Downsell Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £3k 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). Waltham Forest · 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 | £3.8m | £3.7m | +£37k | £88k | 565 |
2019-20 | £4.0m | £3.9m | +£67k | £156k | 550 |
2020-21 | £3.9m | £3.9m | -£19k | £137k | 478 |
2021-22 | £3.5m | £4.0m | -£467k | -£330k | 440 |
2022-23 | £3.5m | £3.6m | -£46k | -£377k | 410 |
2023-24 | £3.6m | £3.5m | +£57k | -£319k | 402 |
2024-25 | £3.9m | £3.6m | +£287k | -£32k | 406 |
2025-26 | £4.2m | £4.2m | +£35k | £3k | 400 |
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 20% of them. It spends £10,470 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,309.
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 | £3,565 | £3,698 | £3,327–£4,242 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,339 | £1,501 | £1,105–£1,789 |
Supply staff | £254 | £208 | £101–£502 |
Admin and clerical | £655 | £361 | £283–£427 |
Premises | £1,941 | £447 | £354–£588 |
Energy | £0 | £108 | £93–£125 |
Learning resources & ICT | £328 | £248 | £177–£317 |
Bought-in services | £183 | £303 | £186–£654 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- London Fields Primary School Tight
- Summerside Primary Academy Tight
- Gorringe Park Primary School Large reserves
- John Keble CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Parsloes Primary School In deficit
- St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- De Bohun Primary School Healthy
- Fairholme Primary School In deficit
- St Edward's Catholic Primary School Healthy
- West Grove Primary Healthy
- Heathfield Academy Healthy
- Anson Primary School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.1m | £10,310 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £621k | £1,553 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £181k | £454 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £99k | £247 |
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 29% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on premises is £1,941 a pupil, against a typical £447 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £655 a pupil, against a typical £361 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,339 a pupil, against a typical £1,501 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 Downsell Primary School · All Waltham Forest school finances