Lime Hills Academy

Lime Hills Academy is a special all-through school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, all of whom have education, health and care plans. It had not previously been inspected under section 5 and is part of the Cabot Learning Federation. Many pupils arrive with negative experiences of school and low attendance, but caring, nurturing relationships and consistently high expectations help them feel safe, develop self-worth and achieve well. The school provides a well-organised, personalised curriculum that addresses pupils' special educational needs and disabilities, and reading is a clear priority, with effective phonics and support helping pupils read fluently. Behaviour is purposeful and calm, and pupils are supported well to manage their social, emotional and mental health. Personal development is a standout strength: the PSHE programme, careers provision, outdoor learning and wider opportunities are exceptionally well designed and help pupils build confidence, resilience and readiness for their next steps. Leadership and governance are strong, staff feel well supported, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. The main area for improvement is curriculum sequencing in a few subjects. In these subjects, the order in which key knowledge is taught is not clear enough, so pupils do not learn that knowledge as well as they could. The school must ensure all subject curriculums are well sequenced so staff know the order in which pupils should learn important knowledge.

Strengths

• Caring, nurturing relationships transform pupils' previous negative views of education and help them feel safe and confident.
• The curriculum is well organised and personalised to meet pupils' SEND needs.
• Reading is a priority, with effective phonics teaching and well-considered interventions.
• Behaviour expectations are modelled consistently, creating a purposeful and harmonious atmosphere.
• Pupils are supported very well to manage their social, emotional and mental health needs.
• The personal development programme is exceptional and central to pupils' character development.
• PSHE is extremely well designed and responsive to local and national issues.
• Pupils develop strong cultural knowledge through creative arts and outdoor learning.
• The careers programme is superb and well tailored to pupils' SEND needs and aspirations.
• Leaders and governors provide strong support and challenge, and staff value the support for workload and well-being.
• The school works effectively to remove barriers and improve pupils' attendance.

Areas for Improvement

• In a few subjects, the sequence of key knowledge is not clearly structured, so pupils do not learn as well as they could.
• The school must ensure all subject curriculums are well sequenced so staff know the order in which pupils should learn important knowledge.

In 2024–25 pupils at Lime Hills Academy attended 78.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 54.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

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, 60.0% of pupils at Lime Hills Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). 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 Lime Hills Academy had 5.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 46.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

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 Lime Hills Academy had 57 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: social, emotional and mental health.

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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Lime Hills Academy received £40,277 and spent £38,213 for each of its 55 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £32,000 (£584 per pupil).

Across all 33 schools of Cabot Learning Federation, income was £8,647 and spending £8,763 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 North Somerset · North Somerset local authority: places and applications

Lime Hills Academy is part of Cabot Learning Federation, which runs 34 schools. The nearest others:

• Evergreen Primary Academy Bristol
• Herons' Moor Academy Weston-Super-Mare
• The City Academy Bristol Bristol
• Woodlands Academy Bristol
• Wicklea Academy Bristol
• Waycroft Academy Bristol
• Winterstoke Hundred Academy Weston-Super-Mare
• Summerhill Academy Bristol
• Wallscourt Farm Academy Bristol
• Airfield Primary Academy Weston-Super-Mare

What is Lime Hills Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Lime Hills Academy is Good, from an inspection in July 2025.

When was Lime Hills Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Lime Hills Academy was last inspected in July 2025.

How many pupils does Lime Hills Academy have?

Lime Hills Academy has 57 pupils on roll.

What age range does Lime Hills Academy cover?

Lime Hills Academy for pupils aged 5 to 16.

Where is Lime Hills Academy?

Lime Hills Academy is at Pound Lane, Nailsea, BS48 2NN.