Downlands Community School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £79k in reserve, 5% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Dorset · 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 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£26k | £60k | 241 |
2019-20 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£78k | -£18k | 230 |
2020-21 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£22k | -£40k | 246 |
2021-22 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£15k | -£55k | 255 |
2022-23 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£40k | -£15k | 264 |
2023-24 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£33k | £18k | 248 |
2024-25 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£6k | £24k | 210 |
2025-26 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£55k | £79k | 196 |
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 40% of them. It spends £8,051 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,610.
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 | £3,549 | £3,190 | £2,978–£3,336 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,590 | £1,177 | £981–£1,426 |
Supply staff | £85 | £139 | £60–£277 |
Admin and clerical | £234 | £333 | £242–£386 |
Premises | £402 | £315 | £252–£387 |
Energy | £98 | £87 | £78–£119 |
Learning resources & ICT | £301 | £315 | £261–£386 |
Bought-in services | £139 | £170 | £104–£203 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Oaklands Primary School Large reserves
- Gawsworth Primary School Healthy
- Boughton Primary School Large reserves
- Rainow Primary School In deficit
- Embsay Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School Healthy
- Eaglesfield Paddle CofE Primary Academy Healthy
- Cumnor Church of England School (Voluntary Controlled) In deficit
- Dean Valley Community Primary School In deficit
- St Clement's Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Ghost Hill Infant and Nursery School Healthy
- Church Langton Church of England Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.5m | £7,647 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £85k | £436 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £134k | £683 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Pupil numbers have fallen 19% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,590 a pupil, against a typical £1,177 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 Downlands Community School · All Dorset school finances