Wadhurst CofE Primary School and Nursery: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £53k 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 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£48k | £26k | 315 |
2019-20 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£19k | £7k | 298 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£34k | £41k | 268 |
2021-22 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£40k | £81k | 274 |
2022-23 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£45k | £126k | 321 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£34k | £92k | 280 |
2024-25 | £1.9m | £1.9m | -£14k | £78k | 270 |
2025-26 | £2.0m | £2.1m | -£25k | £53k | 246 |
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 17% of them. It spends £8,406 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,636.
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 | £2,927 | £3,142 | £2,885–£3,344 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,135 | £1,263 | £1,089–£1,559 |
Supply staff | £187 | £96 | £40–£154 |
Admin and clerical | £434 | £295 | £239–£342 |
Premises | £576 | £318 | £289–£400 |
Energy | £113 | £88 | £68–£122 |
Learning resources & ICT | £278 | £289 | £248–£393 |
Bought-in services | £307 | £138 | £52–£200 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy Large reserves
- St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch Healthy
- Charborough Road Primary School Large reserves
- Katherine Semar Junior School Healthy
- Homefield VC CofE Primary School Tight
- Cupernham Infant School In deficit
- Nerrols Primary School and Nursery Large reserves
- Bishop Wood Church of England Junior School, Tring Healthy
- Kegworth Primary School In deficit
- Prestolee Primary School Large reserves
- Barnby Dun Primary Academy Large reserves
- Scotter Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.8m | £7,183 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £39k | £160 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £49k | £202 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £276k | £1,122 |
Money raised by parents
THE WADHURST PRIMARY PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (charity 1015183, Registered) raised £6k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-12 | £6k | £2k |
2024-12 | £7k | £10k |
2023-12 | £17k | £16k |
2022-12 | £12k | £8k |
2021-12 | £2k | £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 is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 22% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £307 a pupil, against a typical £138 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £187 a pupil, against a typical £96 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £576 a pupil, against a typical £318 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,135 a pupil, against a typical £1,263 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 Wadhurst CofE Primary School and Nursery · All East Sussex school finances