Want To Join Us?
At Abraham Darby, all students are inspired to reach their full potential.
At Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby, we’re passionate about learning in its widest sense. Our mission is to ensure that our pupils value and enjoy their learning inside and outside the classroom. We’re focused on achieving high academic outcomes and the development of the whole person.
We have an extensive sporting, creative and academic extra-curricular programme, allowing pupils to work with others in teams and build strong relationships with their peers and staff.
Please view our prospectus HERE
Joining Year 7
October
Time to fill in the application form! The deadline is 31st October. This can be done by clicking here.
Please click on the link to access the Telford & Wrekin admissions website which gives parents/carers all the information they need in relation to the whole admissions process. We don’t give priority to applications from any other schools.
March 1st – Allocated A Place?
This is an exciting time in a child’s education and we provide a comprehensive Transition Programme which enables pupils to transfer from primary school as smoothly as possible.
Admissions Process
The Transition Programme begins the day that families find out about their child’s allocation. If your child has been allocated a place at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby, you will be contacted early in March and welcomed into the Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby community.
You will be sent our Admissions Form and asked to complete and return it to the academy as soon as possible. This lets us have all the relevant information about your child and, crucially, an email address which we’ll use for all future correspondence.
Support Every Step Of The Way
Pupils who come from a school where there are very few who are transferring to Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby are often more worried about the transfer to secondary school than those who transfer with a large number of friends. They’re therefore invited into the academy for a ‘Getting to Know You’ activity morning, where they can meet others in similar situations and start the transition process on a positive note.
In July, pupils are invited into Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby for two transition days. This allows them to experience lessons in a secondary school before they arrive and get an idea of a typical school day. They’ll also get to know their form mentor and other pupils who will be in the mentor groups with them. Year 9 pupils are tasked with assisting us during these days, and act as ‘Buddies’ to the Year 6 pupils, meaning they have a non-adult to help them find their feet, as well as all the staff who are to be involved in their pastoral care.
Intake Evening
Also in July is our New Intake Parents’ Evening, where Year 6 pupils and their families come along to meet the mentors and to receive further information about the academy and how we look after our students. Representatives from the school uniform provider, Baker and Sons, will also be in attendance, and always bring a range of academy uniforms which are available to purchase or order during the evening.
School Uniform
School uniforms can be purchased directly from Baker and Sons (online or at their shop in Wellington). For further information and to place orders, please visit their website.
Summer School
In order to further support the pupils, we also offer a Summer School, where Year 6 pupils are able, for a small charge, to come in and take part in some exciting activities and games during the last week of the summer holidays. This enables them to feel comfortable about starting at the academy and to get to know the building, some of the staff and other pupils a bit more.
Eventually, it will be September and the pupils will be starting at the academy! The first day is set aside for Year 7 (and 12) only. This means that the academy is able to focus support on the Year 7 pupils on their first day, and any fears about getting lost etc. are allayed early on, as they easily find their way around the building and start to settle in.
Community Works
Visit the community works section on the parents page to read about some of our more local primary schools.
In-Year Admissions
Any parent can apply for a school place for their child at any time outside the normal admission round. Subject to any provisions in the local authority’s co-ordinated admission arrangements relating to applications submitted for years other than the normal year entry, Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby will consider all such applications and if the year group applied for has a place available, admit the child unless one of the permitted reliefs apply.
If more applications are received than there are places available, the oversubscription criteria, outlined on page two of our admissions policy, shall apply.
To apply for an in-year school place at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby you will need to complete and submit the Telford & Wrekin Local Authority online application form using the link below:
In-Year Admissions
The School Admissions Team will aim to process your in-year application within 15 school days.
Where a child does not have a school place and it’s not possible to offer a place at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby, the outcome of the application will inform which local schools may have places available and parents should contact the admissions team to request any additional preferences. Where a place at a local school isn’t available, children may be referred for placement in line with the Fair Access Protocol, in which Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby participates.
For those whose child isn’t offered a place at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby, parents can request for their child to be added to our waiting list. Parents also have the right to appeal the decision – see further information on ‘Appealing for a place at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby’ as set out in our admissions policy. Further information on the waiting list and appeals will be provided in your application outcome.
Please click on the link for further information on in-year admissions Introduction – In-Year Admissions – Telford & Wrekin Council.
For general enquiries and further information on in-year admissions please contact the School Admissions team using the details below:
School Admissions Team
Telford & Wrekin Council
Darby House
Telford
TF3 4JA
Email: admissions@telford.gov.uk
Appeals
Year 7 Appeals
Year 7 New September Intake
Parents who are unsuccessful in being allocated a Year 7 place at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby for the September 2024 intake have the right of appeal. Please click on the link below to access the Academy’s New Year 7 Intake Appeals Form. This is an “interactive” document for you to complete on your computer. Please complete in full (clearly indicating why you are appealing for a place for your child at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby), sign and return, with any further supporting documents including your child’s latest school report, direct to the Academy by email HADAppeals@taw.org.uk for the attention of the Clerk to the Independent Appeals Panel. Alternatively it can posted to the Clerk to the Appeals Panel c/o Haberdashers Abraham Darby or dropped off at reception. Year 7 appeals will be held over 2 days at either the end of April / beginning of May. Please submit your appeals paperwork before the deadline date. Please note that you are allowed to appeal at more than one secondary school.
Link to the New Year 7 Intake Appeals Form for September 2026: Click Here
School Place Offers to pupils are made on Monday 2nd March 2026 (National offer day) for all on-time applications. Applications received after 31 October 2025 will be dealt with after all on-time applications have been considered. Many schools will not have any places available after considering on-time applications. Children that are not allocated a place at a preferred school will automatically be added to the waiting list for all schools listed on their application form. The outcome email will also provide information on how to add your child’s name to the waiting lists of other schools.
If you are unsuccessful in gaining an automatic place then you have the right of appeal – please read all the information below on how to appeal. You are allowed to appeal at more than one school. In the meantime, if you have any queries about your school offer or the review process, please email admissions@telford.gov.uk direct and they will contact you.
The deadline for all Year 7 appeal applications is 3pm on Friday 27th March 2026
Please make sure all appeal forms, school reports and any supporting documentation are returned to the school by the above date. The new Year 7 Appeals Hearing will be held w/c 27th April. You will be notified in writing of your actual date and time of your appeal hearing.
In-Year Appeals
If the admission authority has refused your child a place in any other year group at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby during the current academic year, you have the right of appeal. Please click on the link below to access the Academy’s In-Year Appeals Form. This is an “interactive” document for you to complete on your computer. Please complete in full (clearly indicating why you are appealing for a place for your child at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby), sign and return, with any further supporting documents including your child’s latest school report, direct to the Academy by email HADAppeals@taw.org.uk as soon as possible, for the attention of the Clerk to the Independent Appeals Panel. We try to hear all appeals within 6 school weeks (30 school days) from receipt of the appeals form (as long as all the information has been provided on the form). Failure to complete the form in full or submit the relevant supporting documents may delay the date of your appeal hearing. You will be notified of the date and time of the next round of appeals by the Clerk to the Appeals Panel.
Link to the In-Year Appeals Form: Click Here
More Information
Please refer to the Academy’s Admissions Policies Click Here.
If you require any further information or if you need a copy of either appeals forms posted to your home address please do not hesitate to contact us 01952 386000. Appeals Forms are also available to collect from the Academy’s Reception desk.
You may also contact Telford & Wrekin Admissions via email: admissions@telford.gov.uk for further information or if you would like your child to be added to our waiting list for a school place.
We would strongly advise all parents to carefully read the guidance notes below before completing and submitting their appeal form.
Year 7 Appeals
Please make sure all appeal forms, school reports and any supporting documentation are returned to the school.
The new Year 7 Appeals Hearing will be held at either end of April/Early May (dates to be confirmed). Parents will be notified of the date and time of the appeal once the deadline has passed.
Parents who are unsuccessful in being allocated a Year 7 place at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby for the September intake have the right of appeal. Parents should complete the appeal form in full (clearly indicating why they’re appealing for a place for their child at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby), sign and return, with any further supporting documents including their child’s latest school report, directly to the Academy by emailing HADAppeals@taw.org.uk for the attention of the Clerk to the Independent Appeals Panel.
Alternatively, it can posted to the Clerk to the Appeals Panel c/o Haberdashers Abraham Darby or dropped off at reception. Year 7 appeals will be held over two days at either the end of April or beginning of May. Please submit appeals paperwork before the deadline date.
In-Year Appeals
If the admission authority has refused a place in any other year group at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby during the current academic year, parents have the right to appeal.
Parents should complete the form below in full (clearly indicating why they’re appealing for a place for their child at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby), sign and return, with any further supporting documents including their child’s latest school report, directly to the academy by emailing HADAppeals@taw.org.uk for the attention of the Clerk to the Independent Appeals Panel.
We try to hear all appeals within six school weeks (30 school days) from receipt of the appeals form (as long as all the information has been provided on the form). Failure to complete the form in full or submit the relevant supporting documents may delay the date of an appeal hearing.
Parents will be notified of the date and time of the next round of appeals by the Clerk to the Appeals Panel.
More Information – Please refer to the academy’s Admissions Policies by clicking here.
For further information or a copy of either appeals forms posted to a home address please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01952 386000. Appeals Forms are also available to collect from the academy’s reception desk.
Parents may also contact Telford & Wrekin Admissions via email: admissions@telford.gov.uk for further information or if they would like their child to be added to our waiting list for a school place.
Musical Aptitude
Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby is able to offer 18 places (10% of the agreed admission number) each year to new Year 7 based on musical or sporting aptitude. 12 places will be allocated to those with a proven aptitude in music. These music places will be available to those pupils who, in the head of music and principal’s judgement, are most likely to benefit from the musical education on offer at the academy and who have the strongest motivation to succeed.
- Applications should be submitted by the deadline of Tuesday 7th October 2025
- The tests will take place on Saturday 11th October 2025 (It will not be possible to take the test on any other dates or after this date).
- You will be informed no later than Friday 25th October 2025 (which is one week before the closing date of 31st October for secondary applications to be submitted to T&W LA so as to allow parents time to make an informed choice of preferred secondary school for their child. The Academy will also inform the LA of the names of the pupils who have gained musical aptitude places)
For more information about our musical aptitude places and how it all works Click Here
For the musical aptitude interactive application form click here.
Please do contact the Head of Music, Miss Morton, for further information. Tel: 01952 386049 or Email: rachel.morton@taw.org.uk
Sporting Aptitude
Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby is able to offer 18 places (10% of the agreed admission number) each year to new Year 7 based on musical or sporting aptitude. Six places will be allocated for those with a proven aptitude in sport. These sporting places will be available to those pupils who, in the director of the HAD emerging sports talent programme and principal’s judgement, are most likely to benefit from the sporting education on offer at the academy and who have the strongest motivation to succeed.
- Applications should be submitted and received by the school no later than Friday 10th October 2025
- The tests will take place after school at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby on either Monday 20th October and/or Tuesday 21st October 2025
- Parents will be informed by Friday 25th October 2025 if their child has successfully passed the criteria for a sporting aptitude place (which is one week before the closing date of 31st October for secondary applications to be submitted to T&W local authority)
For more information and details on how to apply for a sporting aptitude place Click Here
Contact Mr Will Bennett for further information and an informal chat. Tel: 01952 386000 Email: will.bennett@taw.org.uk
We also have some IN-YEAR sporting aptitude places available…
Sporting Aptitude
We also have some in-year sporting aptitude places available – parents should contact Mr Will Bennett if they would like their child to be considered for one of these places if they’re considering moving schools or moving into the area. Parents will need to submit an in-year application form together with a sporting aptitude application.
In accordance with the School Admissions Code of Practice, 10% of the agreed admission number of the pupils will be admitted on the basis of aptitude in music or sport, using a specified assessment process, which will be published on the academy’s website (this includes pupils living both inside and outside the designated admissions area). 6.6% (12) places will be allocated with a proven aptitude in music and 3.33% (six) places with a proven aptitude in sport. However, if fewer pupils qualify to be admitted under either proven aptitude in music or in sport, then the percentage admitted under the other category could be increased accordingly. (For example, if only 5% were to qualify under music then up to 5% could be admitted under sport). The academy will seek to maintain this 10% balance in each year group; if a child originally admitted under this criterion subsequently leaves, the academy reserves the right to admit a child under the admissions process using this criterion.
For the determined Admissions Policy click here.
Curriculum
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Parents
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Please don't hesitate to get in touch, we’re here to help and answer any questions or queries you might have.