alphabetical surname order, then forename, then date of birth
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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School as a preference
Enter your child's SEAG TSAS and Unique Pupil Number and upload the Statement of Outcomes plus any tie-break evidence (sibling details, primary school). St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School does not use preference order — any position on the form is considered equally.
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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast
The SEAG Entrance Assessment for St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast SEAG Transfer Test
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Academic Performance at St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast (GCSE & A-Level Results)
St Mary's CBGS has a long tradition of academic and sporting success. In 2024, 94% of its entrants achieved five or more GCSEs at A*–C, and 83% achieved at least seven GCSEs at A*–C, with particularly strong results in Irish, modern languages and a range of other subjects.
- GCSE & A-Level: strong results across a broad academic and applied curriculum, including BTEC pathways.
- Languages: notable strength in Gaeilge (Irish), French and Spanish.
- 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 St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School (St Mary's CBGS) is a Catholic voluntary grammar school for boys of around 1,180 pupils on the Glen Road in West Belfast (BT11 8NR), served by the Congregation of Irish Christian Brothers. Its origins trace to a school established in Divis Street in 1866; it later moved to Barrack Street (1929) and to the present Glen Road site in 1968.
The school admits around 181 pupils into Year 8, and typically receives well over 100 applications above that number. It has historically used the SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) as part of its admissions criteria; as the school's admissions arrangements have been subject to review in recent years, we strongly recommend confirming the current arrangements directly with the school. (Note this is distinct from the former Christian Brothers' School, Glen Road, which became part of All Saints College in 2019.)
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
St Mary's is inspired by the vision of Edmund Rice, who sought to create schools providing excellent education built on Gospel values. The school prides itself on pastoral care and the holistic development of its pupils, with an ethos underpinned by its core values of trust, respect and equality and a strong commitment to social justice.
The school has a long and successful sporting tradition — particularly in Gaelic games — alongside a broad programme of music, the arts and other clubs and societies.
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School for Year 8?
Applications to St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School among your preferences — the school does not use preference order, so any position is considered equally.
Does St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School use the SEAG Transfer Test?
Yes — St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School 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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School?
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School allocates places by SEAG Band rather than a numeric threshold — Band 1 applicants are considered first, then Band 2, and so on. Band-first schools publish the lowest band reached, never a fixed score.
How many Year 8 places does St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School have?
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School's most recent published admissions number is 181 Year 8 places — confirm the current-year figure in the school's official criteria document before relying on it.
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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School?
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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School?
St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast is a boys catholic maintained grammar school with a roman catholic ethos, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It admits 181 pupils into Year 8 each September.
How can my child prepare for the SEAG Test for St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School?
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 Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Criteria document for St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School is published on the school's official website at https://www.stmaryscbgs.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: the school's most recent published Admissions Criteria document and seagni.co.uk. Verified 13 August 2026; current-year figures pending final confirmation.