Best secondary schools in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
18 of 22 secondary schools ranked by 5+ GCSEs A*-C · all Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon schools · primary schools
Ranked on 5+ GCSEs A*-C, 2024/25 — the most recent year each school has published. Official data, not our opinion — but the ranking is only as good as the measure, and a single number never describes a school.
- 0 of 22 rated Good or Outstanding
- Median 5+ GCSEs A*-C: 92.65% (best 100.0%)
| # | School | 5+ GCSEs A*-C | Ofsted | Places | Catchment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Catherine's College ARMAGH | 100.0% | — | — | approximate |
| 2 | St John the Baptist College ARMAGH | 100.0% | — | — | approximate |
| 3 | Banbridge Academy BANBRIDGE grammar | 99.5% | — | — | approximate |
| 4 | Lurgan College CRAIGAVON grammar | 99.2% | — | — | approximate |
| 5 | Portadown College CRAIGAVON grammar | 98.6% | — | — | approximate |
| 6 | The Royal School Armagh ARMAGH grammar | 97.0% | — | — | approximate |
| 7 | St Patrick's College BANBRIDGE | 96.9% | — | — | approximate |
| 8 | Rathfriland High School NEWRY | 96.2% | — | — | approximate |
| 9 | St Ronan's College CRAIGAVON grammar | 92.7% | — | — | approximate |
| 10 | New-Bridge Integrated College BANBRIDGE | 92.6% | — | — | approximate |
| 11 | Markethill High School ARMAGH | 90.9% | — | — | approximate |
| 12 | Dromore High School DROMORE | 89.7% | — | — | approximate |
| 13 | St Patrick's High School KEADY | 86.4% | — | — | approximate |
| 14 | Banbridge High School BANBRIDGE | 83.6% | — | — | approximate |
| 15 | Craigavon Integrated College CRAIGAVON | 79.8% | — | — | approximate |
| 16 | Craigavon Senior High School PORTADOWN | 73.8% | — | — | approximate |
| 17 | St Patrick's Grammar School ARMAGH grammar | 73.4% | — | — | approximate |
| 18 | City Armagh High School ARMAGH | 58.2% | — | — | approximate |
Also in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
4 further secondary schools with no published 5+ GCSEs A*-C for the latest year — usually too small a cohort to report, newly opened, or a special school. Listed because leaving them out would make this a misleading picture of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, not a fairer one.
- Clounagh Junior High School
- Killicomaine Junior High School
- Lurgan Junior High
- Tandragee Junior High School
Applying in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
Knowing which school is best is only half of it — these are the deadlines that decide whether you can apply at all.
- Transfer test (SEAG) — Paper 1 2026-11-14 · 2027 entry AQE/GL transfer test — Assessment Paper 1, for children starting Year 8 in September 2027.
- Transfer test (SEAG) — Paper 2 2026-11-21 · 2027 entry AQE/GL transfer test — Assessment Paper 2.
- Transfer test (SEAG) results released 2027-05-01 · 2027 entry Approximate — parents informed by the Education Authority which post-primary school their child has been allocated to (May 2027, exact date not yet published).
Rankings compare published results. They do not tell you which school your child will get into — that depends on where you live, sibling and faith priority, and how many people apply this year. Ask below, or check the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon admission criteria.
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