Joseph Locke Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £50k reserve runs out in about 3 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Barnsley · 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 | £2.4m | £2.4m | +£16k | £126k | 445 |
2019-20 | £2.5m | £2.6m | -£56k | £70k | 425 |
2020-21 | £2.6m | £2.5m | +£141k | £211k | 406 |
2021-22 | £2.6m | £2.7m | -£66k | £145k | 400 |
2022-23 | £2.7m | £2.7m | -£40k | £105k | 406 |
2023-24 | £2.9m | £2.8m | +£19k | £124k | 446 |
2024-25 | £3.3m | £3.3m | -£20k | £104k | 436 |
2025-26 | £3.4m | £3.4m | -£55k | £50k | 436 |
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 13% of them. It spends £7,872 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,849.
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 | £3,215 | £3,156 | £2,951–£3,374 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,547 | £1,512 | £1,259–£1,733 |
Supply staff | £253 | £117 | £42–£267 |
Admin and clerical | £499 | £291 | £219–£344 |
Premises | £1,157 | £350 | £282–£417 |
Energy | £0 | £100 | £81–£117 |
Learning resources & ICT | £369 | £246 | £188–£329 |
Bought-in services | £65 | £128 | £95–£203 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Upton Primary School Tight
- The Ferns Primary Academy Large reserves
- Huntingdon Primary School Large reserves
- Sugar Hill Primary School Large reserves
- St John's Church School Healthy
- Waterloo Primary School Large reserves
- St Anne's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Kings Oak Primary Heading for deficit
- Colley Lane Primary Academy Healthy
- Calshot Primary School Healthy
- Gleadless Primary School Tight
- Burnt Tree Primary School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.2m | £7,409 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £64k | £147 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £217k | £498 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £147k | £337 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on premises is £1,157 a pupil, against a typical £350 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £499 a pupil, against a typical £291 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £369 a pupil, against a typical £246 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 Joseph Locke Primary School · All Barnsley school finances