Our Lady and St Patrick Primary School

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 of compulsory school age who reside in the Parish of Downpatrick.
2. 2Children who reside in the Parish of Downpatrick at the time of application, with a brother/sister, half brother/sister who has attended Our Lady and St Patrick Primary School or who currently attends Our Lady and St Patrick Primary School.
3. 3Children who reside in the Parish of Downpatrick at the time of application and who, in the view of the Board of Governors, present with verified special circumstances (medical, social, or other), supported by appropriate documentation from parents and/or relevant statutory agencies.
4. 4All other children. In the event of over-subscription in any one of the above criteria, taken in order, the following sub-criteria will be applied in the order set down (a) to (b). If oversubscribed in any one of the sub-criteria, taken in order, final selection will be on the basis of the closeness of the home to the school as measured by NI Direct Ace Map Plot. In the event of more than one child living exactly the same distance from the school the children’s dates of birth as entered on their birth certificates will become the tie breaker with eldest child being given priority.
5. 5eldest/only child in a family verification letter required by Nursery School or GP (please note a GP letter may incur a charge)
6. 6children on the basis of the initial letter of the surname in the order set out below. The surname used will be as registered on the birth certificate or as subsequently legally changed and documented. JVYDBHCFGNPIXKOQEWMTSZAURL The order was determined by a randomised selection of the letters of the alphabet on 3rd November 2025 In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter, the subsequent letters of the surnames will be used in alphabetical order (randomised). In the event of two identical surnames, the alphabetical order(randomised) of the initials of the forenames will be used.
7. 7Other children of compulsory school age. In the event of over-subscription in any one of the above criteria, taken in order, be applied in the order set down (a) to (b). If oversubscribed in any one of the sub-criteria, taken in order, final selection will be on the basis of the closeness of the home to the school as measured by NI Direct Ace Map Plot. In the event of more than one child living exactly the same distance from the school the children’s dates of birth as entered on their birth certificates will become the tie breaker with eldest child being given priority.
8. 8eldest/only child in a family
9. 9children on the basis of the initial letter of the surname in the order set out below. The surname used will be as registered on the birth certificate or as subsequently legally changed and documented. JVYDBHCFGNPIXKOQEWMTSZAURL The order was determined by a randomised selection of the letters of the alphabet on 3rd November 2025 In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter, the subsequent letters of the surnames will be used in alphabetical order (randomised). In the event of two identical surnames, the alphabetical order (randomised) of the initials of the forenames will be used. RANG 2 – RANG 7 INTAKE Children will be admitted using the above criteria. In the event of the school being over- subscribed, a waiting list will be maintained.

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.