Our Lady's Grammar 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. 1Girls who, at the date of their application, have another child of the family (as defined by DE in DE Circular 2025/12) enrolled at Our Lady’s Grammar School or selected for admission to the school in the coming school year. Applicants must state the name, date of birth and registration group of the child attending the school on the online transfer application.
2. 2Girls who, at the date of their application, are registered with the Education Authority as being entitled to Free School Meals Provision (as defined by DE in Circular 2025/12). Priority to be given so that the proportion of such children admitted is not less than the proportion of FSME applications received within the total number of applications received. The calculation of this proportion will be based on the first preference applications received by the school and the proportion will be applied in the manner set out in DE Circular 2025/12. If the number of applications from girls entitled to Free School Meals is greater than the calculated proportion above, then selection for all places remaining in this category will be on the basis of the computer-based process detailed below under ‘Tie-breaker.’ Applicants’ registrations for Free School Meals will be verified by the Education Authority. If there are more girls who meet one of the above sub-criteria when they are applied in the order of priority set down than there are places available, then the remaining sub-criteria will become sub sub-criteria and applied successively in the order set out until the final selection is completed.
3. 3Pupils who have most recently completed Year 12 in Our Lady’s Grammar School;
4. 4Pupils from other schools where admission to an extra place in Our Lady’s Grammar School has been agreed by the Department of Education. Parents/guardians should note how the Department of Education (DE) will, in response to a school’s request, increase the school’s enrolment number in order to allow an extra post-16 pupil to enrol. DE will first check whether there is another school or schools of the type suitable*** (see below) for that pupil within an hour’s journey of where the pupil lives. If there is, DE will then check whether this other school or schools with places available may provide all of the post-16 courses that the pupil wishes to pursue. If these checks find that no other suitable school may provide all of the post-16 courses that the pupil wishes to pursue – then DE will agree a school’s request for an extra place. ***What is a school of a type that is suitable for a pupil? To determine this, DE first considers all schools to be one of 4 types: (i) Denominational; (ii) Non-denominational;
5. 5Integrated;
6. 6Irish-Medium A school requesting an extra place for a post-16 pupil will belong to one of these 4 types and DE will consider any other school or schools from this same type as suitable for the pupil. DE will also consider as suitable for the pupil any school from the same type as the type of school that the child attended in Year 12.

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.