Lime Tree Primary Academy, Sale
Lime Tree Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Sale, part of Bright Futures Educational Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 16 schools in Sale with published results, and 5,545th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Trafford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Lime Tree Primary Academy in detail
Lime Tree Primary Academy in its own words
In its own words: "I would like to warmly welcome you to our school family. I feel truly privileged to lead such an amazing and inspirational school. We are a school dedicated to learning and enjoyment. Our teachers enjoy delivering fun and challenging lessons. We celebrate the achievements of all our children."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £6.00 per day.
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 9.30am, an open day on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 9.30am and an open day on Thursday 3 December 2026 at 4pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Trafford
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Lime Tree Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 84% and 82% in Trafford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 81% in reading and 89% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Lime Tree Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 51 families put Lime Tree Primary Academy as their first choice and 125 named it as one of their preferences, for 51 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Lime Tree Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Lime Tree Primary Academy are Holy Family Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 93% reading, 80% maths); Worthington Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 82% reading, 79% maths); Templemoor Infant and Nursery School (0.4 miles, Good); and St Anne's CofE Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 91% reading, 66% maths).
Lime Tree Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Holy Family Catholic Primary SchoolWorthington Primary SchoolTemplemoor Infant and Nursery SchoolSt Anne's CofE Primary School
The trust
Lime Tree Primary Academy is one of 11 schools run by Bright Futures Educational Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 61% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
123 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Lime Tree Primary Academy (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 87% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (87%).
Who goes there
40.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (46%), Asian (18%) and Mixed (13%).
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Northern Moor (Manchester Metrolink), about 740 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Budworth Road (near), 240 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Lime Tree Primary Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Lime Tree Primary Academy issued 3 suspensions, 0.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Lime Tree Primary Academy are Sale High School (0.3 miles), Sale Grammar School (0.7 miles) and Dixons Brooklands Academy (1 mile).
Sale High SchoolSale Grammar SchoolDixons Brooklands Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Lime Tree Primary Academy excels at creating an inclusive, supportive community where children love to learn. The school prioritises reading, developing well-rounded pupils through trips, clubs, and enrichment activities in 'the avenue', while providing exceptional care for pupils' mental health and well-being. Pupils leave with strong social skills and a mature understanding of equality and diverse cultures.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional behaviour and attitudes from all pupils, with a strong school culture -
- Outstanding early years provision that prepares children exceptionally well for Year 1 -
- Reading is at the heart of the school with engaging spaces and high-quality texts that foster love of reading -
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND through close partnership work with parents and professionals -
- Outstanding personal development with strong focus on mental health, well-being, and preparing pupils for life in diverse modern Britain
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, checks on pupils' understanding do not focus clearly enough on the key knowledge needed to support future learning, causing gaps in some pupils' progress -
- A small number of pupils do not attend school as regularly as they should, though the school works closely with parents to address this
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Chess club, piano lessons, art activities, trips, reading ambassadors programme, well-being and eco ambassadors roles, cooking activities using school vegetables and eggs, singing performances, sporting activities, 'morning library' sessions with parents, breakfast and after-school clubs, tortoises and fish care, school dog interactions
Lime Tree Primary Academy is a welcoming community where pupils demonstrate exemplary behaviour and achieve well across a range of subjects. The school, previously judged outstanding before converting to academy status, maintains high expectations for both behaviour and achievement.
At a Glance
25.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
123 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 79% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 89% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.4
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
31.0
KS2
13
Total classes
5 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Lime Tree Primary Academy
Careers Fair
1 Jul 2026
School Streets Initiative
15 Jun 2026
Nursery Stay and Play
11 Feb 2026
Let’s Go Zero
22 Jan 2026
Lime Tree Students Became Anti-Bullying Agents in BBC Bitesize Live Lesson during Anti-Bullying Week 2025
14 Nov 2025
Music Mark of Recognition
3 Nov 2025
From Lime Tree Primary Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Lime Tree Primary Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Lime Tree Primary Academy.
- Brooklands/PSPAt the school · Not yet graded
- Alphabets Childrens Club410m away · Not yet graded
- School of Play @ Templemoor690m away · Not yet graded
- School of Play @ Button Lane910m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Lime Tree Primary Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Trafford's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lime Tree Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lime Tree Primary Academy is in Trafford; for families living there:
Apply to Trafford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 8 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 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 Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 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
Your chances of a place at Lime Tree Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Lime Tree Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Lime Tree Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Lime Tree Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Lime Tree Primary Academy.
- Trafford publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Lime Tree Primary Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Lime Tree Primary Academy for 2015 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Trafford got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
414 pupils
420 places
6 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Sale
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sale
Across Trafford council
Places available
2,990
Applications
2,238
Got 1st preference
94.5%
Got preferred school
99.6%
All primary applications across Trafford council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
92
SEN Support
27
EHC Plans
25.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
473
Total Pupils
243
Boys
230
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
26.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£41,216
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,386
Per pupil
£2511k
Total funding
£159k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.5%
Overall absence
4.3%
Persistent absence
368
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Lime Tree Primary Academy
Questions parents ask about Lime Tree Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Lime Tree Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Lime Tree Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Lime Tree Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Lime Tree Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Lime Tree Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Lime Tree Primary Academy is oversubscribed, Trafford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Lime Tree Primary Academy?
Lime Tree Primary Academy was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Lime Tree Primary Academy?
Classes at Lime Tree Primary Academy average 27.4 pupils (2025/26). 5 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Lime Tree Primary Academy?
Lime Tree Primary Academy has around 473 pupils on roll. 25% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Lime Tree Primary Academy?
3.5% of sessions were missed at Lime Tree Primary Academy in 2024/25. 4.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lime Tree Primary Academy?
Apply through Trafford's coordinated admissions process, naming Lime Tree Primary Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Lime Tree Primary Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Brooklands/PSP (registered, not yet graded). There are 3 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Lime Tree Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 8 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 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 Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lime Tree Primary Academy?
Lime Tree Primary Academy is at Budworth Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 2RP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)