Year 7

Abraham Darby Academy is an Academy sponsored by the Haberdashers' Livery Company in London and Telford and Wrekin Local Authority. In an exciting and unique venture the Academy is linked to Adams' Grammar Academy in Newport bringing the two schools together under one Federation to share the same ethos and values. That vision is one where all students are inspired to reach their full potential, no matter what their ability or background; where aspirations and achievements are constantly raised; where the improvements of standards reflect the needs of the local and wider communities; through the highest quality academic, personal and vocational teaching and guidance. We will build on the strengths and experiences of Adams' Grammar School and Abraham Darby, so that our students become independent learners, fully equipped for the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities of adult life in the 21st century and well prepared to be the leaders, professionals and parents of tomorrow.

The Academy holds a well-publicised Open Evening each autumn.

However tours of the Academy are provided all through the year during the working day. Please phone the Academy to make an appointment.

The Academy does seek to satisfy the needs of families new to the area or seeking transfer from another school/academy. Please contact the Academy to arrange for a visit and discuss possible admission for your child.

Students are not selected for admission on the basis of aptitude or ability and all are valued equally. Our standard admission number for 2008 is 180 students.

Admission to the Academy is based upon the Telford and Wrekin Co-ordinated Scheme for Admissions to Secondary Schools. Telford and Wrekin operate an equal preference scheme. This means that where possible parents will be allocated their first preference school but if this is not possible then parents' second preference is considered alongside preferences expressed by other families for that school, then their third preference and so on.

If the Academy is over-subscribed then the following criteria will be applied in this order:

Those children who are in public care and then

Those children who live in the Academy's defined attendance area. If places are unavailable for all of these local children, then places will be given first to:

1. Those children who have exceptional health reasons where there is written medical evidence that admission to the academy is essential for their medical well-being; and then
2. Those children who will have, on the day of admission, a brother(s), sister(s), step brother(s), step sister(s), half brother(s) or half sister(s) living as a family at the same address and who attend the Academy; and then
3. Other children living in the Academy's defined attendance area.

Any places remaining available will then be allocated to applicants from outside the academy's defined attendance area in the priority area 1. to 2. as detailed above.

If there are insufficient places for all children in any of the above categories, places will be allocated on the basis of straight line distance between home and the main academy entrance, as measured by a straight line, with those children living closest to the academy having priority. The distance is measured on a computerised mapping system.

The admission of children with statements of special educational needs will be in accordance with parental preference as far as is possible and will be agreed between the parent, the school and the LA. These admissions will be counted towards the agreed admission number.

If any places are left after first preference claims have been met, second preference claims will be considered in the same priority order as above and so on.

The following definitions apply in the case of public care and home address:

• Children who are in public care are those who are the subject of a care order and the local authority share parental responsibility with the natural parents, or other who hold parental responsibility; and children who are looked after by the local authority under a voluntary agreement with the parent.
• A child's home address will be the normal residence of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who has care of the child. Where a child lives with parents with shared responsibility, each for part of the week, the home address will be considered to be the address where the child spends most time. If time is spent equally with two parents, the home address will normally be taken to be the address registered to receive child benefit in respect of the child.

Appeals for places may be made to Telford and Wrekin (Schools Admissions) by those parents whose child(ren) have not been able to be allocated a place.

Links with Primary Schools.

Abraham Darby Academy enjoys close links with local primary schools and a senior member of staff, Mrs Susan Doster, (Transition Manager) is responsible for making regular visits and developing contacts to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information beneficial to both staff and students here and at our feeder schools.

The Academy continues to develop and strengthen its partnership with local primary schools in order to enable the effective and continuous implementation of the National Curriculum. The English Department have been busy creating transition modules which allow students to transfer the work they complete in year 6 to year 7. Peripatetic Music teachers from the Academy visit local Primary Schools to give free instrumental lessons to pupils, who also have the opportunity to attend the Saturday morning Music Academy and to take part in the Academy Bands that have won national and international acclaim. The PE Department also contribute to Primary School sporting activity through the Sports Coordinator Scheme.

When parents have chosen Abraham Darby as the Academy for their child, contact between staff takes place to ensure a smooth transfer. In the summer term, each child will visit Abraham Darby for two days to meet his or her mentor and other staff, as well as experiencing a transfer process and answer any questions children may have. New parents are invited to a New Intake Evening in July where it will be possible to meet relevant staff and share information about their child. They will also be encouraged to attend Academy events of interest during the Summer Term and beyond. All year 6 students who are allocated a place at Abraham Darby Academy are invited to spend three days at ‘Summer School' which is run at the Academy during August.

Sixth Form

It is possible for students from other schools to apply to study at Abraham Darby Academy in the Sixth Form.

The Academy offers a minimum of 20 places at Post 16 to external applicants and these will be accommodated within the total size of 200.

More can be found about the Sixth Form Curriculum in the Sixth Form section of the website.

Oversubscription criteria

Students will be admitted to programmes of study subject to meeting course entry level requirements.

Students wishing to enter a level 3 course in year 12 (AS and A level) will be required to have at least 5 GCSE passes at grades A* - C

Students wishing to follow a one year level 2 programme will be expected to demonstrate skills and qualifications appropriate to the proposed course.

In the event of places being oversubscribed the following criteria will be applied. All students must have the required qualifications for the course they wish to study. ( see above )

1. Young people who are looked after by a Local Authority

2. Siblings of pupils within years 7-13 who will be attending the school on the starting date of the post 16 course

3. Young people who live within the attendance area of the school

4. Young people living outside the attendance area of the school

If there are insufficient places for all young people in any of the above categories, places will be allocated on the basis of the distance between a central point in the home and a central point in the school buildings as measured by Straight Line distance using the local authority's computerised mapping system.