About the school
Sullivan Upper School is a large co-educational, inter-denominational voluntary grammar school in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, educating around 1,100 pupils aged 11 to 18. Set in 25 acres of grounds on the edge of Holywood overlooking Belfast Lough, it is one of the most respected grammar schools in the greater Belfast area.
Founded in 1877 through the bequest of the educationist Robert Sullivan, the school has occupied its present grounds since 1939. Its motto, "Lámh Foisdineach An Uachtar," meaning "with the gentle hand foremost," reflects a much-praised pastoral care system alongside strong academic standards.
Sullivan Upper School uses the SEAG transfer test as part of its admissions criteria for Year 8 entry, drawing pupils from a large catchment covering North Down, Ards and east Belfast.
School type
Inter-Denominational Voluntary Grammar (Co-Ed)
Exam date
Sat 14th & Sat 21st November 2026 (SEAG)
Exam board
SEAG (GL Assessment)
Address
Belfast Road, Holywood, Co. Down, BT18 9EP
Age range
11–18 (Years 8–14)
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Admissions information
The Sullivan Upper School entrance test is the SEAG transfer test, used by grammar schools across Northern Ireland. Here is everything you need to know about the Sullivan Upper School admissions criteria and exam structure.
Sullivan Upper 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 Sullivan Upper 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
Sullivan Upper School admits pupils into Year 8 each year using the SEAG transfer test as part of its admissions criteria, with a total enrolment of around 1,100 pupils.
Sullivan Upper School does not operate a single fixed catchment area but draws pupils from a large catchment covering North Down, Ards and east Belfast. 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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Sullivan Upper School is located on Belfast Road, Holywood, Co. Down, BT18 9EP, in 25 acres of grounds overlooking Belfast Lough. It is a co-educational inter-denominational voluntary grammar school serving pupils aged 11 to 18.
Sullivan Upper School was founded in 1877 through the bequest of the educationist Robert Sullivan and has occupied its present Holywood grounds since 1939. Its motto is "Lámh Foisdineach An Uachtar," meaning "with the gentle hand foremost."
Sullivan Upper 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.
Sullivan Upper School draws pupils from a large catchment covering North Down, Ards and east Belfast, 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 Sullivan Upper School.
Sullivan Upper School is a large and popular grammar school with a strong reputation across the greater Belfast area. 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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