Pikes Lane Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £354k in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Bolton · 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 | -£736 | £173k | 460 |
2019-20 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£4k | £169k | 459 |
2020-21 | £2.5m | £2.5m | +£92k | £261k | 474 |
2021-22 | £2.7m | £2.7m | -£34k | £227k | 476 |
2022-23 | £2.9m | £3.0m | -£92k | £135k | 475 |
2023-24 | £3.3m | £3.0m | +£265k | £401k | 484 |
2024-25 | £3.5m | £3.3m | +£138k | £538k | 485 |
2025-26 | £3.7m | £3.9m | -£184k | £354k | 476 |
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 63% of them. It spends £8,146 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,695.
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 | £3,011 | £3,053 | £2,793–£3,397 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,304 | £1,640 | £1,302–£1,903 |
Supply staff | £548 | £63 | £3–£236 |
Admin and clerical | £330 | £292 | £211–£332 |
Premises | £424 | £394 | £317–£500 |
Energy | £100 | £88 | £52–£115 |
Learning resources & ICT | £436 | £248 | £199–£328 |
Bought-in services | £288 | £115 | £74–£246 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Eaton Park Academy Large reserves
- The Bewbush Academy Healthy
- Hargate Primary School Healthy
- Westlands Primary School Healthy
- Park Lane Primary School Large reserves
- Perry Hall Primary School Healthy
- Whitley Park Primary and Nursery School In deficit
- New Ford Academy Healthy
- Burnley Brow Community School In deficit
- Broadfield Primary Academy Healthy
- Hillcrest Academy Large reserves
- Queen Victoria Primary School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.6m | £7,540 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £176k | £370 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £269k | £566 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £104k | £219 |
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?
- Spending on supply staff is £548 a pupil, against a typical £63 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £288 a pupil, against a typical £115 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £436 a pupil, against a typical £248 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,304 a pupil, against a typical £1,640 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 Pikes Lane Primary School · All Bolton school finances