Harwich and Dovercourt High School

About Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Harwich and Dovercourt High School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.67 places it significantly below the Essex local authority average of -0.18 for state secondary schools, a gap of nearly half a grade per subject. This ranks the school 63rd out of 86 similar schools in the county, putting it in the bottom quarter locally and the bottom 10% nationally. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 39.3 is also modest, and just 34.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 55.6% at the grade 4 baseline. The proportion of pupils entered for the EBacc is low at 21.5%, and those who did take it achieved an average point score of 3.39. These figures reflect a school serving a community with high levels of disadvantage — 40.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average — and the data suggests that, on average, pupils arrive with lower starting points and make less progress than their peers elsewhere in Essex.

Despite the headline figures, Ofsted rated the school Good overall in its most recent inspection in 2021, with Good marks across every category including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. The sixth form was also rated Good, though the data shows a value-added score of -0.83 and an average A-level point score per entry of just 19.66, equating to a D grade. The best three A-levels averaged an E grade, and the progress banding is described as well below average. The Parent View survey, based on 25 responses, tells a mixed story: 72% would recommend the school, and strong majorities agree that children are happy (76% agree or strongly agree) and feel safe (76%), but 20% strongly disagreed with those statements. Similarly, 72% agree the school has high expectations, yet 20% strongly disagree that their child does well. The SEND question received no responses, so it’s unclear how families with children on the SEND register feel about support.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 201 first-preference applications for 221 places, and a total of 229 applications overall. Facilities include a library, science labs, sports hall, swimming pool, astro turf, and a sixth form centre. There is a broad range of clubs — from debate and Model UN to chess, orchestra, and eco club — and sports on offer include netball, rugby, hockey, tennis, and martial arts. SEND provisions cover eight areas including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health, speech and language, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This school will suit families who value a Good Ofsted rating and a wide extracurricular offer, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that are below the Essex average. It’s a large, inclusive comprehensive with a genuine sixth form, and the oversubscription suggests it remains a popular choice locally despite the attainment data.

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