St James' Primary School and Nursery Unit

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (P1), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Children whose permanent home address at the time of application is in the Parish of St James’s, Whiteabbey, St Colman’s, Greenisland or St Mary’s, Star of the Sea, Whitehouse, and who have a sibling (brother/sister, half-brother/half-sister, step-brother/step sister, adopted brother/adopted sister, foster brother/foster sister) attending St James’s Primary School (excluding the Nursery Unit) at the time of application. Proof of address at the time of application will be required*. The parish area is that which is clearly defined on a map which has the approval of the Bishop’s office (the map will be available in the school office).
2. 2Children whose permanent home address at the time of application is in the Parish of St James’s, Whiteabbey, St Colman’s, Greenisland or St Mary’s, Star of the Sea, Whitehouse, and are the eldest or only child in the family (twins or other multiples will be treated as joint eldest). Proof of address at the time of application will be required*. The parish area is that which is clearly defined on a map which has the approval of the Bishop’s office (the map will be available in the school office). A child will also be treated as eldest if:
3. 3the child is more than seven years younger than their next eldest sibling (brother/sister, half- brother/half-sister, step-brother/step sister, adopted brother/adopted sister, foster brother/foster sister).
4. 4the child’s siblings (brother/sister, half-brother/half-sister, step-brother/step sister, adopted brother/adopted sister, foster brother/foster sister) are not eligible to attend mainstream school (for example, they may attend a special school). In the case of a and b above, a verification letter will be sought from, for example, a member of the clergy, solicitor or Public Servant such as a Health or Education professional (for example, Health Visitor, nurse, teacher, Principal, directly involved with the family).
5. 5Children who have a sibling (brother/sister, half-brother/half-sister, step-brother/step sister, adopted brother/adopted sister, foster brother/foster sister) attending St James’s Primary School at the official closing date of application but whose permanent home address is now outside the Parish of St James’s, Whiteabbey, St Colman’s, Greenisland or St Mary’s, Star of the Sea, Whitehouse. Proof of address at the time of application will be required*. The parish area is that which is clearly defined on a map which has the approval of the Bishop’s office (the map will be available in the school office).
6. 6Children who are a Looked After Child (LAC), defined by the Children NI Order 1995 as children who are in the care of a Trust or who are provided with accommodation by the Trust.
7. 7If oversubscribed in any of the above criteria taken in order, the final selection will be on the basis of the initial letter of the child’s surname, as it appears on the birth certificate, taken in order determined by a randomised selection of letters. Mc Y P G W I F E Z V L X U H J A K R O C Q T B N D M S Mac i. where surnames begin with the same letter, the second and, if necessary subsequent letters will be used for admission using the same randomised selection of letters. ii. where children have the same surname, the initial letter of the first forename as it appears on the birth certificate, will be used for admission using the same randomised selection of letters. iii. where no priority can be established by this means final selection will be on basis of age as established by date of birth as it appears on the child’s birth certificate. Children who are the eldest will be given priority. iv. In the unlikely event that the above steps do not establish priority, computerised random selection will be used.

Northern Ireland open-enrolment admissions criteria, as published by the Education Authority for entry in September 2026.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.