Why is every centre not the same?
Schools that act as exam centres have a certain amount of choice in where the candidates sit the test. The exam coordinator in the school decides this based on a number of factors including number of candidates, number of invigilators and and availability of desks and rooms in the school.
Why does it matter?
This boils down to whether your child will be sitting as one of 15 candidates in a classroom or sitting as one of 150 candidates in an assembly hall. Many parents prefer to think of their child sitting in a small classroom surrounded by friends from their primary school. There will be a teacher from the grammar school invigilating and probably an assistant invigilator in room and others in the corridors to accompany candidates to the toilet. For schools running a full programme of Saturday morning sports, this can be difficult to resource. So some schools choose to run the exam in the assembly hall like GCSE exams.
So, which is better?
It’s a matter of opinion. Many parents prefer the thought of smaller classrooms but large halls can be better in some ways. Firstly, there are less distractions on walls. Classrooms tend to have classroom displays on the walls. Many schools will use language or history rooms to ensure that the displays do not help candidates but if your child is a distractable sort, then they might end up using exam time reading wall displays. Secondly, as they are in a small room, there is less anonymity. Some kids are happier and more inclined to work away at problems when they don’t feel that their friends are scrutinising them. And, not everyone in the same P7 class are always “friends”.
Chat this through with your child and make up your mind on which setting might suit best
Parents from the 2023 test told us how the the centres coordinated the inaugural set of SEAG tests and we’ve compiled that information below to help you decide on a suitable centre. Of course, schools may adapt their procedures from year to year and it’s probably best to check with your centre when applying for up-to-date information.
If you have applied for special circumstances such as extra time, prompter etc, it is likely that your child will sit their exam in a classroom with a small number of other children.
Abbey Christian Brothers’ Grammar School (Newry)
In the 2023 test, Abbey used a large hall.
Antrim Grammar School
Classrooms.
Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School (Belfast)
Aquinas used several halls. Parents told us that it was all very simple – children were given a coloured door to enter by and loads of staff were on hand to help direct both children and parents.
Assumption Grammar School (Ballynahinch)
A mixture of halls and classrooms.
Ballyclare High School
No information.
Ballymena Academy
Classrooms.
Banbridge Academy
Mostly classrooms with maybe one large hall.
Bangor Grammar School
Bangor Grammar uses a couple of halls. Children are seated close to others from the same primary school. Classrooms are used for access arrangements.
Belfast High School
Gym, study and coffee bar were the three main rooms then classrooms for access arrangements.
Belfast Royal Academy
Classrooms.
Bloomfield Collegiate (Belfast)
Large hall.
Cambridge House Grammar School (Ballymena)
Cambridge House Grammar School used classrooms and children from the same primary school are all put in together.
Campbell College (Belfast)
Hall.
Carrickfergus Grammar School
Classrooms with pupils from their Primary school
Christian Brothers’ Grammar School (Omagh)
No information.
Coleraine Grammar School
No information.
Dalriada School (Ballymena)
No information.
Dominican College (Belfast)
Large halls.
Down High School (Downpatrick)
Classrooms.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
Classrooms over both sites.
Foyle College (Londonderry)
Used the assembly hall and gym – both very large halls and a classroom available for those who had requested special needs. Very well organised with different zones for drop off and collection.
Friends’ School Lisburn
Classrooms arranged to keep PS groups together where possible.
Glenlola Collegiate (Bangor)
Hall.
Grosvenor Grammar School (Belfast)
Classrooms.
Hunterhouse College (Belfast)
Hunterhouse this year was in two halls. Classrooms were used for additional time or special requests.
Lagan College (Belfast)
Classrooms.
Larne Grammar School
Classrooms.
Limavady Grammar School
No information.
Loreto Grammar School Omagh
No information.
Lumen Christi College (Derry)
Several halls.
Methodist College Belfast
No information.
Mount Lourdes Grammar School (Enniskillen)
No information.
Omagh Academy Grammar School
No information.
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock (Belfast)
Various halls with different drop-off zones
Our Lady’s Grammar School (Newry)
Big hall.
Rainey Endowed School (Magherafelt)
No information.
Rathmore Grammar School (Belfast)
Classrooms.
Regent House School (Newtownards)
Hall.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
No information.
Royal School Armagh
Hall.
Royal School Dungannon
Classrooms.
Sacred Heart Grammar School (Newry)
No information.
Slemish College (Ballymena)
No information.
St Colman’s College (Newry)
No information.
St Columb’s College (Derry)
No information.
St Dominic’s High School (Belfast)
No information.
St Joseph’s Grammar School Donaghmore
Hall.
St Louis Grammar School Ballymena
Classrooms
St Louis Grammar School Kilkeel
No information.
St Malachy’s College (Belfast)
Used a mix of a large sports hall together with a number of classrooms and seemed to group the candidates with their primary school.
St Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School (Belfast)
Library.
St Mary’s Grammar School Magherafelt
Large hall.
St Michael’s College (Enniskillen)
No information.
St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon
No information.
St Patrick’s Grammar School Downpatrick
No information.
Strabane Academy
No information.
Strangford Integrated College
No information.
Strathearn School (Belfast)
No information.
Sullivan Upper School (Holywood)
Sullivan Upper – big hall and drama theatre.
Thornhill College (Derry)
Large hall.
Victoria College Belfast
No information.
Wallace High School (Lisburn)
Large hall.
Wellington College (Belfast)
Large hall.