Swalwell Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £34k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
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 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£1k | £97k | 158 |
2019-20 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£23k | £120k | 151 |
2020-21 | £1.0m | £1.0m | -£784 | £119k | 146 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£2k | £117k | 122 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£4k | £121k | 126 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£44k | £77k | 145 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£39k | £116k | 141 |
2025-26 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£81k | £34k | 136 |
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 20% of them. It spends £11,792 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,765.
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 | £4,891 | £3,966 | £3,753–£4,430 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £3,174 | £1,791 | £1,369–£2,130 |
Supply staff | £319 | £230 | £66–£522 |
Admin and clerical | £655 | £492 | £316–£543 |
Premises | £572 | £557 | £392–£613 |
Energy | £197 | £158 | £138–£211 |
Learning resources & ICT | £464 | £360 | £194–£516 |
Bought-in services | £450 | £276 | £130–£399 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Minerva Primary School Healthy
- Chapel St Leonards Primary School Large reserves
- Ormskirk West End School Large reserves
- Whaley Thorns Primary School In deficit
- St Hild's College Church of England Primary School, Durham Large reserves
- Queen Margaret Primary Academy Healthy
- Westminster Community Primary School Healthy
- Oswaldtwistle St Paul's Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Ivingswood Academy Large reserves
- Mendell Primary School In deficit
- E-ACT the Kingfisher School Large reserves
- Derby St Chad's CofE Nursery and Infant School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.5m | £10,752 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £142k | £1,038 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £114k | £833 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £61k | £446 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 13% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £3,174 a pupil, against a typical £1,791 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £450 a pupil, against a typical £276 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £655 a pupil, against a typical £492 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,891 a pupil, against a typical £3,966 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 Swalwell Primary School · All Gateshead school finances