SchoolScoresHarwich and Dovercourt High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE SIGMA TRUST
Hall Lane, Harwich, CO12 3TG
01255 245460 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 January 2026 , published 28 May 2026.
In short: 5 needs attention, 1 urgent improvement, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
Category of concern: Requires significant improvement. Ofsted will monitor the school closely until it improves.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Urgent improvement The lowest of five grades. Ofsted found serious weaknesses that need fixing quickly. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
120 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Essex comparisons use the 16 of its 82 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 66 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 16th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 2% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 33% | 82% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 16th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 2% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 35% | 85% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 16th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 1% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 17% | 79% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 61 parents whose child had been bullied 14th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 2% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 13% | 47% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 110 parents who had raised a concern 15th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 3% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 32% | 73% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 47 parents of children with SEND 14th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 1% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 15% | 60% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 16th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 2% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 30%said yes | 83% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 11%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Essex figures pool parents at the Essex schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
215 pupils in this year group.
28% — 15 points below the Essex average, and 18 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 28% | 43% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 37.6 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.2 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
213 pupils in this year group.
86% — 6 points below the Essex average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 86% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 23% | 37% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 11% | 9% | 13% |
| Further education college | 46% | 38% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 86% | 86% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
14 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | D | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 4% | 26% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 19% | 54% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 20 | 34.7 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
7 subjects, 27 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art and Design | 7 | 0% | 14% | 34% |
| English Literature | 6 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Psychology | 6 | 0% | 0% | 19% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Film Studies, Geography, History, Sociology.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
39 students in this year group.
54% — 27 points below the Essex average, and 25 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 54% | 81% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 8% | 7% |
| Work | 33% | 33% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 60% | 54% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
33 students in this year group.
27% — 27 points below the Essex average, and 33 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 27% | 54% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 0% | 15% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 18% | 27% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Essex. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 210 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 205 |
| Of those, offered a place | 205 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 234 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Higher than 80% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 42.5% | 22.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 27th highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.1% | 2.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.5% | 12.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 61st highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.9% | 9.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 65th lowest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Lower than 16% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.8% | 8.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 70th lowest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Lower than 12% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 33.0% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 72nd lowest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Lower than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 44.4 | 18.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 68th lowest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Lower than 12% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.5% | 7.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded8 pupils | 0.73% | 0.18% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 63rd highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Higher than 33% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.0 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 71st highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Higher than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.9 | 12.9 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 57th highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex. Higher than 27% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 9.8% | 13.3%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Questions parents ask
What is Harwich and Dovercourt High School's Ofsted rating?
Harwich and Dovercourt High School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 needs attention, 1 urgent improvement, and safeguarding was met.
How did Harwich and Dovercourt High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 28% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 18 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Harwich and Dovercourt High School?
30% of the 120 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Harwich and Dovercourt High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Harwich and Dovercourt High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 205 families put Harwich and Dovercourt High School as their first choice for 210 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 205 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 145061.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.