Larkfield Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £157k in reserve, 9% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Sefton · 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 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£30k | £122k | 289 |
2019-20 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£38k | £160k | 281 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£33k | £193k | 277 |
2021-22 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£27k | £166k | 288 |
2022-23 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£55k | £111k | 280 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £1.7m | +£64k | £175k | 277 |
2024-25 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£65k | £240k | 261 |
2025-26 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£83k | £157k | 256 |
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 67% of them. It spends £7,217 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,714.
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 | £3,976 | £3,174 | £2,819–£3,580 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £883 | £1,559 | £1,136–£1,800 |
Supply staff | £75 | £73 | £19–£133 |
Admin and clerical | £208 | £305 | £256–£364 |
Premises | £416 | £357 | £323–£407 |
Energy | £130 | £96 | £78–£151 |
Learning resources & ICT | £363 | £265 | £200–£333 |
Bought-in services | £261 | £142 | £82–£187 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Mudeford Junior School Healthy
- Church Hill Church of England Junior School Large reserves
- Masefield Primary School Healthy
- Bordon Junior School Healthy
- Thornhill Lees Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant and Nursery School Healthy
- Crawley Green Infant School Large reserves
- Roydon Primary School Healthy
- Cheswick Green Primary School Tight
- Meadow Green Primary School In deficit
- Ashfield Junior School In deficit
- Long Row Primary School Heading for deficit
- Evelyn Community Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.7m | £6,527 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £146k | £569 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £55k | £216 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £94k | £367 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 11% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £261 a pupil, against a typical £142 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £3,976 a pupil, against a typical £3,174 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 Larkfield Primary School · All Sefton school finances