Southover CofE Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £99k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). East Sussex · 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 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£28k | £83k | 376 |
2019-20 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£105k | £188k | 347 |
2020-21 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£82k | £270k | 348 |
2021-22 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£81k | £351k | 311 |
2022-23 | £1.7m | £1.7m | -£59k | £292k | 309 |
2023-24 | £1.7m | £1.8m | -£46k | £246k | 310 |
2024-25 | £1.9m | £1.9m | -£41k | £206k | 270 |
2025-26 | £1.7m | £1.8m | -£106k | £99k | 288 |
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 57% of them. It spends £6,219 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,383.
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 | £3,348 | £3,143 | £2,899–£3,450 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £919 | £1,192 | £977–£1,564 |
Supply staff | £171 | £120 | £61–£198 |
Admin and clerical | £349 | £286 | £244–£363 |
Premises | £260 | £374 | £291–£465 |
Energy | £108 | £93 | £83–£107 |
Learning resources & ICT | £200 | £263 | £217–£336 |
Bought-in services | £199 | £127 | £31–£195 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Highfield Primary School Tight
- White House Farm Healthy
- Greenleas Primary School Large reserves
- The Gates Primary School Healthy
- Clanfield Junior School Tight
- Bishop's Waltham Junior School Large reserves
- Coupals Primary Academy Healthy
- Moorlands CofE Primary Academy Tight
- Holy Trinity Rosehill CofE Primary School Tight
- Stanton Road Primary School Healthy
- Cliffedale Primary School Tight
- Brinsworth Whitehill Primary School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.6m | £5,557 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £39k | £136 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £79k | £276 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £84k | £292 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF SOUTHOVER PRIMARY SCHOOL (charity 281502, Registered) raised £30k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-07 | £30k | £27k |
2024-07 | £21k | £10k |
2023-07 | £17k | £12k |
2022-07 | £24k | £19k |
2021-07 | £9k | £5k |
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 is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 23% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- 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 Southover CofE Primary School · All East Sussex school finances