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The Limes Primary Academy

The Limes Primary Academy

East Suffolk, NR32 3BQPrimary School·Ages 2-11
Goodby Ofsted

87%

Capacity

367

Pupils

1.9x

Demand

About The Limes Primary Academy

The Limes Primary Academy in East Suffolk is a state primary that, on paper, looks fairly typical for the area, but a closer look at the numbers reveals a school that is quietly punching above its weight. The local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment in Suffolk is 58, and while The Limes doesn't publish its own KS2 scores in this data, its overall Ofsted rating of Good places it in the majority of Suffolk primaries. What stands out more sharply is the school's popularity with local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, it received 72 applications for just 39 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.85. That is a clear signal that parents in the area see something worth fighting for. The school also made offers to all 37 first-preference applicants, meaning that if you put it top of your list, you had a strong chance of getting in, but the overall demand still outstripped supply.

Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2023 awarded a Good rating across every single category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. The inspectors gave each area a score of 2, which is the standard Good grade, and there were no weaker pockets. This consistency is reassuring for parents who want a solid, reliable primary experience. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged cohort, with 30.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average. Despite this, the school has maintained a Good rating across the board, which suggests that its teaching and support systems are effectively closing gaps. The absence of a previous inspection rating in the data means we cannot track improvement over time, but the current picture is one of steady, competent delivery across all year groups from age 2 to 11.

The Limes offers a practical, well-resourced environment for families. Its facilities include a sensory room, art studios, a library, and outdoor playing fields, and the sports programme covers everything from swimming and netball to dance and cricket. There is also a strong set of clubs, including coding, choir, and eco club, which give children plenty of ways to develop interests beyond the classroom. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists provisions for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language challenges, and autistic spectrum disorder. This breadth of SEND support is a real asset for a primary of this size. The school also has a nursery, making it a convenient all-through option from age 2. Given its oversubscription, it is a school that suits families who are organised enough to apply early and who value a well-run, inclusive local primary with strong pastoral and extracurricular offerings.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressLime Avenue, Lowestoft, East Suffolk, NR32 3BQ
HeadteacherCharlotte Thompson
Local AuthoritySuffolk
Number of Pupils367
Free School Meals (FSM)30.2%
School Capacity367 / 420 (87% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

22 Feb 2023
View Report

Overall Effectiveness

Good

Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Additional Provisions

Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 26 Apr 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Facilities

5
Outdoor PlaygroundPlaying FieldsLibrarySensory RoomArt Studios

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

RoundersAthleticsNetballSwimmingCricketFootballDance

Clubs & Activities

DramaArt ClubCodingChoirEco Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

Admissions

2025/26Oversubscribed
Places

39

Applications

72

Good Demand

Popular school with more applications than places

Applications to places ratio1.8x
0x1x2x3x5x+

37 families put this school as their 1st choice (51% of all applications)

Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Source: thelimesacademy.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

Class profile

2024/25
Pupils per teacherBelow average
20.7pupils per qualified teacher

Half of schools in England do better than this.

Average class sizeTop 25% of schools
22.3pupils per class

Better than 75% 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

2024/25
Free school meals30.2%

Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.

English as additional language7.6%

Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.

Ethnic background

  • White British88.6%
  • Mixed5.2%
  • White (other)2.5%
  • Asian2.2%

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

2024/25
Overall attendanceAbove average
94.8%

Better than half of schools in England.

Persistent absenteesAbove average
11.6%

Better than half of schools in England.

Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.

Fixed-period suspensionsBottom 25% of schools
6.4 per 100

75% of schools in England do better than this.

A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.

Permanent exclusionsLike most schools
None

Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.

Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.

Catchment & Local Competition

Loading map...
1 mile reference · no real data

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.

3

Total schools

3

Oversubscribed

3

Primary

Medium competition area

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 The Limes Primary Academy

The Limes Primary Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.

Contact Information

01502449200thelimesacademy.org/

Lime Avenue, Lowestoft

East Suffolk, NR32 3BQ

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Lime Avenue, Lowestoft

East Suffolk, NR32 3BQ

Journey to School

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Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.

Opening Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

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