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Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for a place at Haberdashers’ Adams?
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Only holders of UK passports or with right of abode in the UK are entitled to apply for a place at the school irrespective of their address in the United Kingdom. Day places are awarded on a merit basis according to results in our entrance tests. Boarding places are awarded on a merit basis according to results in the tests as well as suitability for boarding and boarding need.
Do you accept pupils with Special Educational Needs?
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Yes. We have an SEN department and our SEN Co ordinator provides individual support to pupils with SEN needs. For further information please visit the SEN page.
We live abroad can I apply for a boarding place for my son?
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We welcome overseas boarders as they contribute significantly to the life of the school and the boarding houses. As a state funded school we can only offer places to pupils who have a UK passport or with right of abode in the UK.
Overseas boarding pupils require a legal guardian in the UK, normally this is a relative or family friend but there are specific companies who can provide this service and we can put you in touch with these if required.
We are moving to the area and my son is in Year 8 at the moment, how can I apply for a place at Haberdashers’ Adams?
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Occasionally spaces become available in Years 8, 9 and 10. Parents wishing to apply for either a day or boarding place for their son should complete the Year 8-10 Registration Form available on the Admissions Documents page.
Receipt of the form will place candidates on a “list of interest”. If a place becomes available, an invitation to sit the entrance test will be issued and the place will be awarded on a merit basis according to results in the entrance test following our over subscription criteria. The test will consist of English, Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry papers.
Upon the offer of a place at Adams, parents will receive a link to the ‘In-Year Application Form’ from the Registrar, which they must then complete online for Telford & Wrekin Local Authority.
How much sport do pupils do?
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Each year group has an afternoon of Games at Longford, in the Autumn and Spring term boys play rugby and the girls play netball. In the Summer term we offer cricket and athletics. Hockey is an option from Year 9 and football from Year 11.
Each year group also has 1 hour of PE each week, this provides them with a taste of a wide variety of sports including, but not limited to, gymnastics, badminton, tennis, basketball, table tennis and swimming (we have our own swimming pool).
House competitions take place in a wide range of sport and if a competition isn’t already available there’s no reason a pupil can’t start one!
What opportunities are there for music?
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All Year 7 and 8 pupils benefit from the opportunity to learn an instrument. They have weekly lessons on their instrument and take part in a concert at the end of the school year. Pupils can choose to carry on with their instrument once the programme has finished.
Individual music lessons are available in a wide range of instruments and there are numerous opportunities to perform as part as an ensemble or as a soloist.
Do you provide school buses?
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Yes. We arrange buses from various areas including Telford, Market Drayton and Wolverhampton. Full details of the routes are available here. We cannot guarantee your child will be given a bus place as the buses are nearly always oversubscribed so we advise having a ‘Plan B’ in case a place is not available.
We live somewhere not on a bus route; how can I get my child to you?
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If you live somewhere that we do not run a bus it is your responsibility to make your own transport arrangements for your child. We may be able to assist by putting you in touch with other families looking for transport from the same area.
It is worth bearing in mind that many of our extra-curricular activities, such as music rehearsals, sports training, House competition practice, take place after school and your son may regularly need picking up at unusual times.
How do I apply for a place on one of the school buses?
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An expression of interest form will be sent to you with the school offer letter if your son is successful in gaining a place. You must return this immediately. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.
When will we know if we have been successful in getting a bus place?
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Places will be offered before the end of May.
How do I apply for a Year 7 place?
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First, you need to apply for your son to sit the entrance test. The dates when registration for the entrance test are displayed in the Admissions section of the website. After the test you will receive a letter telling you whether, as a result of the test, we consider your son to be of grammar school ability or not. At this stage if you still wish to apply for a day or boarding place you need to do so via your Local Authorities’ Preference Form (normally this has to be completed by the end of October when your child is in Year 6). Formal offers will be received in March before your child is due to start in Year 7 in September. These offers are made by your Local Authority not from the school.
I have had a letter saying my son is of grammar school ability, does that mean he’s got a place?
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No, this means your son sat the test and is considered to be of grammar school ability, you still need to apply to Haberdashers’ Adams via your Local Authorities Preference Form.
I missed the deadline for Year 7 applications, can I still apply?
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It is not possible to register for the test after this time unless there are any special circumstances such as illness, bereavement etc. You must complete an Exceptional Circumstances Form. If, after late registration, the school decides the reasons are valid then boys will be tested at a later date and if they are of grammar school standard will be placed on the waiting list or offered a place if there is space.
Where can I get practice papers from?
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A range of publications designed to assist preparation for school admission tests are available online and from leading bookshops. Test familiarisation information can be found here: Preparing for the Test – West Midlands Grammar Schools
When will I know if my son has a Year 7 place?
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If you are applying for a Year 7 place you will receive a letter from your Local Authority on the 1st March stating which school your son has been allocated.
What information do you supply about the Year 7 entrance test result?
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For many years we have been of the opinion that we do not want to divulge specific scores, as those that get scores they would not have hoped for can sometimes be the victims of unkind or unfair comments, or even bullying. Equally, it puts a huge pressure on those pupils who do get in, perhaps with extremely good scores, as the weight of expectation is sometimes overpowering.
The 2018 GDPR regulations mean parents are now legally able to request all the data we hold on their children (i.e. the test score details). With this in mind we have decided that the letters we send out will contain one figure giving the overall score. We only hold that information, not the results of the constituent parts of the test, so that will be all we include in the letter.
I’m not sure I want to go to university; will you help me with different options?
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While the vast majority of our pupils go on to university we are seeing an increasing number applying for apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and going directly into the workplace. We will support you in taking whichever direction is right for you.
I don’t know anyone else applying to Adams; will I struggle to make new friends?
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The year group virtually doubles in size between Year 11 and the Sixth Form so you won’t be one of a small number of new pupils joining us and trying to fit into established friendship groups. Large number of pupils join us each year knowing nobody else in the school, the Head of Sixth Form and the Heads and Captains of each House organise a wide range of events to help everyone get to know each other and you will be amazed how quickly you will fit in and feel like you have always been part of the Adams community.
Why do I have to do an AS Level?
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Completing an AS Level in your Lower Sixth not only provides you with an opportunity to broaden your studies, it also enables you to demonstrate your ability to universities and employers, so they are not just looking at your predicted grades. There are two AS Level subjects (Art and Music) which can be extended to a full A Level; the decision as to whether this is possible will be made during the Lower Sixth and will be based on the grades achieved.
Can I do 4 A Levels?
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Our standard offer already means you will leave Adams with the equivalent of 4 A Levels (3 A Levels, 1 AS Level and 1 EPQ) and in our experience doing 4 full A Levels does not give a significant advantage even when applying to the most competitive universities and degree apprenticeships.
There are 2 AS Level subjects (Art and Music) which can be extended to a full A Level; the decision as to whether this is possible will be made during the Lower Sixth and will be based on the grades achieved.
Do I have to stick to choosing A/AS Level subjects from each of the four blocks?
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Yes, the size of our Sixth Form means we are unable to offer every possible combination however we have chosen the blocks so that the most popular combinations are available.
What is the benefit of doing an EPQ?
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The EPQ is helpful in teaching you research and independent study skills which will be invaluable to you whatever route you chose to take after Sixth Form. The EPQ is also valued by some university admissions teams and a good grade can result in a lower A Level offer. Studying a topic you are interested in, in greater depth, also means you will have a subject you are confident and knowledgeable about to talk about during interviews.
Why do I still have to do Games?
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Being a Sixth Former at Adams is different to being in Years 7-11 and you will have additional freedoms and responsibilities you may not have had before. However, we are still a school and we require Sixth Form pupils to fully participate in school life including attending assemblies and completing an afternoon of Games. Continuing to take part in physical activity is important for both your physical and mental health and is a great way to make friends.
Why has the school decided to go fully co-ed?
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Haberdashers’ Adams has been a boys’ school since it was founded in 1656, with girls being admitted to the Sixth Form in 1993. As a high performing state grammar school, we are proud of our achievements and the success of our boys as they progress through their seven years here. However, the world has changed, and is changing, and today things are very different.
The co-educational experience has many benefits for both genders. Contrary to popular belief, there is not much published evidence to suggest there is a significant difference between the academic achievements of girls (or for that matter, boys) in a co-ed or single-sex environment; as girls generally outperform boys anyway, and this is true of single sex and co-ed institutions. There are though many other benefits of a co-educational school experience in the 21st century.
As a school we need to ensure for the future that we are doing all we possibly can so our young people will grow to respect and appreciate the opinions and attributes of both genders, understanding that even though they may not be the same, they are still equal.
What are the benefits of going fully co-ed?
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It challenges sexism. A common stereotype or misconception is that boys prefer or are better at subjects like maths and science whereas girls prefer or are better at literature and the arts. Due to this, some same-sex schools may not offer as broad a selection of subjects as a co-educational school. For instance, some boys’ schools may not offer food technology or textiles as they are seen to be traditionally female subjects. However, in a co-educational setting, it is easy to overcome these kinds of misconceptions, as all pupils will be offered the entire curriculum. Pupils will see both their male and female peers doing well across a variety of subjects, and understand that no one gender is better at a subject than the other.
It prepares pupils for the real world. Whether at work, home or in school, men and women are in constant contact and have to cooperate in daily life. One of the main benefits of a co-educational school is that children will be introduced to this early on in life, and find it easier to build proper relationships – whether it be work or personal – with the opposite sex. By continuing to provide the broad and varied curriculum we already do, but in a co-educational setting, all our pupils will learn to be confident, resilient and compassionate young adults.
Better socialisation and communication. The exposure that a co-educational experience provides from a young age can lead to better communication skills and overall socialisation. If young people are not given the opportunity to work together, then they will find it harder to develop the skills needed to interact with each other in the long run. In a co-educational school, pupils have the opportunity to work in mixed gender groups in the classroom, and same-sex groups during sports and other activities. This varied experience means that both female and male perspectives are constantly explored and the varied modes of communication amongst the genders are better understood. Practice is the best way to master social skills that will help our young people solve problems and work well together, and a co-educational experience is a great opportunity to do this.
Diversity. A co-ed environment fosters respect for peers and exposes pupils to different viewpoints. Often, co-ed schools have better facilities to cater for their more diverse student base. Supporting co-ed education can also help to break down gender stereotypes. At Adams we have been talking and discussing ways to combat things such as violence towards women, combating sexist attitudes, teaching our young men to respect and value females so it is time to address these things proactively and in a significant way. It is difficult to foster trust and understanding between males and females if by our very intake we are marginalising half of the community.
What is the timescale for going fully co-ed?
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From September 2024, Year 7 will become fully co-ed. The process will therefore take five years to become fully co-educational.
How will the transition to co-ed affect the chances of my child being offered a place?
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Places at Haberdashers’ Adams will still be offered according to our Admissions Policy. The Oversubscription Criteria means that looked after children, those eligible for the Pupil Premium or Service Premium, and those who are on roll at one of the primary schools on our designated list will continue to be prioritised for admission. Link to Policies.
How many girls will you admit?
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Our Admissions Policy does not differentiate between boys or girls. Admittance will continue to be decided based on the Oversubscription Criteria published in our Admissions Policy. Link to Policies.
What transition arrangements have been put in place?
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We have been engaged in planning for the move to become a fully co-ed school since 2022. Plans include:
- A series of transition evenings will take place for the girls and their parents in April/May.
- The school has signed up to the Girls On Board approach to managing female friendships.
- The school library has received a grant to purchase books enjoyed by younger female readers.
- Planning permission has been granted to expand and resurface the existing hard court Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) to meet Netball England specifications.
- Planning permission is being sought to upgrade the swimming pool changing facilities.
Will there be changes to the co-curricular offering?
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We will maintain and build on the current range of 50+ co-curricular offering.
What changes to PSHE are you putting in place to support a co-ed school?
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We will teach PSHE and offer pastoral care and support in a way that is fully in tune with the current social environment, building on the strengths of our current, excellent PSHE provision.
Will you offer relationships and sex education?
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We already have a strong PSHE/RSE programme in place and teaching our students about these topics together will give them a better understanding of different perspectives on relationships and sex. Where deemed appropriate, certain topics may be delivered in single sex groups.
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