The Prince of Wales School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £30k, 2% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
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 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£53k | £15k | 157 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£4k | £11k | 158 |
2020-21 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£23k | £34k | 157 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£37k | -£4k | 158 |
2022-23 | £1.4m | £1.5m | -£4k | -£7k | 159 |
2023-24 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£14k | £6k | 157 |
2024-25 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£27k | £34k | 156 |
2025-26 | £1.7m | £1.7m | -£64k | -£30k | 156 |
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 27% of them. It spends £11,102 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,105.
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 | £3,545 | £3,355 | £2,868–£3,581 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,964 | £1,230 | £1,068–£1,497 |
Supply staff | £5 | £99 | £41–£153 |
Admin and clerical | £392 | £330 | £277–£394 |
Premises | £703 | £336 | £264–£433 |
Energy | £176 | £109 | £92–£127 |
Learning resources & ICT | £599 | £269 | £209–£391 |
Bought-in services | £223 | £152 | £87–£285 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Askrigg Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- St Joseph and St Teresa Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Maulden Lower School In deficit
- Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge CofE Primary Academy Tight
- Bradfield C.E. Primary School Tight
- South Wootton Infant School Healthy
- Sutton Bonington Primary School In deficit
- St George's Church of England Infant School Large reserves
- Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Nettlebed Community School In deficit
- Martin Frobisher Infant School In deficit
- Trevisker Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.4m | £8,812 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £339k | £2,172 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £29k | £186 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £293k | £1,880 |
Money raised by parents
THE PRINCE OF WALES SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (charity 1067766, Registered) raised £21k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £21k | £25k |
2024-08 | £27k | £28k |
2023-08 | £16k | £14k |
2022-08 | £11k | £5k |
2021-08 | £10k | £7k |
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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,964 a pupil, against a typical £1,230 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £599 a pupil, against a typical £269 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £703 a pupil, against a typical £336 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £176 a pupil, against a typical £109 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 The Prince of Wales School · All Dorset school finances