Harwich and Dovercourt High School
Secondary · Academy sponsor led · Ages 11–16 · Harwich, Essex
Last distance offered · Year 7 2026
Every applicant was offered a place
From Essex County Council · offers on 2 March 2026
Year 7 last distance offered, 2022–2026 (miles)
All: every applicant was offered a place.
Harwich and Dovercourt High School is a secondary school in Harwich, Essex for ages 11–16 (academy sponsor led). Essex has published a last distance offered for this school for Year 7 2022 to 2026 entry.
Harwich and Dovercourt High School catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Year 7 2026 | Every applicant was offered a place |
| Year 7 2025 | Every applicant was offered a place |
| Year 7 2023 | Every applicant was offered a place |
| Year 7 2022 | Every applicant was offered a place |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- Every applicant was offered a Year 7 place in 2026, as at 59 of the 71 other Essex secondary schools with a published Year 7 2026 outcome.
- Year 7 2026 had 205 first-choice applications for 210 offers; every first-choice family was offered a place and 5 offers went to families who ranked it second or lower.
- In 2024/25, 28% of pupils got grade 5 or above in GCSE English and maths (England 45%), with an Attainment 8 score of 37.6 (England 46).
- At A level in 2024/25 the average grade was D (England B-), and progress from GCSE to A level was well below average.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Essex schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Hall Lane, Harwich, CO12 3TG
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–16
- Council
- Essex
- Pupils on roll
- 1,075 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 42.5% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 16
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
No Ofsted grade Inspected 6 January 2026
Strengths
- “Where teaching is clear and effective checks are made on pupils' understanding, pupils enjoy learning and acquire knowledge well.”
- “On arrival to school, pupils are met by approachable adults who greet them and check that they are ready to learn.”
- “Staff know pupils well and take a genuine interest in them.”
To improve
- “Pupils experience a mixed quality of education.”
- “However, variability in the effectiveness of the school's curriculum and teaching means that this is not always the case.”
- “Disadvantaged pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do not consistently receive support that meets their needs.”
Safeguarding: met
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 5 March 2026 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 28% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 37.6 | 46 |
| A level average grade (2024/25) | D | B- |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Year 7 entry: 205 first-preference applications, 210 offers in total, 205 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Essex.
- Lift Tendring 6.0 mi Good Last distance published
- Manningtree High School 8.9 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Clacton County High School 10.1 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Lift Clacton 10.4 mi Good Last distance published
- Colne Community School 12.7 mi Good Last distance published
- Colchester Academy 14.0 mi Good Last distance published
- The Gilberd School 14.7 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- The Trinity School 14.7 mi Not judged Last distance published