Markethill High School

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (Year 8), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1The school’s approved number is not exceeded.
2. 2The admission of the pupil would not, in the opinion of the Board of Governors be prejudicial to the efficient use of resources in the school. In the event of oversubscription, the following criteria will be applied in the order stated. In selecting pupils for admission:
3. 3Pupils for whom Markethill High School is the closest post-primary school to the child’s permanent home address.
4. 4Other pupils. If there are more applicants in either criterion than places available, the following sub-criteria will be applied in the order indicated below: (i) Children of permanent members of the teaching and nonteaching staff of the school.
5. 5Children who, at the date of application, have a child of the family* currently enrolled at the school.
6. 6Children, who had a child of the family* previously enrolled at the school. *The phrase “child of the family” covers children fostered, adopted etc. In the event of the school being oversubscribed and the above criteria having been applied, priority will be given to pupils whose permanent place of residence is closest to Markethill High School as measured, as the crow flies, using the Measure Distances website www.doogal.co.uk In the event of equal distance between two permanent places of residence and the school, applicants will be selected for admission based on the initial letter of the surname (as it appears on the Birth Certificate) using a list of randomised letters in the order set out below: O H W S A L M P T V Q K Z Y D F R X C E B U J I N G In the event of surname beginning with the same initial letter the subsequent letters of the surname will be used in alphabetical order to establish priority. In the event of two identical surnames the alphabetical order of the initials of the forename (as it appears on the Birth Certificate) will be used to establish priority. Where the forename begins with the same letter, the second and if necessary, subsequent letters will be used to establish priority for admission using alphabetical order. Where no priority can be established by means of this direct alphabetical comparison the child with the shorter first forename will be prioritised for admission (e.g., “Alan”, “Alana”).

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.