English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £46k 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). Reading · 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 | £2.1m | £2.1m | -£30k | £240k | 454 |
2019-20 | £2.3m | £2.3m | +£29k | £270k | 436 |
2020-21 | £2.3m | £2.3m | +£32k | £302k | 435 |
2021-22 | £2.3m | £2.4m | -£33k | £269k | 430 |
2022-23 | £2.4m | £2.6m | -£163k | £106k | 433 |
2023-24 | £2.6m | £2.6m | -£44k | £61k | 430 |
2024-25 | £2.8m | £2.7m | +£104k | £166k | 415 |
2025-26 | £2.9m | £3.0m | -£120k | £46k | 398 |
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 £7,480 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,080.
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 | £3,170 | £2,899 | £2,759–£3,120 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,929 | £1,182 | £1,017–£1,388 |
Supply staff | £506 | £112 | £45–£232 |
Admin and clerical | £328 | £284 | £201–£318 |
Premises | £294 | £303 | £244–£377 |
Energy | £55 | £76 | £59–£102 |
Learning resources & ICT | £284 | £264 | £228–£341 |
Bought-in services | £240 | £124 | £49–£190 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St John's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Heading for deficit
- Pembury School Large reserves
- Gamlingay Village Primary Healthy
- Spurcroft Primary School In deficit
- St Bartholomew's CofE Aided Primary School Large reserves
- Histon and Impington Park Primary School Healthy
- Abbots Langley School Heading for deficit
- Captain Cook Primary School Healthy
- Oughtrington Primary School Large reserves
- Sunnymede Primary School Healthy
- Birch Hill Primary School and Nursery Healthy
- St Martin De Porres Catholic Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.7m | £6,855 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £211k | £529 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £97k | £243 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £130k | £325 |
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 12% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £506 a pupil, against a typical £112 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £240 a pupil, against a typical £124 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,929 a pupil, against a typical £1,182 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.
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