Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #67 in Essex public Top 40% UK

Harwich and Dovercourt High School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Kate Finch

corporate_fareTHE SIGMA TRUST

location_onHarwich, CO12 3TG

language Visit Website phone 1255245460

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2021

groups

Students

1,133

trending_up

Attainment 8

37.6

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#67 in Essex

#2,817 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Harwich and Dovercourt High School is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Harwich, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

article

School Summary

Harwich and Dovercourt High School is an academy sponsor led in Harwich, Essex, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE SIGMA TRUST. The school has approximately 1,091 pupils on roll, of whom 42% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 37.6, placing the school #67 in Essex and #2,817 of 3,216 nationally. 27.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 9.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 7 A-level subjects. 18.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 3.7% at A*–A. A-level value added: -1.03 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2021. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 6 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 13.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

37.6

Grade 5+ E&M

27.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)9.2%

Entering EBacc20.90%

EBacc APS3.19

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.67

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc21.50%

EBacc APS3.39

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.68

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS2.88

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.68

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc1%

EBacc APS3.05

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc3%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.72

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc4%

EBacc APS3.11

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS3.07

explore

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

workspace_premium

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-1.03

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*–A3.7%

Achieving A*–B18.5%

VA Banding Well below average

Retention rate90.9%

A-level subjects offered7

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.83

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate66.70%

2023

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Retention rate66.70%

2022

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Retention rate66.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

29 September 2021

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2021-09-29

Academy First Section 5 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2016-06-15

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-05-20

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

14.5%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

7.8%(85 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,091 pupils. During this period, there were 158 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 14.5%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,091	158	14.5%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,100	126	11.5%	7.8%	4
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,089	171	15.7%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,101	110	10.0%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,114	156	14.0%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,127	96	8.5%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,133	168	14.8%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,151	73	6.3%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,138	176	15.5%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,160	167	14.4%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,160	152	13.1%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,126	96	8.5%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,129	16	1.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,137	78	6.9%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,120	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,120	55	4.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,111	31	2.8%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,057	55	5.2%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,068	53	5.0%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,074	72	6.7%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,069	92	8.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,065	41	3.8%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,072	55	5.1%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	0	13	-	3.0%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 75 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 58 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 49 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 38 pupils

Physical Disability 5 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

63.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

60.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

21.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree23%

agree30%

disagree26%

strongly disagree19%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree19%

agree44%

disagree23%

strongly disagree9%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree16%

agree21%

disagree23%

strongly disagree14%

don't know2%

not applicable23%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes40%

no60%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree29%

agree12%

disagree29%

strongly disagree18%

dont know12%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree35%

agree40%

disagree12%

strongly disagree5%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree33%

agree30%

disagree14%

strongly disagree14%

don't know9%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree23%

agree37%

disagree21%

strongly disagree19%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree26%

agree58%

disagree2%

strongly disagree5%

don't know9%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree35%

agree44%

disagree2%

strongly disagree5%

don't know14%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree16%

agree33%

disagree23%

strongly disagree19%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes58%

no42%

Top Secondary Schools in Essex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 3SX

emoji_events #1 in LA

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 1RW

emoji_events #2 in LA

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Inadequate

location_on Colchester, CO3 3ND

emoji_events #3 in LA

Colchester County High School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Colchester, CO3 3US

emoji_events #4 in LA

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Good

location_on Brentwood, CM14 4EX

emoji_events #5 in LA

Saffron Walden County High School

Outstanding

location_on Saffron Walden, CB11 4UH

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Essex arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Essex

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Colchester County High School for Girls

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Saffron Walden County High School