St Bridget's CofE School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £32k reserve runs out in about 3 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Cumberland · Primary · Voluntary controlled 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 | £540k | £575k | -£35k | -£101k | 94 |
2019-20 | £607k | £625k | -£17k | -£119k | 96 |
2020-21 | £642k | £513k | +£129k | £10k | 81 |
2021-22 | £615k | £555k | +£60k | £70k | 79 |
2022-23 | £631k | £634k | -£3k | £67k | 70 |
2023-24 | £642k | £611k | +£30k | £97k | 74 |
2024-25 | £626k | £626k | -£522 | £97k | 77 |
2025-26 | £655k | £720k | -£65k | £32k | 66 |
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 60% of them. It spends £10,903 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,736.
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 | £5,581 | £4,503 | £3,938–£4,903 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,429 | £1,708 | £1,222–£2,356 |
Supply staff | £516 | £168 | £89–£454 |
Admin and clerical | £383 | £488 | £379–£580 |
Premises | £978 | £506 | £408–£645 |
Energy | £138 | £179 | £124–£238 |
Learning resources & ICT | £979 | £363 | £274–£525 |
Bought-in services | £8 | £290 | £134–£850 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall In deficit
- Treales Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) Large reserves
- Winterton Primary School and Nursery In deficit
- Middleton-on-the-Wolds Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- Highwood Primary School Large reserves
- Owslebury Primary School Large reserves
- Lindridge St Lawrence CE Primary School In deficit
- St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park Heading for deficit
- Nunney First School In deficit
- Stogursey Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- St Godrics Catholic Primary School, Thornley In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £617k | £9,345 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £25k | £372 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £31k | £464 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £38k | £580 |
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 30% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £516 a pupil, against a typical £168 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £979 a pupil, against a typical £363 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £978 a pupil, against a typical £506 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £5,581 a pupil, against a typical £4,503 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 St Bridget's CofE School · All Cumberland school finances