About the school
Lumen Christi College is a co-educational Catholic voluntary grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland, educating around 840 pupils aged 11 to 18. Located on the Bishop Street site within the historic Walls of Derry, it is consistently ranked among the top grammar schools in Northern Ireland for academic results.
Founded in September 1997 on the site of the former Thornhill Convent Grammar School, Lumen Christi was established as a co-educational Catholic grammar school serving the Derry area. Its name, meaning "Light of Christ," reflects a strong Catholic ethos that welcomes pupils of all faiths.
Lumen Christi College uses the SEAG transfer test as part of its admissions criteria for Year 8 entry, drawing pupils from Derry and the surrounding areas.
School type
Catholic Voluntary Grammar (Co-Ed)
Exam date
Sat 14th & Sat 21st November 2026 (SEAG)
Exam board
SEAG (GL Assessment)
Address
Bishop Street, Derry, Co. Londonderry, BT48 6UJ
Age range
11–18 (Years 8–14)
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Admissions information
The Lumen Christi College entrance test is the SEAG transfer test, used by grammar schools across Northern Ireland. Here is everything you need to know about the Lumen Christi College admissions criteria and exam structure.
Lumen Christi College selects pupils on academic ability through the SEAG Entrance Assessment, the single transfer test used by the great majority of grammar schools in Northern Ireland. The assessment is provided by GL Assessment on behalf of the Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group and consists of two papers, each assessing English (or Gaeilge) and Mathematics.
Each of the two papers lasts 60 minutes and contains a mix of multiple-choice and free-response questions, with answers recorded on a separate answer sheet. The papers are taken on two Saturdays a week apart, and a pupil’s marks across both papers are combined into a Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS), which is age-standardised so that younger children are not disadvantaged.
Parents register their child to sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment online through the SEAG website. For September 2027 entry, registration opens on Monday 18th May 2026 and closes on Friday 18th September 2026. Parents must then name Lumen Christi College on their Education Authority Post-Primary Transfer Form during the open application period.
SEAG Statements of Outcomes are released to parents on Saturday 23rd January 2027, after which families list their preferred schools through the Education Authority. The Education Authority informs parents of their child’s allocated school in May 2027. A high TSAS does not guarantee a place, as places are allocated in strict rank order when a school is oversubscribed.
Key admissions details
Lumen Christi College admits pupils into Year 8 each year using the SEAG transfer test as part of its admissions criteria, with a total enrolment of around 840 pupils.
Lumen Christi College does not operate a single fixed catchment area but draws pupils from Derry and the surrounding areas. Places are allocated under the school’s published admissions criteria, which use the SEAG result alongside sub-criteria such as family links and feeder primary schools.
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Lumen Christi College is located on Bishop Street, Derry, Co. Londonderry, BT48 6UJ, within the historic Walls of Derry. It is a co-educational Catholic voluntary grammar school serving pupils aged 11 to 18.
Lumen Christi College was founded in September 1997 on the site of the former Thornhill Convent Grammar School. Its name means "Light of Christ," reflecting its Catholic ethos which welcomes pupils of all faiths.
Lumen Christi College uses the SEAG transfer test, provided by GL Assessment for the Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group. It consists of two papers covering English and mathematics, and can be taken in either English or Gaeilge.
Lumen Christi College draws pupils from Derry and the surrounding areas, and does not operate a single fixed catchment area. Places are allocated under the school’s published admissions criteria using the SEAG result.
For Year 8 entry in 2027, registration for the SEAG transfer test runs through the SEAG website, typically opening in May 2026 and closing in September 2026. Parents must also complete the Education Authority Transfer Application naming Lumen Christi College.
Lumen Christi College is one of the top-performing grammar schools in Northern Ireland and is popular with families. Entry depends on the SEAG result and the school’s admissions criteria, so a strong standardised score gives the best chance of a place.
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