Old Palace Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £530k in reserve, 14% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Tower Hamlets · 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 | £2.9m | £3.0m | -£60k | £369k | 409 |
2019-20 | £3.0m | £3.0m | -£39k | £330k | 418 |
2020-21 | £2.9m | £2.8m | +£98k | £428k | 413 |
2021-22 | £3.1m | £3.1m | +£25k | £453k | 412 |
2022-23 | £3.3m | £3.3m | +£58k | £511k | 407 |
2023-24 | £3.4m | £3.3m | +£57k | £568k | 399 |
2024-25 | £3.6m | £3.6m | -£4k | £563k | 394 |
2025-26 | £3.7m | £3.7m | -£33k | £530k | 386 |
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 90% of them. It spends £9,607 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,139.
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 | £4,582 | £3,682 | £3,291–£4,062 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,529 | £1,529 | £1,119–£1,722 |
Supply staff | £390 | £222 | £72–£419 |
Admin and clerical | £396 | £387 | £317–£444 |
Premises | £785 | £445 | £385–£548 |
Energy | £125 | £112 | £88–£152 |
Learning resources & ICT | £291 | £250 | £184–£336 |
Bought-in services | £507 | £298 | £172–£647 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Heston Primary School Large reserves
- Woodcroft Primary School In deficit
- Holbeach Primary School Healthy
- St Peter's Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Christ Church CofE Primary School (Purley) In deficit
- Dollis Primary School In deficit
- Elmwood Infant School Tight
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Norbury Manor Primary School Tight
- Harris Primary Academy Kent House Healthy
- Tudor Primary School Large reserves
- Al-Noor Voluntary Aided Muslim Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.6m | £9,273 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £276k | £715 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £180k | £466 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £96k | £248 |
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?
- Spending on premises is £785 a pupil, against a typical £445 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,582 a pupil, against a typical £3,682 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 Old Palace Primary School · All Tower Hamlets school finances