Watcombe Primary School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £59k in reserve, 3% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Torbay · 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 | £1.3m | -£24k | £60k | 232 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£67k | -£6k | 228 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£36k | £30k | 228 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.5m | +£55k | £84k | 212 |
2022-23 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£24k | £61k | 210 |
2023-24 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£38k | £23k | 226 |
2024-25 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£1k | £24k | 211 |
2025-26 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£35k | £59k | 211 |
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 23% of them. It spends £8,687 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,319.
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 | £3,879 | £3,354 | £2,974–£3,648 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,350 | £1,540 | £1,331–£1,908 |
Supply staff | £19 | £105 | £43–£216 |
Admin and clerical | £535 | £318 | £276–£459 |
Premises | £332 | £435 | £386–£489 |
Energy | £74 | £131 | £102–£157 |
Learning resources & ICT | £259 | £320 | £218–£419 |
Bought-in services | £238 | £210 | £124–£408 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Michael's Catholic Primary Academy and Nursery Large reserves
- Springwood Heath Primary School In deficit
- Castledyke Primary School Healthy
- Ospringe Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Great Harwood Primary School Tight
- St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School Tight
- St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Kenton Large reserves
- Reignhead Primary School In deficit
- Woodlands Primary School Heading for deficit
- Crookesbroom Primary Academy Large reserves
- Canterbury Road Primary School Healthy
- St John Bosco RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.8m | £8,391 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £270k | £1,278 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £107k | £509 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £97k | £461 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF WATCOMBE PRIMARY SCHOOL (charity 1161584, Registered) raised £17k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-03 | £17k | £22k |
2025-03 | £19k | £13k |
2024-03 | £15k | £14k |
2023-03 | £17k | £11k |
2022-03 | £2k | £3k |
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.
- Pupil numbers have fallen 9% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £535 a pupil, against a typical £318 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,350 a pupil, against a typical £1,540 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 Watcombe Primary School · All Torbay school finances