About the school
St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick, was a Catholic grammar school in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland, founded in 1934 by the De La Salle Brothers. For many years it served boys from across the East Down area, with girls admitted at sixth-form level, and had an enrolment of around 720 pupils.
In September 2024, St Patrick’s Grammar School amalgamated with De La Salle High School and St Mary’s High School to form Lecale Trinity Grammar School, a co-educational all-ability voluntary grammar school in Downpatrick. The new school continues the Lasallian tradition and is based at the Saul Street campus.
Lecale Trinity Grammar School, the school that now serves the area, uses the SEAG transfer test as part of its admissions criteria for selective Year 8 entry, drawing pupils from Downpatrick and the wider Lecale region.
School type
Now Lecale Trinity Grammar (Co-Ed)
Exam date
Sat 14th & Sat 21st November 2026 (SEAG)
Exam board
SEAG (GL Assessment)
Address
109 Saul Street, Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 6NJ
Age range
11–18 (Years 8–14)
Our 11 plus tuition supports pupils through Year 5, Primary 6 and Primary 7 with structured lessons, intensive courses, full-time mock exams, and free practice papers
Year 3 Preparation
Foundational Skills for Success
Year 4 Preparation
Building Confidence and Competence
Year 5 Preparation
Intensive Exam Practice and Strategy
Year 6 Preparation
Path to Success
Intensive Course
Accelerated 11+ Revision and Mock Testing
Free Practice Paper
Gain a real insight to the exam
Mock Exams
Book Now
Admissions information
The entrance test for the school that succeeded St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick, is the SEAG transfer test, used by grammar schools across Northern Ireland. Here is everything you need to know about the admissions criteria and exam structure.
Lecale Trinity 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 Lecale Trinity 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
Following the 2024 amalgamation, Lecale Trinity Grammar School admits pupils into Year 8 each year using the SEAG transfer test as part of its admissions criteria, serving both boys and girls across the Lecale region.
The school does not operate a single fixed catchment area but draws pupils from Downpatrick and the wider Lecale region of County Down. 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.
Our tutors know the SEAG transfer test format inside out. Book a free assessment today and let us build a personalised preparation plan for your child starting wherever they are right now.
Hi-Tech Learning Platform
Subject Specialist Tutors
Live & Recorded Lessons
1-to-1 Live Classes
3 Lessons Per Week
SEAG Curriculum
Regular Homework
Real-Time Results
Weekly Assessments
Regular Feedback Reports
Unlimited Mock Practice
Exam Technique Coaching
In-Person & Online
Great Parent Support
Affordable Tuition Plans
“Jag is a profound tutor with excellent teaching skills and infectious sense of humor. He uses these skills to engage and motivate with students to achieve their full potential. My daughter was enrolled with Jag for 7 months in preparation for her 11 plus exam and she passed brilliantly!”
Jade
Parent
“I wanted to boost my English grade… they connected closely with parents, which kept me motivated and on track.”
Ayva
Student
“I decided to give Pass 11 Plus Grammar a try as it was cheaper than other services I had tried before. I ended up getting an A grade — great value for money.”
Yousif
Student
“I attended the course in June and finally felt satisfied after trying several tutoring services.”
Aurora
Student
“Strongly recommend 11+ Plus Grammar Preparation Success. It helped me reach my full potential and pass my exam. The support and resources from the tutor are excellent.”
Jovan
Student
“I wanted to boost my English grade, so I enrolled in Pass 11 Plus Grammar. It was a great investment and I got a grade much better than I imagined. Their regular contact with parents kept me motivated.”
Jennifer
Student
The school is located at 109 Saul Street, Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 6NJ. Since September 2024, St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick, has formed part of Lecale Trinity Grammar School, a co-educational voluntary grammar school on the same Saul Street campus.
St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick, was founded in 1934 by the De La Salle Brothers. In September 2024 it amalgamated with De La Salle High School and St Mary’s High School to form Lecale Trinity Grammar School.
Lecale Trinity Grammar School, which succeeded St Patrick’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.
The school draws pupils from Downpatrick and the wider Lecale region of County Down, 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 Lecale Trinity Grammar School.
St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick, closed as a separate school in 2024 and now forms part of Lecale Trinity Grammar School, which serves the area as a co-educational voluntary grammar school using the SEAG transfer test.
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.
Other grammar schools
We prepare children for grammar school entry across Northern Ireland and the wider UK. Explore other schools or browse all locations.
Loading schools…
Book a free assessment and get a personalised SEAG preparation plan for your child.