Elm Wood School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £150k, 5% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lambeth · Primary · Community school.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £2.7m | £2.7m | +£18k | -£44k | 419 |
2019-20 | £2.9m | £2.9m | -£8k | -£52k | 420 |
2020-21 | £2.9m | £2.9m | -£32k | -£84k | 412 |
2021-22 | £2.9m | £3.0m | -£87k | -£145k | 391 |
2022-23 | £2.9m | £3.0m | -£59k | -£204k | 390 |
2023-24 | £3.1m | £3.0m | +£98k | -£106k | 392 |
2024-25 | £3.3m | £3.4m | -£122k | -£228k | 366 |
2025-26 | £3.3m | £3.2m | +£78k | -£150k | 362 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 primary schools in London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 10% of them. It spends £8,919 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,231.
This school Middle half of similar schools Similar schools’ median
Show the comparison as a table
| Spending per pupil | This school | Similar schools (median) | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
Teachers | £3,847 | £3,668 | £3,262–£4,186 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,824 | £1,443 | £1,266–£1,634 |
Supply staff | £58 | £207 | £78–£401 |
Admin and clerical | £411 | £396 | £310–£464 |
Premises | £423 | £451 | £382–£549 |
Energy | £95 | £129 | £90–£166 |
Learning resources & ICT | £213 | £279 | £201–£346 |
Bought-in services | £693 | £298 | £150–£512 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Marsh Green Primary School Heading for deficit
- Tudor Primary School Large reserves
- Aldborough Primary School Large reserves
- Godwin Junior School Heading for deficit
- Elmwood Infant School Tight
- Montbelle Primary School Healthy
- Holbeach Primary School Healthy
- St Peter's Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Weald Rise Primary School Large reserves
- Strand-on-the-Green Junior School In deficit
- SS Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Drapers' Maylands Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.2m | £8,779 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £170k | £470 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £168k | £464 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £129k | £355 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 13% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £693 a pupil, against a typical £298 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,824 a pupil, against a typical £1,443 for similar schools. What's behind that?
Check these figures
Every figure here comes from the school's published return to the DfE. Check it on the DfE benchmarking page for this school, and see how the status is worked out.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for Elm Wood School · All Lambeth school finances