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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Urgent improvementURN 145061

Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Academy sponsor led · Harwich · CO12 3TG

Ages 11–16 · 1,075 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

Urgent improvement

Attainment 8

39.3

Overall absence

10.0%

Admissions demand

0.98 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Urgent improvement

Inspection date

2026-01-06

Category of concern

Requires significant improvement

  • AchievementUrgent improvement
  • Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
  • InclusionNeeds attention
  • Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
  • Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
  • Leadership and governanceNeeds attention

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.67
−20+2
Attainment 839.3
English & maths grade 5+34%
English & maths grade 4+56%
EBacc entry22%

EBacc APS: 3.4

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence10.0%
Persistent absence (10%+)31.8%
Unauthorised4.9%
Authorised absence
5.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.8%
Enrolments in measure
1,118

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.98 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

226

Places offered

234

1st-preference offers

226

Total preferences (any rank)
252
Preferred offers (top 3)
230
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill83%

1,075 pupils · 1,300 places

Pupils on roll
1,075
Boys / girls
543 / 532
School capacity
1,300
Capacity fill
1,075 / 1,300 (83%)
Free school meals
42.5%
FSM pupils
457
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: THE SIGMA TRUST
Academy trust
THE SIGMA TRUST
Sponsor
The Sigma Trust
Headteacher
Mr Simon Essex

Location

Address
Hall Lane
Postcode
CO12 3TG
Town
Harwich
County
Essex
Local authority
Essex
District
Tendring
Constituency
Harwich and North Essex
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Harwich, Essex, 1,075 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy. Free school meals: 42.5%.

Open schools in Harwich
8
Secondary schools in Harwich
1
Academies among open schools in Harwich
38% (3)
Open schools in CO12
9
Secondary in CO12
1
Open schools in Essex LA
612
Secondary in Essex LA
79

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in HarwichNear CO12

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Simon Essex
Telephone
01255245460
Website
www.hdhs.org.uk

Official links