How many pupils does Harwich and Dovercourt High School have?

Harwich and Dovercourt High School has 1,091 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.

What is Harwich and Dovercourt High School's Ofsted rating?

Harwich and Dovercourt High School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection (29 September 2021).

How does Harwich and Dovercourt High School perform at GCSE?

Pupils at Harwich and Dovercourt High School achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 34.1 in 2025/26.

Is Harwich and Dovercourt High School part of an academy trust?

Yes — Harwich and Dovercourt High School is part of THE SIGMA TRUST.

Where is Harwich and Dovercourt High School?

Harwich and Dovercourt High School is located at Hall Lane, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3TG.

Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Hall Lane, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3TG

Good

Inspected 29 September 2021

Good

Ofsted

34.1

Attainment 8

Secondary

Phase

11–16

Ages

1,091

Pupils

Mixed

Gender

Academy sponsor led

Type

About Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Harwich and Dovercourt High School is an academy sponsor led in Harwich, Essex, England, for pupils aged 11–16. It has 1,091 pupils on roll. It is part of THE SIGMA TRUST. Its most recent Ofsted inspection (29 September 2021) rated it Good. At GCSE, pupils achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 34.1 (2025/26). 42.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.4% have English as an additional language.

School Information

Local Authority: Essex →
School Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
Age Range: Ages 11–16
Gender: Mixed
Pupils / Capacity: 1,091 / 1,300 (84%)
Sixth Form: Has a sixth form
Religious Character: None
Last Ofsted Inspection: 29 September 2021

Pupil profile

2025/26

Who attends this school — useful context if you’re considering teaching here.

42.5%

Free school meals

4.4%

EAL

3.1%

SEN support

18.5%

EHC plan

Source: DfE School Census, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Results & performance

2025/26

Official Department for Education results, pupil destinations and attendance.

GCSE results (Key Stage 4)

34.1

Attainment 8

197 pupils

23.4%

Grade 5+ English & Maths

36%

Grade 4+ English & Maths

Progress 8 isn’t published for this year group: their Key Stage 2 baseline (2021 SATs) was cancelled during the pandemic, so a progress measure can’t be calculated. GCSE figures are provisional and may be revised.

Sixth form (Key Stage 5)

A-level average grade

4 students

27%

To higher education

To top-third universities

Where pupils go next

86%

Sustained destination

80%

Stayed in education

Apprenticeship

Attendance

10.8%

Overall absence

33.0%

Persistent absence

Source: Department for Education performance tables, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Some independent schools’ qualifications (e.g. IGCSEs) are not all reflected in these figures.

Workforce

2024/25

Staffing at this school, with the trend over recent years — useful if you’re considering working here.

66.63

Teachers (FTE)

↓ -0.9 vs 2023/24

17.1

Pupils per teacher

↑ +0.1 vs 2023/24

12.49

Teaching assistants (FTE)

↑ +1.5 vs 2023/24

£59,361

Avg teacher salary

Mean · 13% on leadership pay

↑ +£4,505 vs 2023/24

Teacher vacancies

2.9% rate

↑ +2 vs 2023/24

8.9

Leadership (FTE)

→ 0.0 vs 2023/24

Data for the 2024/25 academic year (trend lines show 3 years). Source: DfE School Workforce Census, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. State-funded schools only.

School finances

2024-25

How this school is funded and where the money goes — per pupil.

£8,188

Spend per pupil

£8,660

Income per pupil

58%

Spent on teaching staff

Source: DfE school finance returns (CFR for council-maintained schools, AAR for academies), 2024-25, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Per-pupil figures are calculated from total income/expenditure.

Contact Details

Address: Hall Lane, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3TG
Phone: 01255245460
Head Teacher: Simon Essex
Website: www.hdhs.org.uk

Academy Trust

THE SIGMA TRUST →

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Frequently asked questions

What type of school is Harwich and Dovercourt High School?: Harwich and Dovercourt High School is an academy sponsor led in Harwich, Essex, England, for pupils aged 11–16.
How many pupils does Harwich and Dovercourt High School have?: Harwich and Dovercourt High School has 1,091 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.
What is Harwich and Dovercourt High School's Ofsted rating?: Harwich and Dovercourt High School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection (29 September 2021).
How does Harwich and Dovercourt High School perform at GCSE?: Pupils at Harwich and Dovercourt High School achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 34.1 in 2025/26.
Is Harwich and Dovercourt High School part of an academy trust?: Yes — Harwich and Dovercourt High School is part of THE SIGMA TRUST.
Where is Harwich and Dovercourt High School?: Harwich and Dovercourt High School is located at Hall Lane, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3TG.

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