About the school
St Dominic’s Grammar School is a Catholic girls’ voluntary grammar school on the Falls Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, educating around 1,000 pupils aged 11 to 18. It is consistently ranked among the top all-girls grammar schools in Northern Ireland and is a specialist humanities school.
Founded in 1870 by the Dominican Order, at the invitation of the Bishop of Down and Connor, it was originally named St Mary’s Dominican Convent and opened with just four pupils. Rooted in the Dominican values of truth, justice and compassion, it has grown into a large and highly respected school.
St Dominic’s Grammar School uses the SEAG transfer test as part of its admissions criteria for Year 8 entry, drawing pupils from across Belfast and the surrounding areas.
School type
Girls' Catholic Voluntary Grammar
Exam date
Sat 14th & Sat 21st November 2026 (SEAG)
Exam board
SEAG (GL Assessment)
Address
135 Falls Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT12 6AE
Age range
11–18 (Years 8–14)
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Admissions information
The St Dominics Grammar School entrance test is the SEAG transfer test, used by grammar schools across Northern Ireland. Here is everything you need to know about the St Dominic’s Grammar School admissions criteria and exam structure.
St Dominic’s Grammar School 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 St Dominic’s Grammar School 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
St Dominic’s Grammar School admits girls into Year 8 each year using the SEAG transfer test as part of its admissions criteria, with a total enrolment of around 1,000 pupils.
St Dominic’s Grammar School does not operate a single fixed catchment area but draws pupils from across Belfast and the surrounding areas. Places are allocated under the school’s published admissions criteria, which use the SEAG result alongside sub-criteria such as siblings, family links and links to Dominican schools.
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St Dominic’s Grammar School is located at 135 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6AE. It is a Catholic girls’ voluntary grammar school serving pupils aged 11 to 18, drawing from across Belfast and the surrounding areas.
St Dominic’s Grammar School was founded in 1870 by the Dominican Order, originally as St Mary’s Dominican Convent, opening with just four pupils. It is rooted in the Dominican values of truth, justice and compassion.
St Dominic’s Grammar School 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.
St Dominic’s Grammar School draws pupils from across Belfast 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 St Dominic’s Grammar School.
St Dominic’s Grammar School is one of the top-performing girls’ 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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