Links Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £4k 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). Merton · 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 | £2.3m | £2.3m | +£8k | £121k | 400 |
2019-20 | £2.2m | £2.3m | -£99k | £23k | 388 |
2020-21 | £2.5m | £2.5m | -£7k | £16k | 386 |
2021-22 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£13k | £3k | 356 |
2022-23 | £2.5m | £2.5m | +£39k | £41k | 348 |
2023-24 | £2.6m | £2.6m | -£33k | £8k | 342 |
2024-25 | £2.8m | £2.8m | +£13k | £20k | 311 |
2025-26 | £2.8m | £2.8m | -£16k | £4k | 274 |
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 £10,148 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,971.
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 | £4,047 | £4,339 | £3,803–£4,690 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,157 | £1,886 | £1,497–£2,518 |
Supply staff | £1,095 | £448 | £129–£594 |
Admin and clerical | £571 | £551 | £393–£663 |
Premises | £527 | £635 | £525–£714 |
Energy | £97 | £146 | £123–£196 |
Learning resources & ICT | £111 | £334 | £236–£395 |
Bought-in services | £901 | £429 | £138–£773 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Forster Park Primary School In deficit
- Drayton Park Primary School In deficit
- Green Wrythe Primary School Healthy
- Hermitage Primary School Large reserves
- Harris Primary Academy Orpington In deficit
- Deansbrook Junior School Large reserves
- Paxton Academy Sports And Science Large reserves
- Ranelagh Primary School Healthy
- Salisbury Manor Primary School Large reserves
- William Morris Primary School Tight
- St Mary's CofE Primary School In deficit
- Our Lady and St George's Catholic Primary School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.6m | £9,629 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £150k | £548 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £177k | £647 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £126k | £461 |
Money raised by parents
LINKS PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATION (charity 286133, Registered) raised £11k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-03 | £11k | £34k |
2024-03 | £22k | £5k |
2023-03 | £14k | £3k |
2022-03 | £500 | £0 |
2021-03 | £594 | £0 |
Matched to this school by name and postcode from the Charity Commission register. Parent associations' money isn't in the school's accounts above.
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 32% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £1,095 a pupil, against a typical £448 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £901 a pupil, against a typical £429 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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 Links Primary School · All Merton school finances