The Limes School, Preston
The Limes School is a special school for boys aged 11 to 18 in Preston. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2023. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2026 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
The Limes School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Limes School are Stansfield House (1 mile); Samuel Laycock School (1.1 miles); New Bridge School (1.9 miles, Outstanding); and Works 4 U Support Services (Norman Mackie & Associates Ltd) (1.9 miles).
Stansfield HouseSamuel Laycock SchoolNew Bridge SchoolWorks 4 U Support Services (Norman Mackie & Associates Ltd)
Who goes there
In 2026, 0 pupils (0%) received SEN support and 3 (75%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Ashton West (Manchester Metrolink), about 660 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Taunton Lawns (near), 80 metres away.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Limes School demonstrates strong leadership committed to supporting pupils with complex needs. The school maintains high standards across both premises with well-designed facilities that support pupils' wellbeing and emotional regulation. Staff are carefully recruited for their expertise and knowledge of special educational needs, ensuring pupils are supervised safely while their independence is promoted.
Key Strengths
- Strong leadership with knowledge and expertise to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities
- Comprehensive safeguarding policies and systems with ongoing staff training
- Well-maintained premises at both sites designed with pupils' needs in mind, including spaces for emotional regulation
- Rigorous recruitment checks and single central record management
- Detailed individual risk assessments for all pupils that are regularly reviewed
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - the school has suitable policies reflecting statutory guidance, all staff receive ongoing training, and leaders have carefully considered how safeguarding systems will operate across both sites with increased pupil numbers.
The Limes School is an independent special school for boys aged 11-18 that has applied to expand to a second premises and increase pupil numbers. This inspection assessed the school's likely compliance with independent school standards following this material change request.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Limes School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 20
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 16 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 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 Tameside is 12 (the median across 111 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
22%
Available places
4 pupils
18 places
14 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Preston
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Preston
Across Tameside council
Places available
3,293
Applications
2,719
Got 1st preference
86.7%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Tameside council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
75.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Limes School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
4
Total Pupils
4
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Limes School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Limes School
What is The Limes School's Ofsted rating?
The Limes School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2023, it was rated Good.
Does The Limes School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in July 2023, The Limes School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to The Limes School?
The Limes School has around 4 pupils on roll.
Does The Limes School have specialist SEN provision?
The Limes School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to The Limes School?
The Limes School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near The Limes School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 16 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 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 Tameside is 12 (the median across 111 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Limes School?
The Limes School is at 73A Taunton Road, Ashton under Lyne, Preston, Lancashire, OL7 9DU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)