The Limes Primary Academy

The Limes Primary Academy has demonstrated overall good performance during its first inspection under section 5 of the Education Act. Pupils express enjoyment in attending the school, showing engagement in lessons and positive behaviour influenced by strong leadership. The school excels in areas such as curriculum structure, focused support for early reading and mathematics, as well as fostering relationships within the school community. The school’s efforts in personal development and support for pupils with special educational needs also contribute to its success.

Strengths

• Well-structured curriculum across all year groups.
• High expectations leading to positive pupil behaviour.
• Strong emphasis on early reading and phonics.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs.
• Positive relationships within the school community.
• Engagement in extra responsibilities and community projects.

Areas for Improvement

• Some foundation subjects do not lead to consistent recall of key information.
• Significant number of parents feel disengaged or uninformed.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Limes Primary Academy attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 5.4% of pupils at The Limes Primary Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Limes Primary Academy had 18.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 12.4% of pupils at The Limes Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Limes Primary Academy received £6,600 and spent £6,319 for each of its 346 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £79,000 (£228 per pupil).

Across all 65 schools of Reach2 Academy Trust, income was £7,346 and spending £7,105 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Lowestoft · Suffolk local authority: places and applications

The Limes Primary Academy is part of Reach2 Academy Trust, which runs 65 schools. The nearest others:

• Northfield St Nicholas Primary Academy Lowestoft
• Gunton Primary Academy Lowestoft
• St Margaret's Primary Academy Lowestoft
• Phoenix St Peter Academy Lowestoft, Suffolk
• Beccles Primary Academy Beccles
• Martlesham Primary Academy Woodbridge
• Sprites Primary Academy Ipswich
• Kirby Primary Academy Frinton-On-Sea
• Camulos Academy Colchester
• Burrsville Infant Academy Clacton-On-Sea

What is The Limes Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Limes Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in April 2023.

When was The Limes Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The Limes Primary Academy was last inspected in April 2023.

How many pupils does The Limes Primary Academy have?

The Limes Primary Academy has 354 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Limes Primary Academy cover?

The Limes Primary Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are The Limes Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Limes Primary Academy?

The Limes Primary Academy is at Lime Avenue, Oulton, Lowestoft, NR32 3BQ.