St. Mary's Blackbrook Catholic Primary School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £182k in reserve, 7% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). St. Helens · Primary · Voluntary aided 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 | £1.9m | £1.9m | +£40k | £104k | 439 |
2019-20 | £2.1m | £2.0m | +£33k | £137k | 432 |
2020-21 | £2.2m | £2.1m | +£57k | £194k | 424 |
2021-22 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£57k | £137k | 416 |
2022-23 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£43k | £94k | 411 |
2023-24 | £2.5m | £2.6m | -£78k | £16k | 402 |
2024-25 | £2.6m | £2.5m | +£111k | £128k | 389 |
2025-26 | £2.7m | £2.6m | +£54k | £182k | 374 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 primary schools outside London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 50% of them. It spends £7,020 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,851.
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 | £3,573 | £3,337 | £3,037–£3,623 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,552 | £1,331 | £1,102–£1,576 |
Supply staff | £50 | £158 | £109–£240 |
Admin and clerical | £223 | £298 | £215–£338 |
Premises | £359 | £347 | £265–£435 |
Energy | £77 | £97 | £83–£118 |
Learning resources & ICT | £352 | £275 | £194–£316 |
Bought-in services | £268 | £119 | £80–£177 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Bedford Road Primary Academy Healthy
- St Paulinus Catholic Primary Academy Healthy
- Comberton Primary School Healthy
- Swallowdale Primary School and Community Centre Large reserves
- The Weatheralls Primary School In deficit
- John Clifford Primary School In deficit
- St Edward's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Hill Top Academy Tight
- Harlow Green Community Primary School Large reserves
- Redlands Primary and Nursery School Large reserves
- St Matthew's Catholic Primary School Tight
- Milford Junior School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.6m | £7,049 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £93k | £248 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £209k | £560 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £47k | £125 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Pupil numbers have fallen 15% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £268 a pupil, against a typical £119 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £352 a pupil, against a typical £275 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 St. Mary's Blackbrook Catholic Primary School · All St. Helens school finances