Maulden Lower School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £82k, 8% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 2 years running.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Central Bedfordshire · 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 | £750k | £766k | -£17k | £64k | 158 |
2019-20 | £762k | £801k | -£39k | £25k | 148 |
2020-21 | £763k | £772k | -£9k | £16k | 144 |
2021-22 | £817k | £833k | -£16k | £239 | 148 |
2022-23 | £870k | £862k | +£8k | £8k | 152 |
2023-24 | £932k | £930k | +£2k | £10k | 142 |
2024-25 | £1.0m | £1.0m | -£10k | £520 | 148 |
2025-26 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£83k | -£82k | 156 |
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 10% of them. It spends £7,344 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,248.
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 | £2,725 | £3,443 | £2,868–£3,682 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,300 | £1,288 | £1,102–£1,482 |
Supply staff | £18 | £112 | £41–£146 |
Admin and clerical | £482 | £318 | £219–£398 |
Premises | £388 | £336 | £266–£450 |
Energy | £113 | £119 | £88–£146 |
Learning resources & ICT | £237 | £295 | £220–£408 |
Bought-in services | £94 | £196 | £113–£258 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- South Wootton Infant School Healthy
- The Prince of Wales School In deficit
- Askrigg Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- Sutton Bonington Primary School In deficit
- Gresham Village School and Nursery In deficit
- St Joseph and St Teresa Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Lugwardine Primary Academy Large reserves
- Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge CofE Primary Academy Tight
- Bradfield C.E. Primary School Tight
- St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster Healthy
- Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Nettlebed Community School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £974k | £6,267 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £42k | £268 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £24k | £155 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £85k | £546 |
Money raised by parents
MAULDEN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (charity 1036118, Registered) raised £8k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £8k | £10k |
2024-08 | £8k | £5k |
2023-08 | £10k | £9k |
2022-08 | £7k | £10k |
2021-08 | £7k | £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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,300 a pupil, against a typical £1,288 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £482 a pupil, against a typical £318 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 Maulden Lower School · All Central Bedfordshire school finances