Page 27 - Prospectus Sept 2026

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR ENTRY INTO YEAR 8
During the admissions procedure when applying the criteria punctual applications will be considered before late
applications are considered. The application procedure opens on 27 January 2026 at 12 noon (GMT) and an
application submitted by the closing date of 19 February 2026 at 12 noon (GMT) will be treated as a punctual
application. An application received after 12 noon (GMT) on 19 February 2026 and up to 4pm on 24 February 2026
will be treated as a late application.

Respective functions of the Board of Governors and Principal in relation to Admissions to the school

The Board of Governors has drawn up the following Admissions Criteria and the application of the criteria has been
delegated to the Principal. Digital Online Applications are welcome from pupils of all abilities.

When considering which children should be selected for admission, the Board of Governors will take into account information
which is uploaded with the online application. Parents should ensure therefore that all information pertaining to their child and
relevant to the school’s admissions criteria is provided.

The Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary evidence as it may determine necessary to
support or verify any information on the online Application Form. The provision of false or incorrect information or
the failure to provide information within the deadlines set by the school can result in the inability of the school to
offer a place/the withdrawal of a place.

Criteria will be applied in the order set down below. At each criterion, applications will be processed in order of
expressed preference for a place at Dunclug College.

1. Applicants who attend the following primary schools: Ballykeel, Ballymena, Braidside, Broughshane, Buick
Memorial, Camphill, Carnaghts, Carniny, Carnlough, Clough, Cloughmills, Creavery, Dunclug, Fourtowns, Gracehill,
Groggan, Harryville, Hazelbank, Kells & Connor, Kirkinriola, Moorfields, Portglenone, Randalstown Central,
Rasharkin Primary School, Six Mile Integrated, St Brigid’s, St Colmcilles, St Paul’s, The Diamond, Tildarg.
2. Applicants with a child of the family currently enrolled at the college.

3. Applicants who are the eldest child of the family or the first child seeking a place in a school which does not
select by means of an entrance test, whether or not they sit such tests.
4. Applicants for whom Dunclug College is the nearest appropriate Controlled Secondary school as measured by
the nearest suitable route by road. (Google Maps)
5. Older Applicants, established by Date of Birth as entered on a Birth Certificate.

If applicants are tied at Criterion 5, then priority shall be determined amongst these tied applicants according to the placement of their surname
ina rank order determined according to the following randomly developed order of letters

E M Y K T S L Mac Z Q O G N A Mc I H F V P R W D B C U J X
Where applicants have the same 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 forenames will be used.

Where applicants remain tied, then priority will be determined amongst them by a method of random selection.

Applications for pupils who hold a Statement of Special Educational Needs are considered outside these Admissions Criteria. Parental
choice will be made following an Annual Review at the Primary School, with the assistance of the EA Special Education Department.

Online Applications will open @12 Noon on Tuesday 27 January 2026 and close at @12 Noon on Thursday 19 February 2026.
www.eani.org.uk/admissions

We look forward to welcoming you to our school and wish you well for the future.

27