Lift Lea Forest

About Lift Lea Forest

Lift Lea Forest is a state primary school in Birmingham that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local reputation. With 551 pupils on roll against a capacity of 490, the school is operating above its official limit. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 70.1%, which is notably high compared with the national average for primary schools. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 257 applications for just 60 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.28. Of those, 110 were first-preference applications, and 57 first-preference offers were made. This level of demand places it among the most sought-after primaries in Birmingham. The school is non-denominational, with no religious character, and is led by headteacher Lynsey Hedley. It also offers nursery provision for children from age three.

Academically, Lift Lea Forest performs exceptionally well. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2022, the school was rated Outstanding across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a significant improvement from its previous Good rating in 2016. At Key Stage 2, 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 63%. The school ranks 2nd out of 254 primary schools in Birmingham on this metric, placing it in the top 1% nationally. In reading, 100% of pupils reached the expected standard and 84% achieved a higher score. In maths, 99% met the expected standard and 67% achieved a higher score. Average scaled scores were 114 in reading and 112 in maths. The school also ranks 3rd in the local authority overall, behind Little Sutton Primary and Cromwell Junior and Infant School.

The school offers a broad range of facilities, including art studios, a library, a forest school, music rooms, a gymnasium and a chapel. Sports on offer include rounders, athletics, swimming, cross country and dance, while clubs cover drama, coding, science and book club. Lift Lea Forest has a well-developed SEND provision, supporting pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, visual impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its high demand and strong academic outcomes, this school is best suited to families who can secure a place through proximity or a first-preference application. The nearest other Outstanding-rated primary is The Shirestone Academy, 1.3 km away. Parents should be aware that oversubscription is intense, and admission is far from guaranteed.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Lift Lea Forest

Helpful Guides for Parents