Helsby Hillside Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £12k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Cheshire West and Chester · 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 | £1.0m | £1.0m | -£15k | £10k | 218 |
2019-20 | £1.0m | £1.0m | -£10k | -£490 | 212 |
2020-21 | £977k | £950k | +£27k | £27k | 209 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£20k | £46k | 206 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£7k | £54k | 206 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£40k | £94k | 201 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£41k | £53k | 197 |
2025-26 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£41k | £12k | 202 |
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 £6,557 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,457.
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 | £3,185 | £3,146 | £2,916–£3,564 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £854 | £1,174 | £903–£1,356 |
Supply staff | £88 | £81 | £37–£173 |
Admin and clerical | £386 | £330 | £262–£385 |
Premises | £363 | £321 | £295–£404 |
Energy | £116 | £86 | £71–£103 |
Learning resources & ICT | £354 | £337 | £229–£436 |
Bought-in services | £133 | £153 | £102–£255 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Garstang Community Primary School Healthy
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bridgwater Large reserves
- Saint Peter's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy In deficit
- St Mary's Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Manor Way Primary Academy Heading for deficit
- Bentfield Primary School and Nursery Tight
- St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Sevenoaks Large reserves
- Thingwall Primary School Healthy
- St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton Large reserves
- Ettington CofE Primary School In deficit
- St Mary's CofE (Aided) Primary School In deficit
- Shoreham Beach Primary School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.1m | £5,573 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £19k | £95 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £23k | £112 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £158k | £781 |
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?
- Spending on energy is £116 a pupil, against a typical £86 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 Helsby Hillside Primary School · All Cheshire West and Chester school finances