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Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School

School typeGrammar
Also known asAdams, Haberdashers Adams
AddressHigh Street, Newport, Shropshire, England, TF10 7BD

Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School is a boys' grammar school that uses the GL exam board for its 11+ entry, with no interview stage. There is no specific catchment area, and any family in the UK can apply. Priority for day places is given to looked-after and Pupil Premium boys, then to those from named primary schools, and finally by test score, with boarding places decided separately.

If your son is academic and you like the idea of boarding without leaving the state system, Haberdashers' Adams is an unusual school worth a look. The Good Schools Guide has reviewed it, and the school's own aim is to develop confident, articulate young people who are interesting, balanced and care for one another. Much of its character comes from the house system and the boarding side. Junior boarders live in a Grade II listed house set in more than a hundred acres of grounds, while senior boarders are in a purpose-built modern house in Newport, Shropshire.

The school has a long history. It was founded in 1656 by William Adams, a wealthy member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, who set up the school during the Interregnum and appointed the Haberdashers' Company as its governors, a link that continues to this day. It takes pupils aged 11 to 18, with boys and girls as day pupils and state boarding offered for boys. It is traditional and academic, with a particular emphasis on STEM, and it makes room for creative talent too. Sport has a strong reputation here, supported by good facilities including a sports hall, a swimming pool and extensive grounds.

Led since September 2025 by headteacher Daniel Biggins, Adams suits an academic child who will thrive in a traditional grammar. The mix of a long history, boarding and an academic core gives it a distinctive feel among state grammars, and the boarding option makes it well worth considering for a family who wants that for their son.

Key facts

Gender
Boys
Year 7 places
Day: 135 Boarding: 15
Annual fees
None

Admissions

Open day
Jan
Registration opens
May
Registration closes
June
CAF deadline
Oct
Admissions contact
reception@adamsgs.uk
Admissions phone
0195 295 3810

Registration form

View registration details

Sibling policy

No

What this school tests

West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test

English13 question types
Reading Comprehension - ComparisonReading Comprehension - EvaluationReading Comprehension - Grammar and punctuationReading Comprehension - Inference and DeductionReading Comprehension - Information RetrievalReading Comprehension - Language Techniques and ImageryReading Comprehension - Sentence-level ComprehensionReading Comprehension - SequencingReading Comprehension - Structure, Form, Voice and ToneReading Comprehension - SummarisingReading Comprehension - Text Classification and PurposeReading Comprehension - Types of Words and PhrasesReading Comprehension - Word Meaning / Choice
Maths23 question types
AlgebraAngles and DegreesBIDMASCoordinate GridsEstimation and RoundingFactors and MultiplesFractions, Decimals and PercentagesMagic squaresMeasurementMoneyNumber and Place ValueNumber WallsOperationsPerimeter, Area and VolumePosition and DirectionProperties of ShapesRatio and ProportionReflection, Rotation and SymmetrySequencesSpecial NumbersSpeed, Distance and TimeStatisticsTime
Non-verbal Reasoning14 question types
Extended Figure SeriesFigure AnalogiesFigure MatricesFigure OperationsFigure SeriesGrid MatricesHorizontal CodesMost Like Three FiguresMost Like Two FiguresOdd Figure OutStar MatricesTriangle MatricesTriangle SeriesVertical Codes
Spatial Reasoning8 question types
2D RotationsBlock CountingCombining ShapesFold and PunchFolding CubesHidden ShapesMissing Face of CubeShape Completion
Verbal Reasoning26 question types
AnagramsCompound WordsEmbedded WordsForm a WordInsert a LetterLetter AnalogiesLetter CalculationsLetter CodesLetter GridsLetter SequencesMove 1 / 2 LettersNumber AnalogiesNumber CalculationsNumber SequencesRelated WordsRhyming SynonymsShuffled SentencesSynonymsWord / Logic PuzzlesWord AnalogiesWord CompletionWord MatchWord OppositesWord PairsWord RelationshipsWords and Codes

Catchment area

Does Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School have a catchment area?

There is no catchment based on where you live, and any family in the UK can apply. If day places are oversubscribed, priority goes first to looked-after and Pupil Premium boys, then to boys on roll at one of around 35 named primary schools in Telford and Wrekin, and finally by test score. Boarding places are decided separately.

Previous exam results

GCSE results

In 2025 students achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 71.8 across their GCSEs. 94.6% gained a grade 5 or better in both English and Maths. 51% achieved the English Baccalaureate at grade 5 or above. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

A-level results

In 2025 students achieved a B average grade per A-Level entry. 32.3% gained AAB or better including two facilitating subjects. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

Frequently asked questions

What exam board does Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School use for the 11+?

Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School uses the GL exam board for its 11+ entrance exam.

What is the 11+ pass mark for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School?

The specific 11+ pass mark for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School is not publicly disclosed.

Does Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School interview as part of the 11+ process?

No, Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School does not include an interview stage as part of its 11+ admissions process.

Is Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School co-educational or single-sex?

Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School is a single-sex school for boys.

Does Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School have a catchment area for 11+ entry?

There is no fixed catchment area; families from anywhere in the UK can apply. However, priority for day places is given to specific groups and then by test score.

What is the official website for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School?

The official website for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School is https://www.adamsgs.uk/.

How do you get a place at Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School?

Your child first needs to reach the required standard in the school's own entrance test. For day places, if more children pass than there are places, the school ranks them in this order: looked-after and previously looked-after children; children on Pupil Premium or service premium; children at one of the named local primary schools; then test rank, with distance as the tie-break. There is no sibling priority. Boarding places, for boys, use a separate list and an interview.

What happens if my child is ill on 11+ test day at Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School?

Contact the school office as soon as you can. The policy allows for late testing where there is a valid reason such as illness or bereavement; if the school accepts the reason, your child can sit the test later and, if they reach the standard, be offered a place or added to the waiting list. Any access arrangements, such as extra time for a special need, must be requested on a Special Arrangement Form by the Jun deadline.

Location

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