Bow Community Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £178k in reserve, 17% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Devon · 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 | £704k | £688k | +£16k | £51k | 138 |
2019-20 | £744k | £722k | +£22k | £73k | 125 |
2020-21 | £754k | £745k | +£8k | £81k | 128 |
2021-22 | £846k | £813k | +£32k | £114k | 122 |
2022-23 | £851k | £816k | +£35k | £148k | 111 |
2023-24 | £822k | £857k | -£35k | £113k | 145 |
2024-25 | £1.0m | £953k | +£52k | £166k | 143 |
2025-26 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£13k | £178k | 133 |
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 87% of them. It spends £7,867 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,699.
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 | £3,802 | £3,546 | £3,110–£3,937 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,443 | £1,565 | £1,155–£1,786 |
Supply staff | £228 | £118 | £54–£224 |
Admin and clerical | £456 | £392 | £339–£472 |
Premises | £232 | £365 | £295–£544 |
Energy | £161 | £110 | £92–£146 |
Learning resources & ICT | £171 | £359 | £288–£485 |
Bought-in services | £209 | £216 | £152–£335 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Great Abington Primary School Tight
- St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Great Yeldham Healthy
- Sidbury Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Trinity St Mary's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Woodham Ferrers Large reserves
- Toynton All Saints Primary School Tight
- Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Ringstead Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Holywell Green Primary School In deficit
- Hathersage St Michael's CofE (Aided) Primary School Tight
- Parrett and Axe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School In deficit
- St Helena's Church of England Primary Academy, Willoughby In deficit
- Long Marston VA Church of England Primary and Nursery School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.0m | £7,672 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £81k | £610 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £45k | £336 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £39k | £291 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF BOW SCHOOL (charity 1029376, Registered) raised £4k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £4k | £4k |
2024-08 | £8k | £12k |
2023-08 | £6k | £6k |
2022-08 | £3k | £2k |
2021-08 | £3k | £1k |
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 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?
- Spending on energy is £161 a pupil, against a typical £110 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 Bow Community Primary School · All Devon school finances