Careers
We believe that every individual should be prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life, and that this preparation should be an important and distinctive element of the curriculum.
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We believe that every individual should be prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life, and that this preparation should be an important and distinctive element of the curriculum.
Contacts: Mrs L Vitone, Careers Leader; Email
01702 202571
The school will ensure that each student’s curriculum is broad and balanced to meet career aspirations as they develop, and that there will be equality of access to all teaching and learning strategies irrespective of gender, race, creed and ability. This will be achieved through consultation with the Academy Council, teachers, students, parents/carers and the statutory independent and impartial careers advice commissioned by us.
There is a comprehensive careers programme throughout the school, beginning in Year 7 and going through to Year 13. Work experience is undertaken by Years 10 and 12 and support is given to our students in their post-16 applications. Students follow a Careers Education & Guidance course as part of the PSHE curriculum. All students in Year 11 have access to our independent Careers Adviser for a guidance meeting and will receive a personalised action plan. All other year groups can make a self-referral if they wish to speak to the adviser. Lunchtime drop-in sessions are also available.
Greensward is a member of the Greater Essex Career Hub (part of the Careers & Enterprise Company's national network of careers hubs) which further increases our employer engagement and links to careers activity providers.
We measure and regularly evaluate ourselves and our Careers provision against the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks.
Careers information published on the website is regularly updated with annual reviews by the end of the Autumn half term. Lift Greensward regularly measures and assesses the impact of careers through:
destinations data for both post-16 and post-18 students
surveys, questionnaires and feedback from a range of stakeholders
Careers Education and Guidance Policy
Overview of Careers Critical Activities/Events
Labour Market Information for Essex
Amazing Apprenticeships - Information & Guidance for Parents
Throughout their time at Greensward, students are given an understanding of industry in its wider sense, learning how companies are structured and function. They are given the opportunity to experience a wide range of occupations via personal contacts with industry representatives; visits to various work places; Industry Day, work experience in Years 10 and 12 and the Insight into Leadership event in Year 12.
Greensward has established a number of strong links with a number of companies, both local and national and these include the British Transport Police, Essex Fire & Rescue, Anglian Water, Southend University Hospital, IPECO, The British Army and South Essex College.
Careers information published on the website is regularly updated with annual reviews by the end of the Autumn half term. The school regularly measures and assesses the impact of Careers through:
In 2025-26 Year 10 Work Experience will take place from 2-13 February 2026.
You can find all the information you need for this process by clicking on the links below.
Powerpoint Presentation + explanatory video
Forms must be returned to Mrs Vitone or Mrs Sibthorpe by 22 September 2025.
If you are in Year 11, you have some big decisions to make for your future pathway. Your main choices are:
For more information go to: www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school
The majority of Year 11 students do remain in full-time education. Greensward students will not automatically be offered a place at Greensward 6th Form. Students must apply and you must meet the entry criteria for the courses they offer. Students need to apply for a place at 6th form or college before GCSE results are received and ideally by Christmas. Always have a first choice and a back-up option.
All Year 11 students will have the opportunity for a one-to-one careers meeting with a careers adviser to discuss their plans but in the meantime:
The Essex Employment & Skills Board are passionate about ensuring that young people are aware of the wide range of career opportunities available on their doorstep and they have created a new Essex careers website - What’s Your Thing? to help inform and inspire students in the career choices they make by providing an insight into the careers available in seven priority sectors which contribute significantly to the local economy and have thousands of job opportunities.
To find out more about apprenticeships see: www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch. The National Apprenticeship Service has also produced a guide for parents which can be viewed here.
Job Search and Personal Marketing Tips
One reason students may give for not going on to college or sixth form after Year 11 can be finance, in some cases where students are aware of their family's financial situation, the costs associated with staying in education after year 11 can seem like a huge barrier that cannot be overcome. Many students don't even want to discuss this issue with parents and carers as they don't want to worry them. The first thing to be aware of is that currently students who are aged 16 to 18, and who have lived in the UK or an EU country for 3 years before going to college, do not have to pay tuition fees to go to college or sixth form after Year 11.
There are a number of options which may be available to students, depending on individual circumstances. All further education establishments have access to bursaries that students can apply for, you will find details of how to apply for financial assistance in the college prospectus and on the college website.
Bursaries
There are two types of bursary which may paid in weekly or monthly instalments: -
1. Discretionary Bursaries
Students aged 16 to 18, whose family's income is less than £25,000 a year and who are in receipt of certain benefits, may be eligible to receive a discretionary bursary to help with essential costs, such as travel, equipment (books and materials), trips that are an essential part of the course, DBS check if required, the cost of meals at college.
2. Bursaries for Vulnerable Students
Some students aged 16 to 18 may be eligible for a bursary of up to £1,200.00 if they are in care, a young care leaver, receiving both Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit and either Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence payments in their own name, receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in their own name.
Free Meals in Further Education
Some students, aged 16 to 19, may be eligible for free meals while they are at college or 6th form. Free meals will normally be available for those students whose family income is less than £25,000 per year.
Travel Costs
Students may also be able to get help with their travel costs. For example, if the college the student chooses is the nearest college to their home address offering their chosen course, and they live more than 3 miles from the college campus.
More information about financial assistance for travel to college is available from Essex County Council.
Students under 20 years old, who have to pay for childcare while attending college may be able to get help towards the cost of childcare. More information and details of how to apply are available from: - https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn The scheme is available for publicly-funded courses in England, which includes courses offered by sixth-forms in schools sixth-form and further education colleges
For more details of the support available and how to apply students and their parents/carers should contact colleges and sixth forms direct or look at the support section of the establishment's website.
Apprenticeships - https://www.gov.uk/become-apprentice/pay-and-conditions
Students who decide to go on to an apprenticeship after Year 11 are paid a minimum of £4.15 per hour or £124.50 for 30 hours per week. However, some employers may pay more than this.
Bursaries - https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/financial-support further-education
Principal: Katie Scarnell MA (Cantab)
Chair of Academy Council: Tony McKenna
Please send all enquiries to the Principal's Executive Assistant, Mrs S Wheeler, using the details below or directly via email (swheeler@liftgreensward.org). Please also contact Mrs Wheeler if you would like paper copies of any school information.
Address: Lift Greensward, Greensward Lane, Hockley, Essex SS5 5HG
Telephone Number: 01702 202571
Email Address: contactus@liftgreensward.org
Timing of the school day: 8.25am - 2.55pm
Office opening hours: 8.00am to 4.00pm (3.30pm on Fridays)
Every effort will be made to reply to telephone calls or emails as soon as is feasibly possible, but we would ask parents to bear in mind that members of staff may have a full day's teaching timetable and therefore will endeavour to respond within two working days during normal school hours. Some staff who work part time may not access emails until they are in school.
If you would like to see a member of staff, please phone our Main Reception in advance to make an appointment. If you do not have an appointment you will not be seen unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Concerns about individual subjects should be referred to the subject teacher in the first instance. More general concerns should be referred to your child’s form tutor in the first instance. Our SEN Co-ordinators are Mr M Aitken and Mrs K Turner. Please see communication flowchart here.
You may contact Lift Schools, using the details below:
Lift Schools, 1 EdCity Walk, EdCity, London, W12 7TF, www.liftschools.org
Contacting us about your child
Email Guidance
Since much of the communication between the school and parents/carers is now conducted by email, the school has produced the guidance here.
Code of Conduct for Visitors Policy
Please click here to read our policy.
We expect all communication between visitors and the school to be conducted in a polite and respectful manner.
