Best Schools in Harwich

None of the 6 graded schools in Harwich currently holds an Outstanding rating. 6 are rated Good, so 100% are Good or better. Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall grades in September 2024, so these are the grades from each school's last full inspection.

Source: Ofsted

Which primary schools in Harwich have the best SATs results?

Of the 5 primary schools in Harwich with 2025 Key Stage 2 results, the highest shares of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading and maths were at Chase Lane Primary School and Nursery (81% in reading, 80% in maths); All Saints' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Dovercourt (75% in reading, 75% in maths); and All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Great Oakley (58% in reading, 83% in maths). Small schools can swing a long way from one year to the next, because each pupil is a large share of the result.

Chase Lane Primary School and Nursery All Saints' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Dovercourt All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Great Oakley

Source: DfE school performance data

Are there grammar schools in Harwich?

No. None of the state secondary schools in Harwich selects pupils by ability, so every state secondary here is comprehensive.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Do schools in Harwich have catchment areas?

Most state schools in Harwich have no fixed catchment boundary. When a school is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places on its published criteria - usually looked-after children first, then siblings, then home-to-school distance - so the practical cut-off moves each year. Each school's page here shows an estimate of its catchment radius.

How do I apply for a school place in Harwich?

Apply to Essex through its coordinated admissions process, even for academies and faith schools. In England the closing date is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.