About the school
Portadown College is an academically selective, co-educational controlled grammar school in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence, consistently producing GCSE and A-level results above the Northern Ireland averages, and is also recognised for sporting success as a Sportsmark school.
The college traces its origins to 1921 and was established at Edenderry House in 1924, growing rapidly through the twentieth century. Since 1969 it has operated as a selective grammar school, with its main academic entry at age 14, when pupils transfer from contributory junior high schools to complete GCSE and A-level studies.
Unlike most Northern Ireland grammar schools, Portadown College’s principal selective intake is at 14 rather than at age 11. Families considering Portadown College therefore prepare for academic selection through the junior high school route, with the SEAG transfer test used by grammar schools across Northern Ireland for 11 plus entry elsewhere.
School type
Co-Educational Controlled Grammar (Post-14)
Exam date
Sat 14th & Sat 21st November 2026 (SEAG)
Exam board
SEAG (GL Assessment)
Address
Killicomaine Road, Portadown, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, BT63 5BU
Age range
14–18 (Years 11–14)
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Admissions information
Portadown College is a post-14 selective grammar school. Here is everything you need to know about the Portadown College admissions criteria and how academic selection works in Northern Ireland.
Portadown College is unusual among Northern Ireland grammar schools in that its main academic intake is at age 14, into Year 11, rather than at age 11. Pupils transfer to the senior school from its contributory junior high schools to study GCSEs and A-levels, with admission based on academic attainment and rank order rather than a Year 8 transfer test.
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.
Because Portadown College admits at 14, families typically follow the junior high school route towards a place, with priority given to pupils from the contributory junior high schools. For grammar schools that select at age 11, registration for the SEAG transfer test runs through the SEAG website, typically opening in May 2026 and closing in September 2026.
For Portadown College, places at age 14 are allocated on academic attainment and rank order from the contributory junior high schools, with offers confirmed ahead of entry into Year 11. Families should always check the college’s current published admissions criteria, as the timeline differs from the standard Year 8 grammar school process.
Key admissions details
Portadown College usually admits around 200 students into its selective senior school each year to study GCSEs, with entry at age 14 from the contributory junior high schools.
Portadown College does not operate a single fixed catchment area but gives priority to pupils transferring from its contributory junior high schools in the Portadown and Craigavon area. Places are then allocated to applicants from other schools by academic attainment and rank order.
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Portadown College is located on Killicomaine Road, Portadown, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, BT63 5BU. It is an academically selective, co-educational controlled grammar school known for strong GCSE and A-level results.
Portadown College traces its origins to 1921 and was established at Edenderry House in 1924. It became a selective grammar school in 1969, with academic entry at age 14.
Portadown College is unusual in that its main selective intake is at age 14, into Year 11, rather than at age 11. Admission is based on academic attainment and rank order from contributory junior high schools, rather than a Year 8 transfer test.
Portadown College gives priority to pupils transferring from its contributory junior high schools in the Portadown and Craigavon area, before considering applicants from other schools. It does not operate a single fixed catchment area.
Because Portadown College admits at age 14, families usually follow the junior high school route towards a place. For grammar schools that select at age 11, registration for the SEAG transfer test runs through the SEAG website, typically opening in May 2026 and closing in September 2026.
Not quite. Unlike most Northern Ireland grammar schools, Portadown College’s principal academic intake is at age 14 rather than at age 11, so the entry route differs from the standard Year 8 transfer test process.
Yes, all our tuition is available both in-person at our Edgbaston, Birmingham centre and online via live video sessions. Online tuition gives families across Northern Ireland and the wider region access to our expert tutors without the need to travel. The quality and personalisation of sessions is identical in both formats.
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