Carlton Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £120k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Leeds · 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 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£11k | £120k | 337 |
2019-20 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£69k | £52k | 335 |
2020-21 | £1.7m | £1.5m | +£136k | £187k | 324 |
2021-22 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£39k | £227k | 332 |
2022-23 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£79k | £306k | 333 |
2023-24 | £2.0m | £2.0m | +£35k | £341k | 327 |
2024-25 | £2.1m | £2.2m | -£81k | £260k | 308 |
2025-26 | £2.2m | £2.3m | -£140k | £120k | 317 |
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 40% of them. It spends £7,386 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,308.
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 | £3,072 | £3,008 | £2,920–£3,174 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,543 | £1,202 | £1,015–£1,509 |
Supply staff | £273 | £92 | £53–£142 |
Admin and clerical | £182 | £252 | £206–£371 |
Premises | £448 | £323 | £249–£370 |
Energy | £132 | £89 | £72–£96 |
Learning resources & ICT | £293 | £251 | £168–£327 |
Bought-in services | £574 | £111 | £63–£167 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Blackmoor Park Infants' School Tight
- Highfield Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Caen Community Primary School Large reserves
- Mowden Junior School Large reserves
- The Batt Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary's Church of England Primary School Heading for deficit
- Hanham Abbots Junior School Healthy
- Guildhall Feoffment Community Primary School Large reserves
- Great Glen St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Field Court Church of England Infant Academy Large reserves
- Cottam Primary School Heading for deficit
- Aughton Town Green Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.9m | £5,932 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £80k | £253 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £59k | £185 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £320k | £1,011 |
Money raised by parents
CARLTON PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT, TEACHER AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION (charity 1109018, Registered) raised £2k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £2k | £2k |
2024-08 | £10k | £7k |
2023-08 | £9k | £11k |
2022-08 | £4k | £4k |
2021-08 | £10k | £10k |
Matched to this school by name and postcode from the Charity Commission register. Parent associations' money isn't in the school's accounts above.
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 bought-in services is £574 a pupil, against a typical £111 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £273 a pupil, against a typical £92 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £132 a pupil, against a typical £89 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £448 a pupil, against a typical £323 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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 Carlton Primary School · All Leeds school finances