Dunston Hill Community Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £28k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Gateshead · 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 | £2.2m | £2.1m | +£74k | £85k | 417 |
2019-20 | £2.2m | £2.2m | -£15k | £70k | 414 |
2020-21 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£88k | £158k | 408 |
2021-22 | £2.3m | £2.3m | +£16k | £174k | 408 |
2022-23 | £2.4m | £2.5m | -£86k | £88k | 392 |
2023-24 | £2.5m | £2.5m | -£1k | £86k | 368 |
2024-25 | £2.5m | £2.6m | -£19k | £67k | 349 |
2025-26 | £2.6m | £2.6m | -£40k | £28k | 342 |
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 £7,622 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,020.
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 | £3,559 | £3,294 | £3,110–£3,498 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,295 | £1,399 | £1,189–£1,731 |
Supply staff | £21 | £117 | £52–£187 |
Admin and clerical | £255 | £317 | £256–£410 |
Premises | £1,089 | £361 | £305–£435 |
Energy | £134 | £92 | £66–£116 |
Learning resources & ICT | £226 | £278 | £236–£372 |
Bought-in services | £168 | £149 | £89–£217 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Barnes Junior School Large reserves
- Mount Pleasant Primary School Healthy
- St Andrew's Benn CofE (Voluntary Aided) Primary School Large reserves
- Chawson First School In deficit
- Wroughton Junior School Large reserves
- St Wilfrid's CofE Aided Primary School Northenden Large reserves
- Clarendon Road Community Primary School Healthy
- Alvaston Infant and Nursery School Large reserves
- Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery In deficit
- All Saints Church of England Junior Academy Tight
- Shotton Hall Primary School Large reserves
- Two Moors Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.5m | £7,314 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £57k | £167 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £149k | £437 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £66k | £193 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 18% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on premises is £1,089 a pupil, against a typical £361 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £134 a pupil, against a typical £92 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 Dunston Hill Community Primary School · All Gateshead school finances