First-class grammar school education, exceptional boarding at a fraction of independent school costs, and academic results that place it among the top 10% in England. The catch? Passing the entrance test. Over 1,000 candidates sit the exam annually for 150 Year 7 places, and preparation is almost universal among applicants.
Dating back to 1656, the school was established by Alderman William Adams (with permission from Oliver Cromwell) and has served academically ambitious students in Newport, Shropshire for nearly four centuries. Now fully co-educational following the admission of girls to Year 7 from September 2024, the school educates over 1,000 students aged 11 to 18, including approximately 360 in the sixth form. Around 100 boys board in two distinctive houses set within 100 acres of grounds.
The combination of selective entry, strong results, state boarding provision, and historic heritage makes Haberdashers' Adams genuinely unusual. One of only seven state boarding grammar schools in England, it offers families something rarely available: rigorous academic education with residential options at public sector prices.
Beyond the High Street entrance, the atmosphere is purposeful and scholarly. Students move briskly between lessons, and the library fills at breaks. This is a school that takes academic endeavour seriously, where focused industriousness is the prevailing culture.
The historic main building houses the original library where William Adams established his school nearly 400 years ago. The collection began with 1,400 books, one of the largest school libraries in England at the time, and this heritage of scholarship remains tangible. Recent modernisation has added contemporary facilities without erasing the traditional character. Hamilton Hall, converted from the original Coach House, now serves as the Music and Performing Arts Centre. Paddock Hall, completed in 2019, provides purpose-built spaces for mathematics and art. The dedicated Sixth Form Centre includes its own lecture theatre, seminar rooms, and bistro.
Daniel Biggins became Headteacher in September 2025 after nearly twenty years at the school: he started out teaching economics and business studies, then led the department, and has served as Deputy Head for Pupil Welfare since 2016. This internal progression reflects continuity and deep institutional knowledge.
The school operates under the Haberdashers' West Midlands Academies Trust, with the Master and Wardens of the Haberdashers' Company continuing as Governors, a connection unbroken since 1656. The Haberdashers' Company, originally tradespeople dealing in ribbons, beads, purses, gloves, pins, caps, and toys, shifted toward educational philanthropy by the seventeenth century as their charitable funds expanded.
Five houses structure student life and competition: Owen, Darwin, Talbot, Webb, and Sa'adu. The first four honour famous Shropshire figures: the poet Wilfred Owen, Charles Darwin, John Talbot the First Earl of Shrewsbury, and Captain Matthew Webb the Channel swimmer. Sa'adu House, established in 2021, commemorates Alfa Sa'adu, an NHS worker and former student who died during the COVID-19 pandemic. House competitions span music, drama, public speaking through the Dixon Cup, rugby through the Smedley Cup and House 7s, cross-country, and swimming.
The school's five core values are Respect, Integrity, Responsibility, Service, and Resilience. The stated purpose is to inspire academic excellence, nurture personal growth, and develop kind, principled individuals equipped for the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century.
Results are strong and consistent. In 2024, 61% of GCSE grades were 9 to 7, placing the school well above the England average for grammar schools. The Attainment 8 score of 71.2 reflects excellent performance across a broad range of subjects. The Progress 8 score of 0.46 indicates students make significantly above-average progress from their starting points, a meaningful achievement given the already high ability of the intake.
Haberdashers' Adams ranks 279th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 10% of secondary schools. Locally, it ranks 2nd among schools in Newport.
The curriculum requires breadth. All students take two languages from Year 7, and 98% continue with at least one language at GCSE. All students must take a performing subject at GCSE, choosing from art, drama, music, or physical education. This insistence on rounded education is deliberate.
At A-level, 75% of grades were A* to B, with 48% at A* or A. The school ranks 288th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 25% of sixth forms. This represents above-average performance relative to England.
Students typically take three A-levels plus either one AS-level or the Extended Project Qualification. The EPQ is strongly encouraged, and all sixth form students complete the qualification. Three subjects, Art, Music, and Further Mathematics, can be extended from AS to full A-level based on Lower Sixth performance.
Twenty-four A-level subjects are offered, including Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Drama and Theatre, Economics, English, French, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, German, History, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Sociology.
The school excels in mathematics and the three sciences. Performance is tracked carefully, monitored every six weeks, and each student meets a mentor-tutor twice a year for a progress review.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
74.9%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
61%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum follows clear structures with high expectations. Teachers have expert subject knowledge, and lessons are well-planned. The selective intake allows teachers to move at pace, and the academic culture reinforces diligent study habits.
The Key Stage 3 instrumental programme ensures every student experiences learning a musical instrument, a distinctive feature that builds cultural capital alongside academic study. Languages receive strong emphasis throughout, with all students taking two from Year 7, though only around 3% continue a language to A-level despite near-universal GCSE participation.
Learning support provision has expanded with growing emphasis on identifying and addressing barriers to learning. One-to-one support is available where needed. To build an early picture, the school draws on information from previous schools, gathers concerns from students and parents, and runs its own observations and assessments. Around 7% of students receive SEN support.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
The academic rigour produces an elite university pipeline. In 2024, 61% of leavers progressed to university, with 8 students securing Oxbridge places. The school averages 8 Oxbridge acceptances and 13 medical or veterinary places annually.
Popular destinations include Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Warwick, Exeter, Sheffield, Lancaster and Loughborough. The spread reflects genuine student choice rather than prestige-chasing, with strong regional universities well represented alongside Russell Group institutions.
The school actively promotes alternatives to traditional university pathways. Around 7% of leavers enter apprenticeships, including degree apprenticeships, and 16% move directly into employment. The careers guidance programme presents these as legitimate choices alongside higher education.
University preparation support includes visits from university speakers, attendance at UCAS Higher Education Events, and structured guidance for personal statement writing and interview practice. The 2025 leavers' destinations are mapped on the school website.
Around a quarter of students leave after GCSEs, typically to pursue sixth form elsewhere or enter further education colleges. External candidates may join the sixth form with five GCSEs at grade 7, including grade 7+ in the A-level subjects they intend to study.
Competition for Year 7 places is intense. The school admits 135 day places and up to 15 boarding places annually, but over 1,000 candidates sit the entrance test each year. With around 3.25 applications for every place, entry is among the most competitive of any state grammar school.
Haberdashers' Adams is a member of the West Midlands Grammar Schools partnership, a consortium of 19 schools across Birmingham, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Walsall, and Wolverhampton. All 19 schools share the same entrance test, meaning candidates need sit the exam only once even when applying to multiple schools.
The test consists of two papers of approximately 50 minutes each, assessing English comprehension, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and numerical reasoning. All questions are multiple choice, administered by GL Assessment.
For September 2026 entry, registration opens on 6 May 2025 and closes on 27 June 2025. The test takes place on Monday 15 September 2025. Results are released on 15 October 2025.
The qualifying score for 2025 entry was 205 for standard applicants and 195 for those eligible for Pupil Premium. Oversubscription criteria give priority to eligible Pupil Premium/Service Premium applicants, looked-after children, and those attending one of 35 designated primary schools within Telford and Wrekin. The attendance area was extended in recent years to include large parts of the borough. Pupils who pass the entrance test and come from the designated primary schools are prioritised over applicants from schools outside the defined area.
Families must complete two separate steps. First, register for the entrance exam through the West Midlands Grammar Schools portal during the May to June registration window. Second, submit the Common Application Form through the local authority by 31 October, naming Haberdashers' Adams as a preference. Both steps are required.
Local Authority decisions are communicated on 1 March. An induction day in July welcomes successful applicants.
External candidates are welcome to apply for sixth form places. Applications require a form and reference from the previous school. Entry requirements are five GCSEs at grade 7, with grade 7+ in intended A-level subjects.
The school does not officially recommend tutoring. Unofficially, preparation is almost universal among candidates. When asked what percentage of applicants were tutored, the answer approaches 100%. The entrance test has been redesigned to reduce tutoring advantage, but the stakes make preparation nearly ubiquitous.
Families should prepare for the emotional stakes. Rejection after extensive preparation is difficult for children and parents alike. Multiple grammar school applications spread the risk, and the West Midlands partnership system allows this without additional testing.
Applications
429
Total received
Places Offered
132
Subscription Rate
3.3x
Apps per place
State boarding is one of the most distinctive features. Around 100 boys board, paying only for accommodation and meals while education remains free. This makes Haberdashers' Adams dramatically more affordable than independent boarding schools, typically around one-third of the cost.
Junior boarders in Years 7 to 10 live at Longford Hall, a Grade II* listed Georgian mansion that sits within around 100 acres, overlooking the surrounding countryside. The grounds include playing fields, a fishing lake, and woodland.
Boys share dormitories organised by year group, with bunk beds used into Years 9 and 10. Around 50 boys live at Longford. Facilities include a spacious dining hall, recreation room, two dedicated games rooms, and extensive outdoor space.
Mr Dan Murray, from the PE department, heads Longford Hall and lives on-site with his family. Mrs Allday serves as Residential Matron with 24-hour availability. A team of boarding tutors and three experienced matrons provide support.
Mobile phones are permitted until 9pm. Structured and supervised prep sessions run nightly, with academic staff providing tutoring during prep to identify and resolve issues quickly.
Senior boarders in Years 11 to 13 move to Beaumaris Hall, a purpose-built modern facility metres from the main school entrance. Rooms are single or double, all en-suite. The building includes a large communal relaxation area and supper room for self-catering.
Mr Bhalraj Chima, a Physics teacher and former student, heads senior boarding. Mrs Roden serves as Residential Houseparent. Academic tutors from various departments and experienced matrons complete the team.
Senior boarding aims to develop independence, acting as a bridge between home and university life. The transition from the historic junior house to the modern senior facility mirrors the increasing autonomy expected of older students.
Boarders may remain at school during weekends or return home. For those staying, a programme of events and activities is arranged, including cinema visits, walks, ice-skating, and swimming.
The school closes completely during exeat weekends, half-term, and holidays. Boarders must arrange alternative accommodation during these periods. Overseas boarders require a UK-based legal guardian.
A small number of international boarders enhance the residential community each year. Around 15% of boarders are international students.
Boarding fees for 2026-27 are £5,278 per term (£15,834 annually) for Years 7 to 11, and £5,797 per term (£17,391 annually) for Sixth Form, fixed for the two-year duration. Fees cover full board with the option to go home at weekends, three main meals daily plus refreshments and supper, laundry, supervised prep, and extracurricular activities.
Flexi-boarding is available for Sixth Form students at £73 per night for up to three nights per week, including meals and supervised prep but excluding laundry.
A £3,000 deposit is required, refundable at the end of the contract but forfeited if parents withdraw after acceptance. Overseas boarders pay an additional one-off charge. Fees are reviewed annually in December.
As a state school, Haberdashers' Adams cannot offer sibling discounts, scholarships, or bursaries for boarding. However, Armed Forces personnel qualifying for Continuity of Education Allowance pay only 8% of boarding fees.
Pastoral care centres on the house system. Each of the five houses provides a community within the larger school, and house competition creates belonging and identity. A respecting and valuing diversity programme promotes inclusive culture.
The 2022 Ofsted inspection rated Behaviour and Attitudes as Outstanding. Teachers know students exceptionally well as individuals. Expectations for conduct are high and consistently upheld.
The inspection did identify areas for improvement in leadership supervision and some safeguarding procedures, particularly relating to safer recruitment and boarding oversight. These have been addressed under ongoing improvement plans. The overall judgement of Good reflects a school performing well across all areas, with genuinely outstanding behavioural culture.
Haberdashers' Adams has traditionally been a rugby school. All boys play rugby through Years 7 and 8 during autumn and spring terms. From Year 9, students may continue rugby or switch to hockey. Cricket and athletics dominate the shorter summer term.
With the admission of girls from 2024, netball, hockey, and dance have expanded. Other sports include football, badminton, basketball, rounders, cross-country, and swimming.
Most sporting events and training take place at the Longford Hall playing fields, accessed during designated games afternoons. Each year group has a specific afternoon assigned for physical activity sessions. The sports centre includes a modern sports hall, football pitch, dance studio, theatre area, changing rooms, showers, and a heated swimming pool (now with roof).
Music provision is strong and participatory. The house music competition drives high engagement, with choirs, swing bands, saxophone groups, and guitar groups all performing. The Key Stage 3 instrumental programme means every student learns an instrument.
Hamilton Hall, the dedicated Music and Performing Arts Centre, provides purpose-built facilities. The music department runs tours including recent expeditions to Australia.
Drama has gained greater emphasis, with opportunities through the Dixon Cup house competition covering drama and public speaking. School productions run annually, recent examples including Macbeth and Grease.
Over 50 extracurricular activities are available. Beyond the thriving Combined Cadet Force with Army and RAF sections and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, clubs include Raspberry Pi, Taiko Drumming, debating, astronomy, robot building, engineering, sculpting and creative writing. Clubs start if students want them; Bridge Club emerged from student demand.
The CCF offers survival weekends, summer camps, and flying for RAF cadets. The Army section has won regional orienteering and military skills competitions. Selected cadets participate in prestigious six-week training courses in Canada.
Duke of Edinburgh progresses from Bronze in Year 10 to Silver in Year 11, covering volunteering, skills, physical activity, and multi-day expeditions.
International travel is extensive: French and German trips, rugby tours to Hong Kong and New Zealand, hockey and netball tours to South Africa, annual ski trips, and music tours. Charity trips to Nepal provide service-learning opportunities.
Academic competitions include the Schools Analyst Competition (Royal Society of Chemistry), Maths Feast and Young Enterprise. Regional and national competitions reinforce the culture of academic ambition.
The school day runs from approximately 8:40am to 3:45pm. Prep Club offers afternoon supervision from 3:45pm to 7:30pm for Years 7 to 9 day students at Longford Hall, including supervised preparation and meals.
Newport is approximately 20 minutes from Telford, one hour from Birmingham, and around 1.5 hours from London by train. The town has a small-town character, a significant contrast to urban grammar schools.
The next Open Week for Year 7 entry (Year 5 students considering September 2027) runs 19 to 21 January 2026. Bookings open 1 December 2025.
Entrance competition is fierce. With over 1,000 candidates for 150 places, admission requires genuine academic ability and thorough preparation. Families should manage expectations realistically and have backup plans.
Tutoring culture is pervasive. Despite official recommendations against tutoring, preparation is almost universal. Families uncomfortable with this may feel out of step with the prevailing approach.
Boarding is boys only. While the school became fully co-educational for day students from 2024, boarding remains exclusively for boys. Families wanting residential education for daughters must look elsewhere.
Remote location. Newport is a small market town in rural Shropshire. Students from urban areas may find the setting unfamiliar. Boarders appreciate the space; day students from distant locations face longer commutes.
Peer group adjustment. Students who were always top at primary school join a cohort where everyone was top. This recalibration can bruise egos, though it ultimately proves healthy for most.
Haberdashers' Adams delivers grammar school education of genuine quality, with state boarding provision that makes residential education accessible to families who could never afford independent school fees. Nearly 400 years of heritage combine with modern facilities, strong results, and a culture of academic ambition.
The school suits academically able students who thrive on challenge and enjoy belonging to a traditional community with strong house identity. For families seeking rigorous academic education, particularly those interested in affordable boarding for boys, this remains one of the most distinctive state schools in England.
The main challenge is securing a place. For families who succeed, the educational experience is exceptional.
Yes. Haberdashers' Adams was rated Good by Ofsted in May 2022, with Outstanding for Behaviour and Attitudes. GCSE results place it in the top 10% of secondary schools in England, with 61% of grades at 9 to 7. The Progress 8 score of 0.46 indicates students make significantly above-average progress. Around 8 students secure Oxbridge places annually.
Two steps are required. First, register for the West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test through their portal between May and June. Second, submit the Common Application Form through your local authority by 31 October, naming Haberdashers' Adams as a preference. Both steps must be completed.
The entrance test consists of two papers of approximately 50 minutes each, covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and numerical reasoning. All questions are multiple choice. The same test applies across all 19 West Midlands Grammar Schools partnership members.
The school does not recommend tutoring and has redesigned the test to reduce preparation advantage. In practice, tutoring is almost universal among candidates. Families must decide their own approach, but should be aware of the prevailing culture.
Boarding fees for 2026-27 are £5,278 per term for Years 7 to 11 and £5,797 per term for Sixth Form. This covers accommodation, meals, laundry, and activities. Education is free as a state school. A £3,000 deposit is required. The school cannot offer bursaries or scholarships.
Yes. The school became fully co-educational from September 2024, with girls admitted to Year 7. Girls have been admitted to the sixth form since 1993. However, boarding remains boys only.
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