School Chooser

Lift Greensward

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademy1,605 pupilsSixth formHockleyEssex
School Chooser Score
60
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 50 to 69
Out of 100. Better than 64% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodConfirmed by Ofsted, November 2023
Strong pass in English and maths56%England 46%
Attendance93.8%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families13%Far fewer than most schools
Places45 spare1,605 pupils, 1,650 places
Pupils per teacher18.8School workforce census

Lift Greensward is a sponsored academy in Hockley for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,605 pupils and room for 1,650. About 13 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 60 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 64% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.

Greensward Lane, Hockley, SS5 5HG01702 202571sites.google.com/aetinet.org/greenswardwebsite/homeMs Katie Scarnell head teacherAll details

What Ofsted found

A shorter visit on 16 November 2023 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

269 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score49.4
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths56%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths77%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.08In each subject, pupils here finished about level with children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 44.644.620182019: 48.448.420192022: 52.452.420222023: 50.650.620232024: 46.646.620242025: 49.449.42025
Since 2018: +4.8Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018EssexEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11269266255234226211
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 849.446.650.652.448.444.646.046.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.08+0.25+0.07+0.10-0.18
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths56%51%54%57%48%41%44%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths77%73%79%79%76%64%65%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score4.163.984.414.544.153.894.064.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry20%33%35%30%33%35%39%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged38.538.840.343.344.831.3
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged51.247.951.953.949.046.7
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers25.832.238.029.224.6
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers60.965.367.957.655.3

Subjects

Results came out for 19 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Drama84%grades 9 to 5, England 60%
Media / Film / TV71%grades 9 to 5, England 55% · 123rd of 580 schools
Spanish70%grades 9 to 5, England 54% · 468th of 1,941 schools
Business66%grades 9 to 5, England 51% · 376th of 1,806 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Physical Education (41% here, 56% across England), Social Studies (45% here, 54% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, computer science, music.
LanguagesSpanish66

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics269 entries · 12th of 78 in Essex
63%England 53%
English Language269 entries · 17th of 78 in Essex
61%England 54%
English Literature267 entries · 34th of 78 in Essex
57%England 58%
Combined Science204 entries · 11th of 74 in Essex
47%England 36%
Art and Design144 entries · 15th of 76 in Essex
69%England 58%
History132 entries · 38th of 77 in Essex
50%England 52%
Geography132 entries · 32nd of 74 in Essex
48%England 51%
Business125 entries · 9th of 51 in Essex
66%England 51%
Spanish66 entries · 10th of 45 in Essex
70%England 54%
Physics54 entries · 46th of 69 in Essex
74%England 82%
Biology54 entries · 26th of 69 in Essex
87%England 82%
Chemistry54 entries · 39th of 69 in Essex
78%England 81%
Media / Film / TV48 entries · 6th of 30 in Essex
71%England 55%
Physical Education32 entries · 35th of 47 in Essex
41%England 56%
Computer Science31 entries · 30th of 54 in Essex
48%England 56%
Religious Studies23 entries · 15th of 40 in Essex
74%England 60%
Social Studies20 entries · 26th of 33 in Essex
45%England 54%
Drama19 entries
84%England 60%
Music18 entries
61%England 61%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics26923%63%80%53%755 of 3,211
English Language26920%61%81%54%944 of 3,210
English Literature26716%57%78%58%1,501 of 3,202
Combined Science2049%47%68%36%729 of 3,084
Art and Design14426%69%83%58%890 of 2,818
History13212%50%69%52%1,623 of 3,126
Geography13214%48%64%51%1,560 of 3,116
Business12528%66%78%51%376 of 1,806
Spanish6621%70%86%54%468 of 1,941
Physics5420%74%91%82%1,829 of 2,546
Biology5435%87%96%82%1,292 of 2,570
Chemistry5430%78%94%81%1,651 of 2,537
Media / Film / TV4815%71%81%55%123 of 580
Physical Education3213%41%63%56%1,165 of 1,559
Computer Science3110%48%68%56%1,099 of 1,861
Religious Studies2344%74%83%60%508 of 1,825
Social Studies2025%45%70%54%699 of 1,043
Drama1932%84%95%60%
Music1811%61%78%61%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

147 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeB-35.1 points per entry
A level progress+0.26Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better12%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished97%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students147127118142200207
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry35.0933.6133.6740.9136.2431.70
Average A level gradeB-C+C+BB-C+
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS37.5335.6033.2943.3337.1832.75
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects12%7%6%17%18%6%
A level progressA level value added+0.26+0.04+0.41+0.32
Applied general courses: points per entry32.3129.6230.8928.97
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed97%95%97%95%93%96%

A level subjects

15 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Mathematics (Statistics)60%A* to B, England 35% · 15 entries
Economics75%A* to B, England 57% · 44 entries
Chemistry69%A* to B, England 53% · 13 entries
Mathematics70%A* to B, England 60% · 30 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsBusiness Studies62Economics44Mathematics30Psychology28Media / Film / TV Studies22Biology19History18Geography15Sociology15Mathematics (Statistics)15Chemistry13English Literature12Photography10Fine Art10Physics7
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Business Studies62 entries · 24% A* or A · 100% passed
57%England 47%
Economics44 entries · 48% A* or A · 98% passed
75%England 57%
Mathematics30 entries · 50% A* or A · 100% passed
70%England 60%
Psychology28 entries · 11% A* or A · 100% passed
36%England 46%
Media / Film / TV Studies22 entries · 18% A* or A · 100% passed
46%England 46%
Biology19 entries · 26% A* or A · 100% passed
47%England 49%
History18 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
56%England 55%
Geography15 entries · 13% A* or A · 100% passed
33%England 51%
Sociology15 entries · 20% A* or A · 100% passed
47%England 49%
Mathematics (Statistics)15 entries · 20% A* or A · 100% passed
60%England 35%
Chemistry13 entries · 46% A* or A · 100% passed
69%England 53%
English Literature12 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
33%England 52%
Photography10 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 58%
Fine Art10 entries · 10% A* or A · 90% passed
20%England 65%
Physics7 entries · 43% A* or A · 100% passed
43%England 51%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 3 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
38.551.2
Gap 12.7England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
40%58%
Gap 19 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
50.248.5
Gap 1.7England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test.

Nearly full1,613 pupils for 1,650 places, 2024/25
98% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have grown by 4% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

How places were given out for September 2026. The last place was given under this rule: Criterion 5.

EntryPlacesApplied at allHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Secondary270704LA

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,605Census January 2026
Places1,65097% full
Pupils from low-income families12%13% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English2%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support14%227 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%42 pupils with a plan
Average class size24.160 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils10%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)15%£214,500 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls831 / 774
White British pupils88%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (76), Autistic spectrum disorder (74), Specific learning difficulty (56), Moderate learning difficulty (43), language and communications needs (11), Physical disability (5).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,6051,6131,5801,5711,5611,528
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals12%11%10%9%9%8%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language2%2%2%2%1%2%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support13%11%10%10%10%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%2%2%2%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance93.8%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school14.2%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils2.32024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission2.1%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence6.3%7.7%7.6%7.6%4.1%4.4%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.2%5.5%5.2%6.3%3.0%3.5%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.1%2.2%2.4%1.3%1.1%0.9%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence14.2%18.4%19.1%22.1%10.2%8.1%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate2.32.81.92.51.5
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions01000

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 255 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training91%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 76%, compared with 93% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training91%92%96%97%
Education84%86%91%92%
Apprenticeship7%3%3%3%
Work3%2%3%
Not in education, work or training5%5%3%3%

After sixth form

Where the 114 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training90%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 82%, compared with 90% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training62%England 72%
Top-third universities11%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship11%England 6%
Higher technical course1%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 83% went on to degree-level study or training.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training90%91%90%
Education42%52%58%
Apprenticeship11%12%10%7%
Work36%27%22%
Not in education, work or training7%7%9%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers85.2full-time equivalent, 93 people
Pupils per teacher18.8Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers91%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants13.0full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£55,813
Teachers who left in the year13%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher3.52024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£5,954England £7,965. Total £9.6m
Income per pupil£7,139England £8,423. Total £12m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,798England £4,444
Money in reserve11%A healthy amount put by: £1.3m, £803 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£1.9mit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£5,954spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m8412 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate23 per 1,000 people75% lower than the England average
Typical house price£400,000Rochford
Nearest bus stop120 mLeamington Road, 12 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
The King Edmund SchoolAcademy1.7 miles1,318Good 202411Compare
The FitzWimarc SchoolAcademy2.5 miles1,770Good 202240Compare
The Eastwood AcademyAcademy3.0 miles1,154Not inspected82Compare
The Sweyne Park SchoolAcademy3.0 miles1,429No overall grade 202542Compare
William de Ferrers SchoolAcademy3.3 miles1,237No overall grade 202427Compare
St Thomas More High SchoolAcademy3.6 miles1,243Good 202481Compare
Westcliff High School for GirlsAcademy (grammar)3.8 miles1,354Outstanding 202499Compare
Westcliff High School for Boys AcademyAcademy (grammar)3.8 miles1,309Outstanding 202399Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Lift Greensward with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats64%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 60 is 8 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 9 · middle 52 · highest 92100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 60 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 60% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 50 to 69. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%in line
+0.05
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 269 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 2.8 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
-0.03
DfE progress measure; 269 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
-0.01
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.10
2024/25; 1,362 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.00
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 269 pupils
What pupils do next5%in line
+0.00
255 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Lift Greensward a good school?

It is about average. Lift Greensward scores 60 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 64% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 50 to 69, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Lift Greensward's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Lift Greensward good at its last full inspection on 16 November 2023.

How good are Lift Greensward's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 56% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 49.4, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about level with children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Lift Greensward have?

1,605 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,650 places, so it is 97% full.

Is Lift Greensward oversubscribed?

Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.

What is attendance like at Lift Greensward?

Pupils were in school 93.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 14% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Lift Greensward?

The average class had 24.1 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 10% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Lift Greensward have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was B-. 15 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Greensward Lane, Hockley, SS5 5HG
Telephone
01702 202571
Website
sites.google.com/aetinet.org/greenswardwebsite/home
Head Teacher
Ms Katie Scarnell
Type of school
Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
Lift Schools (62 schools)
Local authority
Essex
Ward
Hockley and Ashingdon
Constituency
Rayleigh and Wickford
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2008 (new provision)
URN
135652 · LAESTAB 8816906 · UKPRN 10024182
Formerly
Greensward College

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from