Cherry Grove Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £35k 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 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£40k | £46k | 299 |
2019-20 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£30k | £16k | 298 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£70k | £86k | 302 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£16k | £103k | 286 |
2022-23 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£11k | £113k | 287 |
2023-24 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£18k | £132k | 285 |
2024-25 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£36k | £96k | 263 |
2025-26 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£62k | £35k | 265 |
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 £6,950 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,889.
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 | £3,395 | £3,169 | £2,765–£3,428 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,302 | £1,398 | £1,056–£1,695 |
Supply staff | £463 | £134 | £43–£226 |
Admin and clerical | £251 | £294 | £223–£370 |
Premises | £234 | £364 | £326–£439 |
Energy | £134 | £112 | £84–£145 |
Learning resources & ICT | £331 | £268 | £191–£328 |
Bought-in services | £158 | £100 | £36–£135 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Inglewood Infant School In deficit
- Caddington Village School In deficit
- Westwood First School Healthy
- Park Grove Primary Academy Tight
- Codicote Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Green Lane Infant School Large reserves
- The Meadows Primary School Healthy
- Bottisham Community Primary School Tight
- Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School Large reserves
- Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School Large reserves
- Burton Church of England Primary School Heading for deficit
- Normanton All Saints CofE Infant School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.7m | £6,332 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £122k | £461 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £55k | £207 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £102k | £385 |
Money raised by parents
CHERRY GROVE PRIMARY SCHOOL PTA (charity 1135030, Registered) raised £14k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £14k | £10k |
2024-08 | £8k | £10k |
2023-08 | £9k | £8k |
2022-08 | £3k | £3k |
2021-08 | £1k | £4k |
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 is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 11% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £463 a pupil, against a typical £134 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £158 a pupil, against a typical £100 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 Cherry Grove Primary School · All Cheshire West and Chester school finances