Lime Academy Abbotsmede, Peterborough

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Lime Academy Abbotsmede on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), progress well from their various starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders make school a welcoming place where pupils want to attend."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a clear and well-planned curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in early years are happy and eager to learn."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff know the local community well and understand the challenges families face."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the context of the school community."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a coherent programme that promotes pupils' personal development effectively."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to improve pupils' attendance and punctuality so that all pupils have high attendance, building on existing successes"; "Leaders should ensure that assessment is informing teaching, so it consistently develops pupils' writing and reading competencies across subjects to build effectively on what pupils already know and can do"; "Leaders should ensure that staff in early years maximise the opportunities to engage children in high-quality interactions throughout the day, proactively seeking out those who would benefit the most"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils' wider experiences are tracked routinely, ensuring that opportunities are carefully tailored to the school's context so that these are fully accessible to all pupils".

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a real privilege to welcome you to Lime Academy Abbotsmede and to share with you what makes our school such a special place to learn and grow. At Abbotsmede, every child is known, valued and encouraged to thrive."

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026 and an open day on Friday 4 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils at Lime Academy Abbotsmede reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Peterborough and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 56% in reading and 61% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 28 families put Lime Academy Abbotsmede as their first choice and 67 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Lime Academy Abbotsmede are St Thomas More Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 57% reading, 48% maths); Queen's Drive Infant School (0.6 miles, Requires improvement); Bishop Creighton Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 79% reading, 76% maths); and The Beeches Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 72% reading, 78% maths).

Lime Academy Abbotsmede's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Lime Academy Abbotsmede is one of 9 schools run by Lime Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 66% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

38.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 82.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (30%), Mixed (13%) and White British (12%).

Lime Academy Abbotsmede had 27 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Peterborough Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Durham Road (adjacent), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Lime Academy Abbotsmede stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 788 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Peterborough (275), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Lime Academy Abbotsmede issued 11 suspensions, 2.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Lime Academy Abbotsmede are St John Fisher Catholic High School (0.3 miles), City of Peterborough Academy (0.4 miles), The King's (The Cathedral) School (0.4 miles) and Greater Peterborough UTC (0.4 miles).