Your school guide
Lurgan College
Lurgan College takes pupils at Year 11 through the Dickson Plan age-14 transfer, rather than Year 8.
Grammar or selective school · Lurgan
Prepare with confidence.
Explore the entry route to Lurgan College below. Supporting a younger child with the 11+ too? Discover Plusling’s original questions, clear explanations and friendly daily practice.
Try five free questions. See the feedback for yourself.
Meet the school
At a glance
Facts checked
Plan your approach
Entry information
Lurgan College is a Dickson Plan senior high school entered at age 14 after junior high, not through a Year 7 or 11+ route. Its currently published Year 11 policy covers September 2026; the EA Connect deadline of 30 April 2026 has passed. Selection uses academic evidence and rank order when applications exceed places. Check the Education Authority’s page for the next transfer cycle.
Entry stage: Year 11, September 2026 (Dickson Plan senior high transfer at age 14)
The admissions process
- Under the Dickson Plan, pupils transfer from primary school at 11 to a junior high school without an academic transfer test, then move to a senior high school at age 14 after Key Stage 3.
- Lurgan College’s published policy covers Year 11 entry in September 2026, not Year 7. Applications and supporting information were due through the Education Authority Connect Portal by noon on 30 April 2026.
- Where applications exceed places, the Board of Governors ranks candidates using academic evidence. For Lurgan Junior High School pupils this includes Year 9 assessments and Year 10 transfer examinations; other applications are assessed on available evidence of academic ability.
Read the official details: Admissions information from Lurgan College
Go to the source
Official links for your shortlist
Use the school’s current admissions information to check which sample papers or familiarisation materials apply to your child’s entry year.
From subjects to skills
Explore Plusling’s 11+ practice subjects.
For families preparing for the 11+, these four practice areas offer a useful starting point. Use the relevant official assessment guidance to choose the skills your child needs.
English
A useful place to start
Read a short passage together. Ask your child to find evidence for an answer and explain unfamiliar words in context.
Build on it with Plusling
Build on that reading with Plusling’s English questions and explanations, then choose a topic to practise again.
Start the 5-question English quizMaths
A useful place to start
Ask your child to explain their method, estimate the answer and check the final calculation. Notice which step needs more practice.
Build on it with Plusling
Use Plusling’s original maths questions and worked explanations to make those next practice sessions count.
Start the 5-question maths quizVerbal reasoning
A useful place to start
Talk through word relationships, letter patterns and codes. Encourage your child to explain the rule before choosing an answer.
Build on it with Plusling
Explore words and logic with Plusling’s verbal reasoning quizzes, with feedback that helps the next attempt feel clearer.
Start the 5-question verbal reasoning quizNon-verbal reasoning
A useful place to start
Look for changes in shape, position, shading and direction. Work out one rule at a time before checking it against the choices.
Build on it with Plusling
Give visual reasoning another go in Plusling, with original puzzles and explanations your child can return to.
Start the 5-question non-verbal reasoning quizKeep the practical steps clear
Your application starting points
Use the official links on this page to answer these questions for your child’s entry year.
Check the entry point and eligibility
Confirm the year group, age requirements and any conditions that apply to your child.
Put the right dates in your diary
Note any published registration, assessment, application and offer-response dates that apply to your child’s route. They may be separate steps.
Check the assessment guidance
If an assessment applies, look for official examples, question formats, timings and answer instructions to help plan your child’s preparation.
Read the school’s admissions criteria
Check catchment, oversubscription rules and any supplementary form alongside the test registration.
Picture your child’s everyday life here.
An open day is a chance to look beyond the exam. Useful questions to take with you:
- How do you help new pupils settle in and make friends?
- Who can a child turn to when they feel worried or stuck?
- How do you help pupils recover from a setback and discover their strengths?
Know where to focus
Give their preparation a clear direction.
See the topics your child has practised, revisit questions that need another look and choose a focus for the next session. Plusling helps you put your time where it can be useful.
- Topic summaries and practice history
- Choose topics in Focus Practice
- Progress to discuss with the adults helping them
For families preparing for the 11+
Discover a friendlier way to practise.
Try Plusling together. Five free questions, clear explanations and a useful first step for your family’s 11+ preparation.
What to confirm
- Check the next EA Senior High application period for Lurgan College Year 11 transfer.
Plusling’s guide to Lurgan College is independently written. The school and its admissions authority publish the official arrangements.
Contains government school-register data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Primary sources
- Northern Ireland: official school register Department of Education, Northern Ireland
- Portadown College: entry stages Portadown College
- Lurgan College - Admission Year 11 Lurgan College
- Lurgan College - home Lurgan College
- The Dickson Plan Lurgan College
- Admission to Senior High Schools (Dickson Plan 14+) Education Authority Northern Ireland