St Malachy's 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. 1Pupils that attend a primary school within a contributory parish listed as (in no particular order), Castlewellan (Kilmegan); Clonduff (the Cabra area only); Drumaroad and Clanvaraghan; Dromara and Drumgooland; Dundrum and Tyrella; Kilcoo; Newcastle (Maghera). Priority will be given to children who have a child of the family currently enrolled in the school.
2. 2Pupils that live within a contributory parish listed as (in no particular order), Castlewellan (Kilmegan); Clonduff (the Cabra area only); Drumaroad and Clanvaraghan; Dromara and Drumgooland; Dundrum and Tyrella; Kilcoo; Newcastle (Maghera). Priority will be given to children who have a child of the family currently enrolled in the school.
3. 3Pupils from other parishes but attend a contributory primary school (in no particular order) with which the school has had a special relationship for many years, priority will be given to children who have a child of the family currently enrolled in the school. St Mary’s Rathfriland St Patrick’s Legamaddy St Brigid’s Downpatrick St Columban’s Kilkeel Holy Family Teconnaught St Nicholas Ardglass St Patrick’s Saul Christ the King Drumaness St Macartan’s Loughinisland OLSP Downpatrick (Non IME) St Patrick’s Ballynahinch St Malachy’s Kilclief
4. 4Pupils from other parishes where a child of the family is enrolled in the school.
5. 5Pupils from other parishes. Admissions Criteria in the event of a Tie Breaker If necessary, where over-subscription still exists, final selection will be on the basis of random selection, using the methods listed below, in the order which they are given: (i) For admission to the school in September 2026, pupils will be selected for admission on the basis of the initial letter of surname (as entered on the original Birth Certificate) in the order set out below: X G Z C A T MC U L K F V I D MAC W N Y E B O J S H M R P Q This order was determined by a randomised selection of the letters using an online random letter generator, completed by the principal and witnessed by the Chair of the Board of Governors on 10th November 2025. In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter, the subsequent letters of the surname will be used in alphabetical order. In the event of two identical surnames, the alphabetical order of the initials of the forename will be used.
6. 6Random Selection: If applicants are still tied, then priority will be determined amongst them by a method of random selection. Computerised random selection will be used to determine rank order.

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.