About Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School (formerly Adams' Grammar School, renamed in 2018) is a co-educational state grammar school in Newport, Shropshire, with boarding provision for boys. Note: this school is located in Newport, Shropshire (TF10 7BD) — not in the West Midlands or London. It is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership. Day places are free; boarding fees apply for boys from around £5,278 per term (Years 7–11, 2026/27). Registration opens 5th May 2026.
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School is a co-educational state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 150 Year 7 pupils (135 day plus up to 15 boarding) each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Shropshire test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in September 2026 and results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (150 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School (formerly Adams' Grammar School, renamed in 2018) is a co-educational state grammar school in Newport, Shropshire, with boarding provision for boys. Note: this school is located in Newport, Shropshire (TF10 7BD) — not in the West Midlands or London. It is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership. Day places are free; boarding fees apply for boys from around £5,278 per term (Years 7–11, 2026/27). Registration opens 5th May 2026.
- ✓Register at westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk (opens 5th May 2026, closes June 2026).
- ✓Sit two GL Assessment multiple-choice papers (English/VR, NVR, Numerical Reasoning).
- ✓Scores weighted: English & VR 50%, NVR 25%, Maths 25%.
- ✓Day places: Priority given to children attending one of 35 named primary schools in Telford & Wrekin (including all Newport TF10 primaries).
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children who achieve 95%+ of qualifying score.
- ✓Pupil Premium students from named Telford & Wrekin primaries who achieve 95%+ of qualifying score.
- ✓All children from named primary schools achieving the qualifying score, ranked by score.
- ✓All other qualifying children, ranked by score.
- ✓Boarding places: Indicate preference at registration. All boarding applicants attend an interview in November 2026. Boarding offers made December 2026.
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 150 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 (varies by school) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | September 2026 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Shropshire) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026 (varies by school). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School selects through the West Midlands Grammar Schools' Entrance Test, produced by GL Assessment and shared across the consortium — so a child sits it only once even when applying to several member schools. The assessment is two multiple-choice papers of roughly 50 minutes each, and the four areas are weighted English and verbal reasoning 50%, non-verbal reasoning 25% and mathematics 25%. Scores are age-standardised so that younger children are not disadvantaged, and there is no negative marking.
- English: reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.
- Mathematics (numerical reasoning): arithmetic, number, measurement, geometry, algebra and multi-step problem-solving.
- Verbal reasoning: word relationships, logical deduction and use of language.
- Non-verbal reasoning: interpreting shapes, sequences and spatial patterns, testing logic rather than learned knowledge.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School (formerly Adams' Grammar School) consistently ranks among the strongest state schools in the region, placing it within roughly the top 10–20% of schools nationally. In 2024, 171 students completed A-Levels with a 100% pass rate — 47% of grades were A*/A and 75% were A*–B, twelve students achieved straight A* grades in three or more subjects, and 51 gained all A*/A grades. At GCSE, 93% of grades were 9–5, 81% were 9–6 and 61% were 7–9.
- A-Level: a five-year average of around 74% of grades at A*–B, with a consistent 100% pass rate; many students also take the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
- GCSE: a five-year average of around 67% of grades at 9–7 across a broad, traditional curriculum spanning mathematics, the sciences, languages and the humanities.
- Progression: on average around eight Oxbridge places a year and roughly twenty students going on to medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, with over 80% securing their first-choice university.
- Sixth form: external students can join the sixth form on strong GCSE results (typically five at grade 7, including grade 7+ in their chosen A-Level subjects).
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School is a member of the West Midlands Grammar Schools partnership — a consortium of around 19 grammar schools across Birmingham, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton that share a single GL Assessment entrance test, so a child sits the exam only once even when applying to several member schools. The test is two multiple-choice papers of roughly 50 minutes each, covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning, weighted English and verbal reasoning 50%, non-verbal reasoning 25% and mathematics 25%.
The school offers around 150 Year 7 places (approximately 135 day places plus a small number of boarding places) and is among the most competitive state grammars in the country, with well over 1,000 candidates sitting the test each year — roughly three applications per place. For day places, priority is given to children attending a list of named primary schools in Telford & Wrekin (including the Newport TF10 primaries), followed by looked-after children, Pupil Premium pupils from those named schools, and then all qualifying children ranked by score, with distance used as a tie-break. Boarding applicants indicate their preference at registration and are interviewed in the November before entry.
Newport is around 20–25 minutes from Telford and Stafford, about an hour from Birmingham and roughly 90 minutes from London Euston by train. As a state school, admission requires a UK passport or the right to remain. Always confirm the current qualifying score, catchment and oversubscription criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1656 by the London haberdasher William Adams — with permission granted by Oliver Cromwell during the Interregnum — the school sits in the market town of Newport, Shropshire, and has educated young people for nearly 400 years (it has been formally known as Haberdashers' Adams since 2018). It educates over 1,000 pupils, including around 360 in the sixth form, and welcomes boys and girls as day pupils — fully co-educational in Year 7 from September 2024 — while offering state boarding for around 100 boys. Its motto is 'Traditional value, modern approach'.
Boarding is integral to the school's ethos: junior boarders (Years 7–10) live at the Georgian Longford Hall, set in 100 acres about a mile from the school, while senior boarders enjoy modern en-suite accommodation at Beaumaris Hall beside the main site. The school is known for its pastoral warmth and sense of continuity, holds a Good Schools Guide Award, and sets high expectations of behaviour, courtesy and effort — aiming to develop confident, articulate and balanced young men and women who care for one another.
Pupils benefit from an exceptional breadth of curriculum and an extensive programme of sport, music, clubs and other extracurricular activities that complement their academic development. For the full list of teams, ensembles and societies, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School
How do I apply to Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026 (varies by school)), then list Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in September 2026 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School?
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 150 places (135 day plus up to 15 boarding).
How many Year 7 places does Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School have?
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School admits 150 Year 7 pupils each September (135 day places plus up to 15 boarding places). Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on Mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.