Lime Academy Forest Approach, Romford
Lime Academy Forest Approach is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Romford, part of Lime Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2023.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Lime Academy Forest Approach in detail
Lime Academy Forest Approach in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Lime Academy Forest Approach is a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school based in the London Borough of Havering. Our pupils range from Year Reception to Sixth Form. We ensure that our pupils are given the right care and support, focused on their specific additional needs."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Lime Academy Forest Approach are Lime Academy Ravensbourne (1.4 miles, Good); Grove House School (2.9 miles, Good); The Bridge (3.1 miles, Good); and Endeavour Co-Operative Academy (3.5 miles, Good).
Lime Academy RavensbourneGrove House SchoolThe BridgeEndeavour Co-Operative Academy
The trust
Lime Academy Forest Approach is one of 9 schools run by Lime Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 13 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college.
Who goes there
57.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 15.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Lime Academy Forest Approach has an education, health and care plan (131 of 131 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Lime Academy Forest Approach has a resourced provision for autism and severe learning difficulties: 120 places, 132 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Harold Wood Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Settle Road, 260 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Lime Academy Forest Approach issued 2 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
At a Glance
57.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Autism, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Lime Academy Forest Approach
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lime Academy Forest Approach from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lime Academy Forest Approach is in Havering; for families living there:
Apply to Havering for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Havering is 23.5 (the median across 92 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
109%
Over capacity
131 pupils
120 places
11 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Romford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Romford
Across Havering council
Places available
3,440
Applications
3,279
Got 1st preference
74.7%
Got preferred school
95.9%
All secondary applications across Havering council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
131
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Lime Academy Forest Approach has a resourced provision for autism and severe learning difficulties: 120 places, 132 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
131
Total Pupils
100
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
6.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,489
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.6%
Overall absence
36.2%
Persistent absence
105
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Lime Academy Forest Approach
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Lime Academy Forest Approach
What are SATs results like at Lime Academy Forest Approach?
Of the pupils at Lime Academy Forest Approach who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Lime Academy Forest Approach's Ofsted rating?
Lime Academy Forest Approach was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2023.
What is the catchment area for Lime Academy Forest Approach?
No fixed boundary. When Lime Academy Forest Approach is oversubscribed, Havering allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Lime Academy Forest Approach?
Lime Academy Forest Approach has around 131 pupils on roll. 57% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Lime Academy Forest Approach have specialist SEN provision?
Lime Academy Forest Approach has a resourced provision for autism and severe learning difficulties: 120 places, 132 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Lime Academy Forest Approach?
11.6% of sessions were missed at Lime Academy Forest Approach in 2024/25. 36.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lime Academy Forest Approach?
Apply through Havering's coordinated admissions process, naming Lime Academy Forest Approach on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Lime Academy Forest Approach?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Havering is 23.5 (the median across 92 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lime Academy Forest Approach?
Lime Academy Forest Approach is at Settle Road, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex, RM3 9YA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)