Report card · inspected Feb 2026
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
Safeguarding standards met
This schoolOther secondary schools in Telford and WrekinSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Exceptional | Strong standard | Expected standard | Needs attention | Urgent improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusion | Needs attention | ||||
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention | ||||
| Achievement | Needs attention | ||||
| Attendance and behaviour | Needs attention | ||||
| Personal development and wellbeing | Needs attention | ||||
| Early years | Does not apply to this school | ||||
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard | ||||
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention | ||||
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
Inspection history
- 24 February 2026Report card · 1 Expected standard, 6 Needs attention
- 27 June 2023Graded inspection: Requires improvement
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry427 applications · 173 places offered · 110 named it first
- 2026 2.5; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.5
- 2025 2.3; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.2
- 2024 2.2; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.5
- 2023 2.5; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.4
- 2022 2.5; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.1
- 2021 2.7; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.7
- 2020 2.9; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.9
- 2019 3.0; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.4
- 2018 2.9; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.7
- 2017 2.8; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.5
- 2016 3.6; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.7
- 2015 3.4; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.9
- 2014 3.1; Telford and Wrekin median median 2.9
- This school
- Telford and Wrekin median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 173 | 427 | 2.5 | 110 | 0.64 |
| Sep 2025 | 175 | 400 | 2.3 | 129 | 0.74 |
| Sep 2024 | 179 | 388 | 2.2 | 123 | 0.69 |
| Sep 2023 | 176 | 442 | 2.5 | 149 | 0.85 |
| Sep 2022 | 172 | 421 | 2.5 | 134 | 0.78 |
| Sep 2021 | 177 | 478 | 2.7 | 172 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2020 | 177 | 520 | 2.9 | 187 | 1.06 |
| Sep 2019 | 178 | 536 | 3.0 | 215 | 1.21 |
| Sep 2018 | 176 | 512 | 2.9 | 182 | 1.03 |
| Sep 2017 | 179 | 499 | 2.8 | 168 | 0.94 |
| Sep 2016 | 178 | 638 | 3.6 | 176 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2015 | 181 | 607 | 3.4 | 166 | 0.92 |
| Sep 2014 | 180 | 550 | 3.1 | 179 | 0.99 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 184 | 34.4 | 28% | 42% | – |
| 2024/25 | 180 | 37.7 | 32% | 52% | – |
| 2023/24 | 176 | 39.7 | 35% | 51% | −0.74 |
| 2022/23 | 182 | 34.5 | 24% | 42% | −0.89 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- Haberdashers' Abraham DarbyThis schoolThis school20262.5applications per place 34.4Attainment 8
- 1.4 km · Telford and WrekinGood20224.9applications per place 44.8Attainment 8
- 3.3 km · Telford and WrekinRequires improvement20242.3applications per place 37.9Attainment 8
- 3.4 km · Telford and WrekinSerious weaknesses Inadequate20222.1applications per place 29.0Attainment 8
- 6.7 km · Telford and WrekinRemains Good20233.5applications per place 46.9Attainment 8
- 6.8 km · ShropshireRequires improvement20241.8applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
- 7.2 km · Telford and WrekinGraded · no overall grade20252.5applications per place 45.9Attainment 8
- 7.6 km · Telford and WrekinRemains Good · improving20223.2applications per place 47.0Attainment 8
- 8.2 km · ShropshireGraded · no overall grade20241.4applications per place 41.9Attainment 8
School details
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 135582 · 894/6906
- Trust
- Haberdashers' West Midlands Academies Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,100 pupils · 1,084 on roll
- Free school meals
- 46.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 September 2008
- Replaced
- Abraham Darby Specialist School for Performing Arts (URN 123596)
- Address
- Ironbridge Road, Madeley, Telford, TF7 5HX
- Local authority
- Telford and Wrekin
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources