Harbinger Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £194k, 6% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 2 years running.
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 | £2.5m | £2.5m | -£58k | £206k | 320 |
2019-20 | £2.5m | £2.6m | -£96k | £110k | 300 |
2020-21 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£33k | £77k | 306 |
2021-22 | £2.6m | £2.7m | -£99k | -£22k | 300 |
2022-23 | £2.6m | £2.6m | -£18k | -£40k | 317 |
2023-24 | £2.9m | £2.8m | +£107k | £67k | 264 |
2024-25 | £2.8m | £3.0m | -£171k | -£104k | 276 |
2025-26 | £3.0m | £3.1m | -£91k | -£194k | 288 |
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 3% of them. It spends £10,908 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £10,218.
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 | £3,792 | £4,288 | £3,831–£4,883 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,293 | £1,869 | £1,368–£2,243 |
Supply staff | £1,436 | £284 | £93–£658 |
Admin and clerical | £531 | £496 | £369–£546 |
Premises | £980 | £587 | £530–£712 |
Energy | £119 | £143 | £109–£187 |
Learning resources & ICT | £398 | £281 | £204–£353 |
Bought-in services | £270 | £439 | £306–£564 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Wormholt Park Primary School Healthy
- English Martyrs' Roman Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Carpenters Primary School In deficit
- Claremont Primary School Healthy
- Rosary Catholic Primary School Heading for deficit
- Linton Mead Primary School Tight
- Avondale Park Primary School Healthy
- Launcelot Primary School and Nursery Large reserves
- Horn Park Primary School Large reserves
- Carterhatch Infant School Healthy
- Winterbourne Junior Girls' School Large reserves
- Laurel Lane Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.0m | £10,415 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £489k | £1,702 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £181k | £628 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £51k | £176 |
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 10% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £1,436 a pupil, against a typical £284 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £980 a pupil, against a typical £587 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £398 a pupil, against a typical £281 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 Harbinger Primary School · All Tower Hamlets school finances