St Pius X College

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR ENTRY INTO YEAR 8

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During the admissions procedure, when applying the following criteria, punctual applications will be considered before late applications are considered. The application procedure opens on 28 January 2025 at 12 noon (GMT) and an application submitted by the closing date of 20 February 2025 at 12 noon (GMT) will be treated as a punctual application. An application received after 12 noon (GMT) 20 February 2025 will be treated as a late application.​

 

School Year 2025/26 Respective functions of Board of Governors and Principal

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The Board of Governors determine the Admissions Criteria which are applied by the Principal assisted (where necessary) by an Admissions Committee.

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Criteria

In the event of the College being oversubscribed the following criteria will be applied in the order and value outlined until all places are filled.

 

1. Applicants who, at the date of their application, have brothers/sisters, half-brothers/half-sisters currently enrolled in the College or who are children of a permanent member ofstaff. (60 points)

2. Applicants who are registered parishioners of Magherafelt & Castledawson Parish* and/or attend the following primary schools: Holy Family Primary School, Magherafelt; New Row St Patrick’s Primary School, Castledawson; Anahorish Primary School, Newbridge; St Trea’s Primary School, Ballymaguigan; St Patrick’s Primary School Loup; St Patrick’s Primary School, Moneymore; Ballylifford Primary School, Ballinderry; Derrychrin Primary School, Ballinderry; Lissan Primary School, Lissan; St Mary’s Primary School, Bellaghy; Gaelscoil an tSeanchai; Spires Integrated Primary School, Magherafelt. (40 points)

3. Applicants attending the following primary schools: St Peter’s Primary School, Moortown; St Patrick’s Primary School, Mullinahoe; Knocknagin Primary School, Desertmartin; St Columb’s Primary School, Cullion; St John Bosco Primary School, Ballynease; St Brigid’s Primary School, Mayogall; St Malachy’s Primary School Drummullan. (20 points)

4. In the event of the college being oversubscribed, under any of the above, applicants will be admitted in rank order by the initial letter of their surname (as entered on their Birth Certificate) in the order set out below and, in the event of a tie, by the subsequent letters of their surname, in alphabetical order. In the event of two identical surnames the alphabetical order of the letter of the first forename (as entered on their Birth Certificate) will be used. Hyphenated surnames, consisting of two separate surnames will be treated as one complete word for selection purposes.

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S L O U Q I R Y V J M F E H P W G D T X K A B N Z C

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It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that all information in relation to the above criteria is provided on the Transfer Form.

 

The Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary evidence as it may determine to support or verify information provided. The provision of false or incorrect information or the failure to provide information requested within the deadline set by the College can result in the withdrawal of a place or the inability to offer a place.

 

Applicants resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission to the college will be admitted before any applicant not so resident will be considered.

 

Year 8 Admissions after the beginning of the School Year – 2025/26

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Parents/Guardians who wish to have their child considered for admission in the event of a place arising after 1st September 2025 should write to the Principal clearly stating this in a letter. Written acknowledgement will be issued. The above criteria will be applied to these applicants only in the event of such a vacancy arising. Separate admissions criteria are applied for admissions beyond Year 8 (Years 9-12) and Sixth Form (Years 13 and 14).

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Year 8 Applications and Admissions