Haberdashers' Abraham Darby, Telford

Requires Improvement
Secondary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.9km)Possible (~2.7km)Unlikely (~3.5km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Joe Edgar
Pupils:1,084 / 1,100 capacity
LA:Telford and Wrekin
Phone:01952386000
Address:Ironbridge Road, Madeley, Telford, TF7 5HX
Trust:HABERDASHERS' WEST MIDLANDS ACADEMIES TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2008

Ofsted Rating

Requires Improvement

Overall

URN:135582
UKPRN:10024131
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Telford
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Pupils feel safe and cared for at this school, with trusted adults listening and acting on concerns. The school values of Aspiration, Respect and Excellence shape calm, courteous relationships. The post-16 provision is particularly strong, combining academic and vocational routes while preparing students well for their next steps through impartial careers guidance and work experience.

Key Strengths

  • Safeguarding is effective with an open culture where staff actively identify and manage concerns
  • Post-16 provision offers a good mix of academic and vocational routes with strong student engagement and behaviour
  • Broad, ambitious curriculum with clear sequencing and strong subject knowledge among staff
  • Careers education is a positive feature with meaningful employer encounters and support for next steps
  • Personal development programme covers all statutory requirements including relationships, sex and health education

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupil attainment and progress sit below national averages, particularly at key stage 4
  • Teaching is inconsistent across lessons and subjects, with tasks not always providing sufficient challenge
  • Attendance remains below national averages despite improvement efforts
  • Behaviour between lessons is variable, with some pupils loitering and a small minority responding inappropriately to staff
  • Inconsistent implementation of support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed.

Extracurricular Activities

School production, sporting clubs, musical clubs, community opportunities, international trips, leadership opportunities

Haberdashers' Abraham Darby is a school where pupils feel safe and cared for, but attainment and progress remain below national averages at key stage 4. The school is working to improve teaching quality, attendance, and behaviour through sustained targeted support.

At a Glance

46.1%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

18.0

Avg class size

55

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Abraham Darby School (after)
70m · 1 min walk
Lees Farm Roundabout (after)
246m · 4 min walk
Wyvern (adj)
519m · 8 min walk
Waltondale (adj)
571m · 9 min walk
Warrensway (adj)
654m · 11 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

99%

Near capacity

1,084 pupils

1,100 capacity

16 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Telford

High pressure
New homes approved:5,859
Projected new pupils:1,055

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Telford

Admissions Demand - Telford and Wrekin

Low demand0.88x oversubscription

Places available

2,689

Applications

2,369

Got 1st preference

74.6%

Got preferred school

88.1%

Secondary admissions across Telford and Wrekin (2025/26)

Inspection History(14)

Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement
Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement
Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

9.64654%

Overall absence

27.46914%

Persistent absence

972

Enrolments

Authorised5.38295%
Unauthorised4.26359%
Persistent (10%+)27.46914%
Severe (50%+)4.62963%

Absence trend

6.06722%
18/19
7.03652%
20/21
11.87%
21/22
11.87104%
22/23
12.13714%
23/24
9.64654%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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