🏫 Strangford Integrated College – SEAG Practice Papers with Video Explanations
Controlled Integrated Secondary School | Co-educational | Carrowdore, County Down | Ages 11–18
📚 History of Strangford Integrated College
Strangford Integrated College was established in 1997, becoming one of Northern Ireland’s growing number of integrated post-primary schools that aim to educate Catholic and Protestant children together, alongside pupils from other faiths and none. It is located in Carrowdore, near Newtownards, and serves a wide catchment area including the Ards Peninsula, Bangor, and North Down.
The school promotes the core values of inclusion, respect, academic aspiration, and community. Since its foundation, Strangford has grown rapidly in both size and popularity, with a modern campus and continued investment in facilities and technology.
👨🎓 Pupil Numbers & School Structure
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Total Pupils: ~780
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Year 8 Intake: ~100–110 pupils
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Sixth Form: ~100+ students
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Gender: Co-educational
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Age Range: 11–18
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School Type: Controlled Integrated School (non-selective)
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Religious Ethos: Integrated (welcoming all backgrounds)
🎓 Academic Reputation
While Strangford Integrated College is non-selective, it has a strong academic culture and has made consistent progress in public exam performance. The school places significant emphasis on high standards, inclusive learning, and student wellbeing.
✅ Academic Highlights:
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Offers a broad curriculum at GCSE, A-Level, and BTEC
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High levels of progression to further and higher education, including Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, and local colleges
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Emphasis on digital literacy, inclusive teaching, and student support
📊 Academic Results (Typical Performance):
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GCSEs:
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~75–80% of pupils achieve 5 or more GCSEs at Grades A–C*, including English & Maths
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Strong value-added performance, particularly in English, Art, ICT, and Business
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A-Levels:
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Most students achieve 3 A-Levels or equivalent qualifications
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High pass rate with many students going on to university or further training
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🏆 Awards & Recognition
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Integrated Education Fund (IEF) Champion School
🏫 Strangford Integrated College – Contact Information
School Name: Strangford Integrated College
Type: Co-educational Integrated Secondary School (Ages 11–18)
Location: Carrowdore, County Down, Northern Ireland
📍 Address:
Strangford Integrated College
Abbey Road
Carrowdore
Newtownards
County Down
BT22 2GB
Northern Ireland
United Kingdom
☎️ Telephone:
+44 (0)28 9186 3614
📧 Email:
🌐 Website:
https://www.strangfordcollege.net
📱 Social Media:
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Facebook: Strangford Integrated College
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Twitter/X: @StrangfordIC
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Instagram: @strangfordintegratedcollege
You can view the school’s location on the map below:
SEAG Score Needed to get into Strangford Integrated College
Strangford Integrated College is new to academic selection process so no history on scores needed to gain entry to the college.
SEAG Comparison with historical AQE and PPTC outcomes:
| Approx PPTC / GL Equivalent SAS | SEAG TSAS | Approx AQE Equivalent SAS | SEAG Band | SEAG Cohort Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 282 | 282 | 130 | 1 | 100 |
| 258 | 236 | 1 | 90 | |
| 249 | 224 | 113 | 1 | 80 |
| 242 | 215 | 109 | 1 | 70 |
| 236 | 207 | 106 | 1 | 60* |
| 231 | 200 | 103 | 2 | 50* |
| 226 | 193 | 99 | 3 | 40* |
| 220 | 185 | 94 | 4 | 30* |
| 214 | 175 | 88 | 5 | 20* |
| 200 | <175 | 6 | <20 |
*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.
| Minimum PPTC /GL SAS needed for Grade | PPTC/ GL Grade | Approx Equivalent SEAG TSAS |
|---|---|---|
| 234 | A | 206 |
| 229 | B1 | 197 |
| 224 | B2 | 190 |
| 219 | C1 | 183 |
| 213 | C2 | 174 |
| <213 | D | <174 |
📘 How to Use ExamTutor SEAG Transfer Test Practice Papers (with Video Explanations) to Achieve High Scores for Strangford Integrated College
Preparing for the SEAG Transfer Test effectively is crucial to securing a place at highly competitive grammar schools like Strangford Integrated College. 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:
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Authentic SEAG-style questions in Maths and English
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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
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Begin preparation at least 6–9 months before the SEAG test (ideally by January or February of Primary 6)
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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
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Attempt a paper without a time limit
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Use the ExamTutor printable PDF
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Do not use help or calculators
📌 Tip: Start with a “practice” paper to assess your current level in:
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English (comprehension, grammar, punctuation)
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Maths (mental arithmetic, problem-solving, word problems)
Step 3: Review Your Answers Using Video Explanations
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After each paper, watch the video solutions provided by ExamTutor for every question you got wrong — and those you got right by guessing
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Pay attention to:
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Why an answer is correct
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How to avoid common traps
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Time-saving strategies
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Take notes in a dedicated SEAG notebook
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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
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Track the types of questions you consistently get wrong:
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In English: Inference, vocabulary, punctuation, grammar
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In Maths: Fractions, word problems, percentages, multi-step logic
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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
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Rotate papers every few weeks — don’t repeat the same one too soon
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Revisit older papers to ensure retention
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Use the “mark and reflect” method:
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Mark answers
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Watch relevant videos
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Reflect on what you’ve learned and write a short summary
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Step 7: Mock Exam Month (October)
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In the month before the SEAG test:
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Do 2 full practice papers per week
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Use ExamTutor’s practice test papers under realistic timed conditions
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Review your mistakes using the videos within 24 hours
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✅ How This Helps with Strangford Integrated College Admission
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Strangford Integrated College ranks applicants by SEAG score, giving priority to high scorers
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By using ExamTutor:
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You build familiarity with SEAG-style questions
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You strengthen core exam techniques
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You develop accuracy under time pressure
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You avoid repeat mistakes
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📦 Suggested ExamTutor SEAG Resources
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📘 SEAG Practice Papers Pack 1,2 & 3 with Video Explanations
👉 Available at: www.examtutor.co.uk through subscription packages
💡 Bonus Tips for Parents
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Avoid low quality repetitive practice tests, will only create a negative attitude
- Build a calm and positive home environment for study
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Focus on progress, not perfection
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Celebrate small wins to keep motivation high
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Use breaks and rewards to avoid burnout
📍 Final Thoughts
Why Choose ExamTutor 11+ Practice Papers for Strangford Integrated College 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 Strangford Integrated College 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.
📋 Admissions Criteria
In the event of oversubscription, the school applies the following criteria in order:
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Children who have a sibling currently enrolled at the school
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Children whose parent/guardian is a member of staff or past pupil
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Children from an integrated or feeder primary school
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Children who are the eldest/only child in the family
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Children residing closest to the school (distance tie-breaker)
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Children from underrepresented community backgrounds (in keeping with the integrated ethos)
📌 Full admissions criteria are published annually on the school’s website and EA portal.
💷 Fees
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Strangford Integrated College is a state-funded school – no tuition fees
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Additional costs may apply for:
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Uniform
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Trips and events
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Music tuition
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Voluntary contributions to school activities
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SEAG Exam Information for ‘Strangford Integrated College’.
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. Strangford Integrated College is a SEAG School. Strangford Integrated College 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. SEAG (seagni.co.uk).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 Strangford Integrated College
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:
The College wishes to cater for Grammar and All-Ability entry. With our all-ability pathway, our aim is to achieve an intake which is as close as possible to the ratio of 35% Catholic, 35% Protestant and 30% of applicants from other faiths or none (Other), however the College cannot guarantee that the admissions intake for Year 8 will equate to those exact ratios. Strangford Integrated College is an integrated school, Christian in ethos. Our student body represents all faiths and all abilities. Students of Protestant and Catholic backgrounds, all other faiths and none are not only welcome at Strangford Integrated College but they also enrich the highly successful school that Strangford Integrated College has become. The College also aims to care for and meet the needs of children of all abilities, at a learning pace that is appropriate to help each individual child flourish and achieve their potential. We are truly a school for all the family.
Strangford Integrated College has been directed to select for admission, children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission before any applicant not so resident may be selected for admission. Parents naming Strangford Integrated College as a preference on the transfer application must include their child’s religious affiliation. Religious affiliation will be determined by information supplied by the parent/guardian on the Transfer Application. It is the responsibility of parents to designate children using the wording ‘Catholic’, ‘Protestant’ or ‘Other’ to categorise their child’s religion.
Applications will be considered in two stages:
Stage 1 Grammar Pathway (35% (46 places) of the intake will be selected by reference to SEAG tests only)
Stage 2 All-Ability Pathway (65% (84 places) of the intake will be selected with no reference to the SEAG test)
Parents only need to make one application to the College. Applications accompanied by a SEAG score will first be considered for Stage 1 Grammar pathway. Those applications not accompanied by a SEAG score will be considered for Stage 2 All-Ability pathway along with those applications which have not gained a place in Stage 1 Grammar Pathway.
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA – STAGE 1 GRAMMAR PATHWAY ENTRY (35% (46 PLACES) OF THE INTAKE WILL BE SELECTED BY REFERENCE TO SEAG TESTS ONLY)
Strangford Integrated College will select applicants based on SEAG Scores – Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS). The Board of Governors will consider applications from Primary 7 children who have taken the SEAG test anywhere in Northern Ireland. Parent/Guardian(s) should upload a scan of the original SEAG assessment result with the transfer application.
The 46 places will be allocated in accordance with the rank order of Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) achieved in the SEAG assessment (Highest score first).
If places remain following the allocation of places based on TSAS, these places will be allocated to the All-Ability Pathway.
If there are more applicants than there are places available and more than one applicant is ranked equal on the SEAG score for the final place or places, priority between applicants will be determined by the application of the criteria below:
1. Applicants who have a sibling** currently enrolled at the College. Criterion 1 will be applied, and eligible applicants awarded a place. If Criterion 1 is oversubscribed, Criteria 3 & 4 will be applied in that order.
2. Applicants who are the eldest*** or only child of the family****. Criterion 2 will be applied, and eligible applicants awarded a place. If Criterion 2 is oversubscribed, Criteria 3 & 4 will be applied in that order.
3. Applicants who are transferring from either a grant maintained or controlled integrated primary school. Criterion 3 will be applied, and eligible applicants awarded a place. If Criterion 3 is oversubscribed, Criterion 4 will then be applied for the remaining places.
4. Selection for any places remaining will be based on a unique random computerised number* (which will be allocated on receipt of applications from EA Connect). The random computerised number* will be used to allocate remaining places in ascending numerical order.
*Any reference in the criteria to the unique random computerised number refers to a list of unique random computerised numbers in the range of 1-500, which is generated by a computerised programme ‘Randomizer.org’ and verified by the College’s Board of Governors, before the Transfer process begins.
If the number of applications considered at Stage 1 exceed the number of places available, the remaining applications will automatically be considered for Stage 2 All-Ability Entry.
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA – STAGE 2 ALL-ABILITY PATHWAY ENTRY (65% (84 PLACES) OF THE INTAKE WILL BE SELECTED WITH NO REFERENCE TO THE SEAG TEST).
Places are first allocated to students in the ‘Other’ category using the criteria detailed below until a maximum of 30% (25 places) have been allocated. If less than 30% (25 places) have been awarded, the balance will be equally divided between Catholic and Protestant applicants. Should an odd number of places remain, the additional place will be allocated to the main religious tradition having the greatest number of applications. Should there be fewer applications from either tradition then the balance of places will be allocated to the other tradition.
Religious affiliation will be determined by information supplied on the transfer application. It is the responsibility of parents to designate students using the wording ‘Catholic’, ‘Protestant’ or ‘Other’ to categorise their child’s religion.
If there are more students for admission than there are places available, the Board of Governors has determined that the following criteria shall be applied to the applicants in each of the three religious categories.
1. Applicants who have placed Strangford Integrated College as first preference. Criterion 1 will be applied, and eligible applicants awarded a place. If Criterion 1 is oversubscribed, Criteria 2, 3, 4 & 5 will be applied in that order.
2. Applicants who have a sibling**currently enrolled at the College. Criterion 2 will be applied, and eligible applicants awarded a place. If Criterion 2 is oversubscribed, Criteria 4 & 5 will be applied in that order.
3. Applicants who are the eldest***, or only child of the family****. Criterion 3 will be applied, and eligible applicants awarded a place. If Criterion 3 is oversubscribed, Criteria 4 & 5 will be applied in that order.
4. Applicants who are transferring from either a grant maintained or controlled Integrated Primary School. Criterion 4 will be applied, and eligible applicants will be awarded a place. If Criterion 4 is oversubscribed, Criterion 5 will then be applied for the remaining places.
5. Selection for any remaining places will be based on a unique random computerised number* (which was allocated on receipt of applications) and will be used to allocate remaining places in ascending numerical order.
WAITING LIST POLICY The Board of Governors make provision for a Waiting List for applicants that were initially refused, new applicants, late applicants and applicants where added information has been provided. Should a place become available between the conclusion of the transfer process, it will be filled from the Waiting List using the College Admissions Criteria.
Visit Strangford Integrated College website for a more detailed Admissions Policy document – the https://www.strangfordcollege.net







