Sir Harry Smith Community College
About Sir Harry Smith Community College
Sir Harry Smith Community College in Fenland is a mixed secondary school with a sixth form, currently home to 1,104 pupils against a capacity of 1,210. That leaves some headroom, but demand tells a more nuanced story: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 228 applications for 193 places, making it officially oversubscribed. Of those, 180 were first-preference applications, and 179 first-preference offers were made. A quarter of pupils (25%) are eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average and reflects the school's role in serving a community with higher-than-average deprivation. The school's intake is therefore both diverse and in demand locally, even if it isn't quite full to the brim. Headteacher Dawn White leads a non-denominational state school that has held a Good Ofsted rating since at least 2011, with its most recent ungraded inspection in early 2024 confirming it remains Good, albeit with some concerns noted.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 61 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Feb 2024Latest monitoring visit (29 Feb 2024): School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next
Source: Ofsted, 3 Dec 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sir Harry Smith Community College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications