Bolton Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £46k in reserve, 8% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Westmorland and Furness · 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 | £355k | £345k | +£9k | £8k | 66 |
2019-20 | £390k | £379k | +£11k | £19k | 54 |
2020-21 | £382k | £395k | -£13k | £6k | 59 |
2021-22 | £414k | £399k | +£15k | £21k | 57 |
2022-23 | £456k | £437k | +£19k | £41k | 65 |
2023-24 | £507k | £520k | -£13k | £28k | 64 |
2024-25 | £541k | £524k | +£18k | £46k | 59 |
2025-26 | £557k | £557k | +£217 | £46k | 56 |
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 63% of them. It spends £9,944 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £10,191.
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 | £5,166 | £4,801 | £4,104–£5,188 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,476 | £1,504 | £1,295–£2,175 |
Supply staff | £41 | £216 | £55–£326 |
Admin and clerical | £514 | £543 | £466–£667 |
Premises | £802 | £484 | £386–£627 |
Energy | £138 | £162 | £125–£203 |
Learning resources & ICT | £761 | £413 | £364–£809 |
Bought-in services | £98 | £309 | £104–£395 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Wigley Primary School Large reserves
- Kirkby in Malhamdale United Voluntary Aided Primary School Healthy
- Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Wootton St Andrew's CofE Primary School Heading for deficit
- Diptford Parochial Church of England Primary School Healthy
- St Matthew's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- St Germans Primary School Large reserves
- Grassington Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- Heptonstall Junior Infant and Nursery School In deficit
- Hennock Community Primary School Healthy
- Penny Acres Primary School Healthy
- Walpole Cross Keys Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £548k | £9,779 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £26k | £460 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £16k | £283 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £9k | £168 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 15% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on premises is £802 a pupil, against a typical £484 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 Bolton Primary School · All Westmorland and Furness school finances