Thomas Arnold Primary School, Rowdowns Road: school finances
Tight
Holds £104k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Barking and Dagenham · 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 | £2.8m | £2.9m | -£119k | -£122k | 411 |
2019-20 | £3.0m | £3.2m | -£189k | -£311k | 413 |
2020-21 | £3.2m | £3.0m | +£114k | -£197k | 402 |
2021-22 | £3.6m | £3.5m | +£66k | -£131k | 408 |
2022-23 | £3.6m | £3.5m | +£136k | £5k | 442 |
2023-24 | £3.8m | £3.8m | +£19k | £24k | 450 |
2024-25 | £4.1m | £4.2m | -£44k | -£20k | 439 |
2025-26 | £4.4m | £4.3m | +£125k | £104k | 442 |
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 30% of them. It spends £9,638 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,238.
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 | £4,977 | £3,539 | £3,363–£4,048 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,512 | £1,522 | £1,274–£1,860 |
Supply staff | £757 | £217 | £74–£532 |
Admin and clerical | £378 | £362 | £284–£430 |
Premises | £458 | £457 | £399–£551 |
Energy | £120 | £118 | £98–£149 |
Learning resources & ICT | £263 | £291 | £251–£376 |
Bought-in services | £195 | £294 | £144–£536 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Rainham Village Primary School Tight
- Whitings Hill Primary School Large reserves
- Bedonwell Junior School In deficit
- Coppice Primary School Healthy
- Millbrook Park Primary School Large reserves
- Harris Primary Academy Haling Park Healthy
- Mora Primary School Large reserves
- Parkfield Primary School Healthy
- Dulwich Wood Primary School Healthy
- Crane Park Primary School Healthy
- Harrow Lodge Primary School Large reserves
- Colville Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.3m | £9,748 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £701k | £1,585 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £206k | £466 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £76k | £172 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on supply staff is £757 a pupil, against a typical £217 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,977 a pupil, against a typical £3,539 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 Thomas Arnold Primary School, Rowdowns Road · All Barking and Dagenham school finances