Silsoe CofE VC Lower 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). Central Bedfordshire · Primary · Voluntary controlled 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 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£11k | £54k | 230 |
2019-20 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£47k | £101k | 260 |
2020-21 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£71k | £171k | 269 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£21k | £150k | 279 |
2022-23 | £1.7m | £1.8m | -£78k | £72k | 269 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£24k | £48k | 283 |
2024-25 | £2.0m | £2.0m | +£32k | £80k | 278 |
2025-26 | £1.9m | £2.0m | -£46k | £34k | 251 |
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 27% of them. It spends £7,884 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,248.
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 | £3,549 | £3,057 | £2,824–£3,244 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,727 | £1,267 | £1,053–£1,540 |
Supply staff | £231 | £116 | £49–£176 |
Admin and clerical | £424 | £332 | £276–£409 |
Premises | £281 | £342 | £288–£421 |
Energy | £142 | £96 | £76–£115 |
Learning resources & ICT | £504 | £260 | £210–£355 |
Bought-in services | £54 | £165 | £93–£236 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Maidenbower Infant School and Nursery In deficit
- Excalibur Primary School Healthy
- Warren Mead Junior School Large reserves
- Chaddesley Corbett Endowed Primary School Healthy
- The Rissington School Large reserves
- Horndon-On-the-Hill CofE Primary School In deficit
- Auckley Primary Academy Large reserves
- Dunchurch Boughton Church of England Infant Academy and Nursery Healthy
- Samuel White's Infant School Healthy
- Welford-on-Avon Primary School Large reserves
- Braywick Court School Large reserves
- Tarporley CofE Primary School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.8m | £7,033 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £151k | £600 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £47k | £186 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £168k | £668 |
Money raised by parents
SILSOE LOWER SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (charity 1040277, Registered) raised £13k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £13k | £15k |
2024-08 | £18k | £19k |
2023-08 | £14k | £19k |
2022-08 | £16k | £12k |
2021-08 | £6k | £3k |
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 would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on supply staff is £231 a pupil, against a typical £116 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £504 a pupil, against a typical £260 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £142 a pupil, against a typical £96 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,727 a pupil, against a typical £1,267 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 Silsoe CofE VC Lower School · All Central Bedfordshire school finances