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SecondaryState · Academy sponsor led

Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Hall Lane, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3TG ·

Report card: areas need attention· 2026
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At a glance

A state secondary academy for ages 11–16 in Harwich. Ofsted report card (January 2026): areas need attention. GCSE results are well below the England average (Attainment 8: 37.6 vs 46.1, 2024/25). 205 families put it first for 210 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages
11–16
Pupils
1,075
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
No
Admissions
Non-selective
Local authority
Essex
Academy trust
THE SIGMA TRUST
Headteacher
Mr Simon Essex
Opened
Jun 2017
School website 01255245460 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted report card (renewed framework)

Read reports
Inspected 6 Jan 2026Published 28 May 2026
  • SafeguardingMet
  • InclusionNeeds attention
  • Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
  • AchievementUrgent improvement
  • Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
  • Personal development and well-beingNeeds attention
  • Leadership and governanceNeeds attention

Report cards grade each area separately on a five-point scale, from Urgent improvement to Exceptional. There is no single overall grade, and results are not directly comparable with earlier grades such as “Good”.

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

GCSE results, 2024/25 · 215 pupils

Attainment 8
37.6
England 46.1
Grade 5+ Eng & maths
27.9%
England 45.4%
Grade 4+ Eng & maths
44.2%
England 64.8%
Progress 8
-0.67
2023/24 · CI -0.87 to -0.47
This school
37.6
Essex
45.1
England
46.1

Attainment 8 over time

Progress 8 isn't published for 2024/25 because those pupils had no KS2 test results (tests were cancelled in 2020). Exams were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

Search for your address on the map to see straight-line distances to schools.

Year 7 entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made
210
1st preferences
205
All applications
234
1st prefs per place
0.98
Fewer first choices than places

205 of 205 first-preference applicants were offered a place (100%).

Earlier years include data recorded for this school's predecessor.

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils
1,091
Capacity
1,300
83% full
Girls / boys
49/51
Mixed
  • Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)42.5%
  • English as an additional language3.9%
  • SEN support18.5%
  • Education, Health and Care plan3.1%
  • The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.
Harwich and Dovercourt High School, Harwich · SchoolPatch