Lift Greensward
98%
Capacity
1,613
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About Lift Greensward
Lift Greensward, a large mixed secondary school in Rochford, Essex, holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a step down from the Outstanding grade it achieved in its previous graded inspection in 2014. The school’s Progress 8 score, the key measure of academic progress across eight subjects, sits at -0.08. While this is slightly below the national average of zero, it is notably above the Essex local authority average of -0.18, placing the school in the top half of schools nationally. This means that, on average, pupils at Lift Greensward leave Year 11 with results a fraction lower than expected given their starting points, but the school performs better than many others in the same county. The Attainment 8 score of 46.6 translates to roughly a grade 5 (a strong pass) per subject, and 51.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths.
In the sixth form, the picture is similarly solid. The school’s A-level value added score is 0.04, indicating that students make progress in line with the national average. The average points per entry is 33.61, equivalent to a grade C+, and the best three A-levels average out at a B-. Just over 7% of entries achieved grades AAB or higher. The school’s Progress 8 banding is rated as ‘Average’, and its ranking within the Rochford local authority is 1st out of 4 schools, though it sits 31st out of 86 state secondaries across the wider Essex area. The proportion of pupils entered for the English Baccalaureate is 32.7%, with 10.5% achieving the full suite of subjects at a grade 5 or above.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 718 applications for 266 places, with 288 first-preference applications for 242 offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.7. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, theatre, sixth form centre, and a chapel, alongside sports such as rowing, martial arts, and gymnastics. Lift Greensward has a broad range of SEND provisions, covering dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 11.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a fairly typical demographic for the area. It will suit families who want a large, popular secondary with a strong sixth form and a wide choice of extracurricular activities, and who are comfortable with academic outcomes that are solid but not exceptional.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Greensward Lane, Hockley, Rochford, SS5 5HG |
| Headteacher | Katie Scarnell |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 1,613 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,613 / 1,650 (98% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Nov 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (16 Nov 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 26 Sept 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.08)
1724th of 3,141
Nationally
196th of 350
In East of England
1st of 4
In Rochford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
40.9
'22/23
33.7
'23/24
33.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2348%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 222 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)48%
- FE college43%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment2%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2352%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 135 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
6%
Russell Group
10%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)52%
- Employment27%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Not sustained6%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Business Studies:Single43
- Economics38
- Psychology34
- Mathematics20
- Mathematics (Statistics)20
- Geography19
- Sociology16
- Biology15
- Chemistry14
- English Literature12
- Physics10
- Art and Design (Fine Art)9
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed266
718
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
288 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.0%
- Mixed5.7%
- White (other)3.7%
- Asian1.5%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Lift Greensward
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Greensward Lane, Hockley
Rochford, SS5 5HG
Greensward Lane, Hockley
Rochford, SS5 5HG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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