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Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy

Hall Lane, Harwich CO12 3TG · hdhs.org.uk · 01255 245460

On the mapSearch near CO12 3TG

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
37.6
average Attainment 8 score. Essex 45.1, England 46
Demand for places
1.0
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,075
83% of 1,300 places
Local authority
Essex
Sixth form
No
Free school meals
42.5%
First language not English
4.4%
School census 2025/26
Trust
The Sigma Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 205 families put the school first and 210 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 187 (Places 203)187September 2023: 197 (Places 211)197September 2024: 226 (Places 234)226September 2025: 201 (Places 221)201September 2026: 205 (Places 210)205Places 210
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262102051100%
September 2025Sept 20252212010.9100%
September 2024Sept 20242342261100%
September 2023Sept 20232111970.9100%
September 2022Sept 20222031870.9100%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 37.6, and 27.9% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Essex it was 45.1, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade D (20 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252017/18: 38.7 (England 46.5)38.72018/19: 38.1 (England 46.7)38.12021/22: 39.0 (England 48.8)39.02022/23: 36.2 (England 46.3)36.22023/24: 39.3 (England 45.9)39.32024/25: 37.6 (England 46.0)37.6England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼37.646.0
▼27.9%45.4%
▼44.2%64.8%
▼20.9%40.5%
▼3.194.09

Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 137946)

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form15.6−6.2
Sixth form college12.2−1.2
Further education47.8+6.7
Other education0.5−0.5
Apprenticeship5.9+3.4
Employment2.4−1.6
Not in a lasting destination9.8−3.6
Activity not captured5.9+2.9

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2018/19 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1821/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 17.0 (England 30.5)D-2016/17: 21.6 (England 31.1)D2017/18: 26.2 (England 32.1)C-2021/22: 21.9 (England 37.9)D+2022/23: 23.0 (England 34.2)D+2023/24: 19.7 (England 34.4)D2024/25: 20.0 (England 35.0)DEngland 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
14 studentsD (20)Well below average -1.03
14 studentsD (19.8)Well below average -1.07
18 studentsMerit- (21.7)Average -0.37
90.9%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2416D (19.7)-0.83
2022/2313D+ (23)—
2021/2219D+ (21.9)—
2017/189C- (26.2)-0.08
2016/1733D (21.6)-0.27
2015/1643D- (17)-0.70

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University17.5+3.2
Further and other education5−4.5
Further education2.5+0.1
Other education2.5−4.6
Apprenticeship10+7.6
Employment30−3.3
Not in a lasting destination30+3.8
Activity not captured7.5−6.8

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Harwich and Dovercourt High School on 6 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
6 Jan 2026
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionNeeds attention
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
AchievementUrgent improvement
Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
Personal development and well-beingNeeds attention
Leadership and governanceNeeds attention

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Sept 2021

Earlier inspections

Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 137946), which Ofsted links to this one.

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Sept 2021Good
    Quality of educationGood
    Behaviour and attitudesGood
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    Sixth formGood
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Jun 2016Good
    Leadership and managementGood
    SafeguardingEffective

    Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 137946)

What parents said

30% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (120 replies, to 6 April 2026).

Recommend
30%
Positive
19%
Replies
120
11% · 6 Apr 2026
Child is happy at school▼33% agreeEngland 84%
Child feels safe▼35% agreeEngland 85%
Pupils are well behaved▼18% agreeEngland 78%
Gets the right support to learn▼22% agreeEngland 78%
School communicates well▼39% agreeEngland 77%
Acts in child’s best interests▼26% agreeEngland 76%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼33% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 92% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼13% agreeEngland 43%

based on 61 parents (51%) whose child was bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼15% agreeEngland 63%

based on 47 parents (39%) with SEND

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