Haberdashers' Abraham Darby
Telford, TF7 5HX · Telford and Wrekin · secondary school
Check the area around this school
9th of 12 secondary schools in Telford and Wrekin we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 1.6/10 against 415 of them, against 0.9/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 2 | 35% | 0.08 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 27.7 · 11 | 30% | 0.34 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.74 · 7 | 25% | 0.18 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 34.4 · 5 | 10% | 0.05 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Haberdashers' Abraham Darby overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 31.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 37.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.74 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,084 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,100. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the new Ofsted framework affect day-to-day teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Haberdashers' Abraham Darby
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils generally feel safe and enjoy attending, with a broad curriculum and positive post-16 provision. However, leaders and governors acknowledge the school requires "sustained and targeted support" to drive improvements, as teaching, behaviour, and attendance are inconsistent and attainment remains below national averages.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
- Post-16 provision is strong, with students demonstrating "highly positive behaviour" and achieving in line with national figures.
- The curriculum is "broad" and "ambitious," with leaders mapping essential knowledge across phases.
- Enrichment is "well established," offering leadership opportunities, clubs, and trips that support wellbeing.
- Sixth-form students experience "stronger teaching" and nearly all progress to chosen destinations.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure staff "consistently implement effective strategies" so all pupils, including disadvantaged and SEND pupils, can access the full curriculum.
- Staff need to use assessment effectively to "quickly identify and address gaps in learning" and misconceptions.
- Leaders should strengthen work with families to improve attendance and address variable behaviour outside lessons.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.7 |
| 2024/25 | 37.7 |
| 2025/26 | 34.4 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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