Cedars Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £5k reserve runs out in about 0 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Milton Keynes · 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 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£22k | £36k | 318 |
2019-20 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£32k | £69k | 327 |
2020-21 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£72k | -£3k | 310 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£39k | -£41k | 303 |
2022-23 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£75k | £34k | 306 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £1.7m | +£71k | £105k | 269 |
2024-25 | £1.7m | £1.8m | -£20k | £84k | 255 |
2025-26 | £1.7m | £1.7m | -£80k | £5k | 235 |
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 17% of them. It spends £7,421 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,745.
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 | £3,467 | £3,208 | £3,015–£3,469 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,840 | £1,382 | £1,160–£1,534 |
Supply staff | £123 | £104 | £79–£272 |
Admin and clerical | £350 | £289 | £231–£357 |
Premises | £466 | £356 | £271–£409 |
Energy | £76 | £96 | £71–£117 |
Learning resources & ICT | £153 | £256 | £220–£339 |
Bought-in services | £208 | £168 | £120–£259 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Wansdyke School Large reserves
- Methodist Voluntary Controlled Junior, Infant and Nursery School: With Communication Resource Healthy
- Havannah Primary School In deficit
- Ringwood Church of England Infant School Healthy
- Mere School Healthy
- St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior School Healthy
- St Bernard's Catholic Primary School, Preston Large reserves
- Maybury Primary School Large reserves
- Mayhill Junior School Large reserves
- Appledore School Large reserves
- Eatock Primary School Healthy
- St Catherine's CofE Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.5m | £6,456 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £31k | £133 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £62k | £262 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £147k | £627 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 26% 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 £1,840 a pupil, against a typical £1,382 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £466 a pupil, against a typical £356 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 Cedars Primary School · All Milton Keynes school finances