Haberdashers' Abraham Darby review
Ranked 10 of 10 in Secondary schools in Telford
Best for: Madeley academy with sixth form, Haberdashers trust
Unknown
Ironbridge Road, Madeley, Telford, Shropshire, TF7 5HX · Service area: Telford
Haberdashers' Abraham Darby in short
Haberdashers' Abraham Darby is a mixed Madeley academy with a sixth form, open since 2008 inside a national academy trust. The latest inspection found safeguarding standards met with post-sixteen provision at the expected level. The site sets out aspiration, respect and excellence values with an extensive extra-curricular programme. Our review finds the trust backing and breadth of offer its clearest assets.
The record shows a mixed academy on Ironbridge Road in Madeley serving Telford, open inside a national trust with a sixth form. Aspiration, respect and excellence values run through the site with an extensive extra-curricular programme and a visit contact. Breadth of offer with trust backing is the practical offer here.
We hold no public customer reviews for Haberdashers' Abraham Darby, so parental voice is absent. The latest report is less flattering: achievement and attendance with behaviour need attention. The academy may send a response after publication, which we print alongside this assessment.
Insurance and charges go unstated on the site, the familiar gap in this round. Our verdict keeps the academy tenth — the trust and sixth form count in its favour, but the latest report asks more of it than of any other ranked school. The next inspection will show whether the trust's backing is turning into results.
Our verdict
Our judgement: Haberdashers' Abraham Darby suits families wanting a Madeley academy with a sixth form inside a national trust, where safeguarding meets the standard and post-16 sits at the expected level [4]. Achievement and attendance need attention on the latest report, which is the honest gap [4]. Insurance and charges go unstated on the site [1].
Score summary
Scored on the home trades rubric v2.0. Insufficient evidence takes the neutral value and is not shown as a low mark.
- Composite score
- 52.3 / 100
Customer evidence C1 · weight 30%
50 out of 100
Insufficient evidence
Qualifications and accreditations C2 · weight 25%
55 out of 100
The February 2026 report records safeguarding met and post-16 at the expected standard, with achievement and behaviour needing attention [4].
First-hand responsiveness C3 · weight 15%
Insufficient evidence
Insufficient evidence
Trading history C4 · weight 10%
Insufficient evidence
Insufficient evidence
Insurance and safeguards C5 · weight 10%
Insufficient evidence
Insufficient evidence
Pricing transparency C6 · weight 5%
40 out of 100
No prices, fee scale, charges or VAT position are published on the website [1].
Website and service information C7 · weight 5%
80 out of 100
The site sets out the vision and values, curriculum, extra-curricular offer and a visit contact [1].
Evidence
| Fact | Value | Source | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open since | 2008 | Source register |
Industry qualifications
Sourced from the issuing registers, the business's own website and platforms such as Checkatrade and Which? Trusted Traders, on the date shown.
- OfstedSourcedchecked 4 September 2026. Reference 135582.
Strengths
Limitations
Response from the business
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Verified customer reviews
Reviews from customers who showed us their invoice.
No verified reviews yet for this business.
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Questions about Haberdashers' Abraham Darby
Is Haberdashers' Abraham Darby any good?
It depends what you value: it ranks tenth in our Telford table, with safeguarding met and sixth-form provision at the expected level, but achievement and attendance need attention on the latest report. Read that report in full, then visit and judge the direction of travel. Read the February 2026 report in full before judging the direction of travel.
Is Haberdashers' Abraham Darby registered with Ofsted?
Yes. Haberdashers' Abraham Darby stands on the Ofsted register with a February 2026 inspection published in April 2026 [2] [4]. That listing is the registration that matters for a state school. Read the full report on the Ofsted site before you decide. The report was published the following spring, ahead of this round.
What does Haberdashers' Abraham Darby charge?
The academy publishes no insurance details and no charges on its site [1], as with most state schools here. Expect uniform, meal, trip and travel costs instead. Ask the school for those figures in writing. Keep the school's reply with your admissions papers. Uniform, meals, trips and travel make up the real yearly total.
Where is Haberdashers' Abraham Darby?
The academy sits on Ironbridge Road in Madeley, Telford, serving Telford families with an extensive extra-curricular programme and a visit contact. Check the values pages and your travel route, then confirm details with the school. Visit on an open evening before you decide anything. Its extra-curricular programme rewards a visit to see it in person.
How is Haberdashers' Abraham Darby ranked?
It ranks tenth of the ten secondaries in our September round, held back by achievement and attendance findings in the latest report. Read the full review and the report together, then watch for the next inspection. Watch for the next round when fresh inspection evidence lands. The latest report asks more of it than of any other ranked school.
Which areas does Haberdashers' Abraham Darby serve?
The academy sits on Ironbridge Road in Madeley with Telford as its service area, and its site sets out an extensive extra-curricular programme with a visit contact. Madeley families get the shortest journey, with the national trust backing as the draw. Check the values pages and your travel route, then visit to judge the direction of travel.
How do I apply to Haberdashers' Abraham Darby and what will it cost?
Year 7 applications go through the Telford and Wrekin portal before the October closing date, and the academy publishes no fees or charges. Day places at state schools are free, so your costs are uniform, meals, trips and travel. Ask the school office for its yearly extras list in writing and keep the reply with your papers.
What do reviews say and how does Haberdashers' Abraham Darby compare?
We hold no public customer reviews for Haberdashers' Abraham Darby across the sources in this round, so parental voice is absent. It ranks tenth of the ten, held back by achievement and attendance findings in the latest report. Read that report in full, compare it with The Madeley Academy nearby, then visit.
Others assessed for this trade
- Wrekin College65.8 / 100Ranked 1. Best for independent day and boarding with published fees and inspection record.
- Hadley Learning Community61.3 / 100Ranked 2. Best for all-through 3 to 16 school in Hadley.
- Holy Trinity Academy61.3 / 100Ranked 3. Best for faith secondary with sixth form in Priorslee.
- The Madeley Academy61.3 / 100Ranked 4. Best for academy with sixth form in Madeley.
Sources
- Haberdashers' Abraham Darby homepage — welcome, values and notices Retrieved 4 September 2026.
- Ofsted — Haberdashers' Abraham Darby (URN 135582) Retrieved 4 September 2026.
- Get Information about Schools — Haberdashers' Abraham Darby (URN 135582), open since 2008 Retrieved 4 September 2026.
- Ofsted report — Haberdashers' Abraham Darby, February 2026 Retrieved 4 September 2026.
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