Your child's SEAG result has arrived. What happens now?
For many Northern Ireland families, SEAG Results Day can feel like the end of a very long journey. Months of preparation, practice papers and nerves have led to this moment.
But the result itself is not the final step.
Once you have your child's Statement of Outcomes, there are several important things to understand and decisions to make before completing the post-primary transfer process.
Here's what parents should consider.
1. Don't panic when you first see the result
The first thing to remember is that your child's SEAG outcome is one part of the admissions process.
SEAG provides the Entrance Assessment and Statement of Outcomes, but it does not decide which school your child will attend. Individual SEAG schools decide how they use the outcomes within their own published Year 8 Admissions Criteria. (SEAG)
So don't immediately assume:
"My child got Band X, therefore they can/can't get into School Y."
You need to look at the actual admissions criteria for each school you are considering.
2. Understand the Statement of Outcomes
Take some time to understand exactly what your child has received.
The SEAG Entrance Assessment consists of two papers, and the Statement of Outcomes reflects performance across the two papers. (SEAG)
The outcome can include measures such as the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) and Band.
Remember that standardisation is designed to take account of factors such as the child's age, so comparing your child's raw number of correct answers with another child's isn't an appropriate way to judge their performance.
3. Check the admissions criteria for every school you're considering
This is probably the most important job after Results Day.
Don't rely on:
- What another parent tells you
- Last year's unofficial "cut-off"
- Facebook discussions
- Rumours about what score a school "usually takes"
Read the school's current Year 8 Admissions Criteria.
Schools decide how they use SEAG outcomes. One school may use TSAS, another may use bands, and schools may have different oversubscription and tie-break arrangements. SEAG itself has no role in deciding how individual schools use the outcomes. (SEAG)
Also look beyond the score.
Check:
- How the SEAG outcome is used
- How oversubscription is handled
- Tie-break arrangements
- Priority criteria
- Feeder-school arrangements where applicable
- Sibling criteria where applicable
- Distance criteria where applicable
- Any other criteria the school publishes
The admissions criteria are what matter — not the rumours surrounding them.
4. Consider whether a re-mark is appropriate
If you believe something may have gone wrong with your child's result, don't ignore the possibility of a re-mark.
For the current 2026/27 cycle, SEAG states that re-mark requests open on 25 January 2027 and close on 3 February 2027. The charge is currently £20 per paper, or £40 for both papers, with the fee refunded if the re-mark results in a change to the TSAS. (seagni.co.uk)
But a re-mark isn't something to request simply because you were hoping for a higher score.
Read the official guidance carefully and consider whether there is a genuine reason to request one.
And importantly, understand what a re-mark can and cannot achieve.
5. Think about Special Circumstances
This is another area where parents need to be careful.
If your child was affected by circumstances such as illness when sitting the assessment, the issue is not dealt with by changing the marked paper itself.
SEAG explains that academically selective schools include provisions usually referred to as Special Circumstances within their admissions criteria. Parents can make a claim as part of the post-primary transfer application and provide documentary evidence for the school to consider. (SEAG)
This is handled by the school as part of the admissions process, not by SEAG during marking.
Therefore, if there were circumstances that may have affected your child's performance, read the admissions criteria of every relevant school carefully and understand exactly what evidence is required.
6. Don't confuse your child's SEAG result with their overall ability
This is perhaps the most important point for parents.
A SEAG result is important because of the admissions process, but it does not define your child.
A child can perform below expectations on a particular Saturday.
They can have a difficult morning.
They can become anxious.
They can simply have a bad day.
And equally, one strong result doesn't mean they should suddenly be expected to perform perfectly in every subject.
Once the admissions process is underway, start thinking about the bigger picture:
What kind of secondary school environment will allow my child to thrive?
7. Think about the whole school, not just the entrance criteria
Once you know the result, it can be tempting to focus entirely on:
"Can we get into this school?"
Try to take a step back.
Consider:
- Does the school suit your child's personality?
- How will they travel there?
- What is the school environment like?
- What subjects and extracurricular opportunities are available?
- How does the school support pupils?
- Will your child be happy there?
- What happens if their academic needs change?
- Does the school's ethos fit your family?
A school being difficult to gain entry to doesn't automatically make it the right school for every child.
8. Complete the post-primary transfer application carefully
The post-primary transfer process is separate from SEAG and is administered by the Education Authority. SEAG does not decide school places. (SEAG)
When the application window opens, read the instructions carefully and make sure you understand the requirements of the schools you're applying to.
This is where your child's SEAG outcome, along with any relevant circumstances and the school's published admissions criteria, come together.
Don't leave the application until the last minute.
9. Keep copies of everything
Create a simple folder containing:
- Your child's Statement of Outcomes
- School admissions criteria
- Any Special Circumstances evidence
- Relevant correspondence
- Re-mark information
- Your transfer application information
- Confirmation emails
It sounds simple, but having everything together makes the process much less stressful.
10. If the result wasn't what you hoped for, don't give up
Perhaps the most important message of all:
A disappointing SEAG result is not the end of your child's educational journey.
There are different post-primary routes and different ways children succeed.
Don't let one number convince your child that they're "not clever enough".
Instead, help them understand that the result is simply one outcome from one assessment at one point in their education.
Celebrate the effort they put in.
Then focus on what's next.
The SEAG Results Day Checklist
When the results arrive, I recommend parents work through these steps:
✓ Read the Statement of Outcomes carefully
✓ Understand the TSAS and Band
✓ Check the admissions criteria for every school you're considering
✓ Consider whether a re-mark is appropriate
✓ Check whether Special Circumstances may apply
✓ Gather any supporting documentation
✓ Complete the Education Authority transfer application carefully
✓ Don't rely on unofficial score predictions or rumours
✓ Consider the whole school, not just its entrance requirements
✓ Reassure your child — their result does not define them
One final thought for parents
The SEAG preparation journey can consume an enormous amount of attention.
Results Day can therefore feel like the moment when everything is decided.
It isn't.
The result gives you information. The admissions criteria tell you how that information is used. Your application determines which schools you are considered for. And your child's education continues long after Results Day.
So take a breath, read the information carefully, and make decisions based on your child rather than somebody else's score, expectations or opinions.
At MyTransferHub, we believe preparation should never be about putting children under unnecessary pressure. It's about helping them understand what they know, where they need to improve and giving them the confidence to take the next step.
Important: Admissions arrangements and deadlines can change each year. Parents should always check the latest official SEAG information and the individual school's published Admissions Criteria before making decisions. For the 2026/27 cycle, SEAG currently lists outcomes for 23 January 2027 and re-mark requests from 25 January to 3 February 2027. (seagni.co.uk)
