Cold Norton Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £123k in reserve, 13% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Essex · 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 | £709k | £721k | -£12k | £124k | 150 |
2019-20 | £729k | £739k | -£10k | £114k | 148 |
2020-21 | £745k | £730k | +£15k | £130k | 150 |
2021-22 | £774k | £802k | -£27k | £102k | 149 |
2022-23 | £804k | £861k | -£57k | £46k | 152 |
2023-24 | £892k | £908k | -£16k | £30k | 153 |
2024-25 | £940k | £891k | +£49k | £78k | 157 |
2025-26 | £970k | £926k | +£44k | £123k | 157 |
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 83% of them. It spends £5,898 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,964.
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 | £3,433 | £3,357 | £3,136–£3,584 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £907 | £1,321 | £1,059–£1,558 |
Supply staff | £26 | £99 | £51–£172 |
Admin and clerical | £238 | £343 | £259–£481 |
Premises | £230 | £319 | £220–£449 |
Energy | £79 | £94 | £79–£139 |
Learning resources & ICT | £154 | £329 | £215–£408 |
Bought-in services | £178 | £154 | £89–£268 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Andrew's Church of England Academy Healthy
- Silchester Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Kilsby Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Bringhurst Primary School In deficit
- Chestnut Park Primary Healthy
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Newchurch Healthy
- Moss Lane School Large reserves
- Weeton Primary School Healthy
- Jolesfield CofE Primary School Healthy
- Stockton Primary School In deficit
- Wheldrake with Thorganby Church of England Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £935k | £5,954 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £20k | £127 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £24k | £154 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £38k | £241 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF COLD NORTON SCHOOL (charity 1102004, Registered) raised £9k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £9k | £9k |
2024-08 | £7k | £6k |
2023-08 | £9k | £7k |
2022-08 | £8k | £4k |
2021-08 | £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.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- 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 Cold Norton Primary School · All Essex school finances