The permitted admission number for Year 8 as determined by the Department of Education for the academic year 2026/2027 is 129.

 

In the event that the school would exceed its permitted admission number by accepting all applicants qualifying for selection using the final criterion so required, then selection for all places remaining in this category will be on the basis of initial letter of the surname (as appears on the child’s Birth Certificate), in the order set out below:

 

O, T, L, U, N, F, G, Z, C, R, M, W, X, Mac, K, S, H, B, J, Y, P, A, Ní, Mc, E, D, I, Q, V, O’

 

The order was determined by a random selection of letters, witnessed by the Board of Governors on 04 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 forenames will be used. If any of these applicants do not have a second forename, they will be placed ahead of those with a second forename. If applicants have identical surnames and forenames, they will be placed in rank order of eldest child by date of birth as stated on their birth certificate and admitted in this order. If, after this process, any applicants still tie for a final place, the place(s) will be allocated by random computerised selection.

 

When considering which applicants should be selected for admission, the Board of Governors will only take into account information which is detailed on or attached to the online/ written application.  Parent(s) / Guardian(s) should therefore ensure that all information pertaining to their child and relevant to the school’s Admissions Criteria is stated on the online/ written application or attached to it. 

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Applicants should note that where an address and/or child age information contained within an application qualifies an applicant for admission, then that information will be required to be verified.  To enable the Board of Governors to verify this, applicants, towards the end of the admissions process, will be asked to provide:​

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A       The Applicant’s Birth Certificate in order to verify the date of birth and their name

and

B        Any two of the following original documents to credibly verify address at which the applicant is presently resident:

• a current bank, post office, credit union or building society statement (or equivalent) which shows the address at which the applicant is presently resident;

• a current utility bill (e.g. Electricity, Gas, Television Licence, Telephone) which shows the address at which the applicant is presently resident;

• a current letter awarding Child Benefit or Tax/Universal Credit in respect of the applicant or another letter relating to this benefit;

• the applicant’s Medical Card. 

 

PARENT(S) / GUARDIAN(S) ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO HAVE SUCH DOCUMENTS READY FOR SUBMISSION TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS UPON REQUEST.

 

Please note that other original documents deemed by the school to be equally capable of verifying applicant information, or other equally capable means of verification, will be considered at the discretion of the Board of Governors. If, therefore, applicants are unable to provide the specific documents listed above then they should contact the school to establish how they can verify applications to the satisfaction of the school. 

 

The Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary evidence as it may determine to support or verify information on any application. 

 

Upon receipt the school will take a copy of the documents but will retain this copy only until the admissions procedure (including Appeals Tribunals) is complete.  The provision of these documents is essential if we are to offer your child a place at St Cecilia’s College.  By law, St Cecilia’s College Board of Governors, like others, has a duty to verify the important information within a child’s application in order to ensure that it has applied its Admissions Criteria correctly and that the admissions process is accurate and fair. If applicants do not provide the requested documents by the deadline given, then the school must regrettably withdraw the place currently allocated to the child. Similarly, if the documents provided fail to verify the information within the application that has currently qualified the child for a place at St Cecilia’s College, then this place will be withdrawn.

 

The provision of false or incorrect information or the failure to provide information within the deadlines set by Post-Primary Schools can result in the withdrawal of a place and the inability to offer a place on the part of any school nominated on the applicant’s application. 

 

Should a vacancy arise after 09 May 2026, all applications for admission to Year 8 that were initially refused, new applications, late applications and applications where new information has been provided will be treated equally and the published Admissions Criteria applied. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must inform the school, in writing, if they wish their child’s name to be added to the waiting list. On the 01 September 2026, a waiting list will be drawn up, consisting only of those who have made known to the school their wish to remain on the waiting list after 01 September 2026.

 

St Cecilia’s College will contact you in writing if your child gains a place in the school by this method.

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