Haberdashers' Adams 11+ Guide

About Haberdashers' Adams

Haberdashers' Adams is a selective secondary school in Shropshire. For children to get into Haberdashers' Adams they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Haberdashers' Adams is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the heart of Newport, Shropshire, Haberdashers' Adams is a distinguished grammar school that has been nurturing and educating young minds for centuries. With a rich history and an impressive roster of alumni, including luminaries from various fields, Adams has firmly established itself as a beacon of academic excellence. The school takes pride in its ability to adapt and evolve, ensuring that its educational approach remains relevant and forward-thinking.

At Haberdashers' Adams, students are presented with a comprehensive curriculum that spans a wide range of subjects, from mathematics and social sciences to humanities and beyond. This diverse academic offering is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary to navigate the complexities of the modern world. The school's status as a specialist language and technology college further enhances its commitment to providing a well-rounded education.

Beyond the classroom, Adams offers an extensive array of enrichment activities that cater to the diverse interests and passions of its pupils. From the creative outlets of Film Club and ECO Committee to the physical pursuits of badminton and rugby, students have ample opportunities to explore their talents and develop new skills. The school's participation in the Duke of Edinburgh programme and its emphasis on volunteering and fundraising initiatives foster a sense of community, empathy, and social responsibility among the student body.

The dedicated pastoral team at Haberdashers' Adams is the beating heart of the school, providing unwavering support and guidance to every student. By creating a nurturing and inclusive environment, the staff ensures that each individual feels valued, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential. Through a proactive approach to student welfare, the school cultivates a culture of positive behaviour, productivity, and mutual respect.

As part of the Consortium of Grammar Schools in Shropshire, Walsall, and Wolverhampton (SWW Consortium), Haberdashers' Adams offers a streamlined testing process for prospective students. This collaborative effort with other esteemed grammar schools in the region reflects Adams' commitment to accessibility and excellence in education. With its rich history, innovative teaching methods, and dedication to holistic student development, Haberdashers' Adams continues to shape the minds and characters of young men, preparing them to become confident, articulate, and compassionate leaders of tomorrow.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Haberdashers' Adams together with their admissions contact details.

Haberdashers' Adams is a boys only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

Notably, Haberdashers' Adams is one of very few English grammar schools to also offer boarding facilities.

In total 1,055 pupils attend Haberdashers' Adams and it's led by the Headmaster, Mr Gary Hickey.

Haberdashers' Adams Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Haberdashers' Adams for the 2022-23 academic year.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Information

In order to get into Haberdashers' Adams, children need to pass the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Subjects & Structure

The West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English comprehension
• Maths
• Verbal reasoning
• Non-verbal reasoning

The West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test is the examination used by Haberdashers' Adams for admission into the school. This assessment comprises two papers, each lasting one hour. The papers are further split into separate sections, with each section having its own allocated time limit.

The entrance test evaluates candidates across four key areas: English comprehension, Maths, Verbal reasoning, and Non-verbal reasoning. All the questions in the exam are presented in a multiple-choice format, and students are provided with dedicated answer sheets to mark their responses. These answer sheets are then assessed electronically to determine the candidate's performance.

The West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test is designed to gauge a student's aptitude and potential across a range of essential skills. By testing English comprehension, mathematical ability, and reasoning capabilities, the exam aims to identify those students who are most suited to the academic rigors and educational environment provided by Haberdashers' Adams.

Other Schools using West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+

As well as Haberdashers' Adams, several other schools also use West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+. These are:

• Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
• King Edward VI Aston School
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
• King Edward VI Five Ways School
• King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
• King Edward VI Handsworth School
• Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
• Newport Girls' High School Academy
• Queen Mary's Grammar School
• Queen Mary's High School
• Alcester Grammar School
• King Edward VI School
• Lawrence Sheriff School
• Rugby High School
• Stratford Girls' Grammar School
• Wolverhampton Girls' High School

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Haberdashers' Adams is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Haberdashers' Adams, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ tests (to get into Haberdashers' Adams) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Haberdashers' Adams as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Haberdashers' Adams was last inspected by Ofsted on 10/05/2022 and the inspection lasted 0 days. Ofsted published their report on 27/06/2022, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

The inspection of Haberdashers' Adams on 10 May 2022 resulted in an overall outcome of Good. The school demonstrated a Good quality of education, Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, Good personal development, Good leadership and management, and Good sixth form provision.

The school's behaviour and attitudes were rated as Outstanding, indicating a highly positive learning environment and exceptional student conduct. All other areas, including quality of education, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision, were rated as Good, showcasing the school's commitment to providing a well-rounded education for its students.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Haberdashers' Adams per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are all available past 11+ papers for Haberdashers' Adams. Please note that this may include past 11+ papers, past familiarisation booklets, past practice materials published by third parties and past 11+ exam guides written by the school. These materials are provided 'as-is' and may no longer reflect the subjects, format, structure or exam board that Haberdashers' Adams currently uses.

The exam board that Haberdashers' Adams chooses to use for their 11+ entrance tests can change and we encourage you to check directly with the school.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Ensure you double-check with Haberdashers' Adams which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.