Pulford CofE VA Lower School: school finances
Tight
Holds £24k 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 aided 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 | +£870 | -£7k | 252 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£7k | £281 | 256 |
2020-21 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£19k | £19k | 246 |
2021-22 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£6k | £25k | 246 |
2022-23 | £1.5m | £1.5m | -£17k | £9k | 246 |
2023-24 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£20k | -£12k | 240 |
2024-25 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£12k | £736 | 247 |
2025-26 | £1.8m | £1.8m | +£24k | £24k | 245 |
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 23% of them. It spends £7,269 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,491.
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 | £3,507 | £3,160 | £2,971–£3,400 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,474 | £1,115 | £987–£1,275 |
Supply staff | £9 | £103 | £58–£123 |
Admin and clerical | £477 | £306 | £260–£356 |
Premises | £457 | £323 | £281–£401 |
Energy | £55 | £84 | £72–£101 |
Learning resources & ICT | £350 | £329 | £201–£398 |
Bought-in services | £45 | £186 | £146–£283 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Wigginton Primary School In deficit
- Headlands Primary School In deficit
- Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School Large reserves
- Clayton-le-Woods Manor Road Primary School Healthy
- Broxbourne CofE Primary School Heading for deficit
- Tarvin Primary School In deficit
- St Martin's Church of England Infant School Large reserves
- St Charles' Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Myton Park Primary School Healthy
- Fleet Infant School In deficit
- Irby Primary School Healthy
- Danbury Park Community Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.6m | £6,449 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £104k | £424 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £32k | £130 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £225k | £917 |
Money raised by parents
PULFORD SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (charity 291429, Registered) raised £11k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-08 | £11k | £11k |
2025-08 | £13k | £12k |
2024-08 | £20k | £20k |
2023-08 | £4k | £8k |
2022-08 | £16k | £21k |
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 admin and clerical is £477 a pupil, against a typical £306 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £457 a pupil, against a typical £323 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,474 a pupil, against a typical £1,115 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 Pulford CofE VA Lower School · All Central Bedfordshire school finances