Pilgrims' Way Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £376k in reserve, 14% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Southwark · 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 | £2.2m | £2.2m | +£509 | £218k | 227 |
2019-20 | £2.2m | £2.3m | -£49k | £169k | 220 |
2020-21 | £2.2m | £2.1m | +£81k | £250k | 206 |
2021-22 | £2.1m | £2.2m | -£28k | £222k | 202 |
2022-23 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£18k | £205k | 202 |
2023-24 | £2.4m | £2.3m | +£72k | £276k | 203 |
2024-25 | £2.6m | £2.5m | +£78k | £354k | 190 |
2025-26 | £2.7m | £2.7m | +£22k | £376k | 165 |
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 83% of them. It spends £16,168 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £10,919.
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 | £5,014 | £4,593 | £3,914–£5,040 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,832 | £1,861 | £1,367–£2,512 |
Supply staff | £124 | £514 | £199–£1,004 |
Admin and clerical | £597 | £636 | £503–£841 |
Premises | £436 | £738 | £577–£879 |
Energy | £169 | £181 | £107–£280 |
Learning resources & ICT | £450 | £391 | £258–£435 |
Bought-in services | £694 | £621 | £266–£1,538 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- All Saints CofE Primary School Healthy
- Ark Bentworth Primary Academy In deficit
- St Mary's CofE Primary School Healthy
- St Luke's Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Christ Church Church of England Primary School Tight
- Westbridge Academy Healthy
- Flora Gardens Primary School In deficit
- Suffolks Primary School In deficit
- St James' CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Wallington Primary Academy Healthy
- Gainsborough Primary School Healthy
- Henry Fawcett Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.6m | £16,022 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £83k | £501 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £157k | £952 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £46k | £280 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 27% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,832 a pupil, against a typical £1,861 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.
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