Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £97k in reserve, 12% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Essex · 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 | £638k | £620k | +£18k | £130k | 121 |
2019-20 | £702k | £720k | -£19k | £112k | 120 |
2020-21 | £744k | £667k | +£77k | £189k | 103 |
2021-22 | £679k | £740k | -£60k | £128k | 101 |
2022-23 | £755k | £801k | -£46k | £82k | 121 |
2023-24 | £862k | £814k | +£48k | £130k | 107 |
2024-25 | £809k | £809k | +£218 | £130k | 97 |
2025-26 | £807k | £840k | -£33k | £97k | 93 |
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 63% of them. It spends £9,031 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,970.
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 | £4,538 | £3,828 | £3,293–£4,133 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,316 | £1,340 | £996–£1,541 |
Supply staff | £354 | £168 | £75–£247 |
Admin and clerical | £577 | £430 | £347–£565 |
Premises | £340 | £344 | £268–£486 |
Energy | £163 | £109 | £87–£133 |
Learning resources & ICT | £608 | £410 | £298–£494 |
Bought-in services | £298 | £200 | £106–£322 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Langdon Primary School Large reserves
- Newton Tony Church of England Voluntary Controlled School Large reserves
- St Peter's Church of England Primary School, Cassington Tight
- South Kilvington Church of England Academy Large reserves
- Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- Newton Burgoland Primary School In deficit
- Malvern Wells CofE Primary School In deficit
- Wold Newton Foundation School Large reserves
- Kirk Langley CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Nacton Church of England Primary School Tight
- Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School In deficit
- Sheriffhales Primary School and Preschool Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £765k | £8,225 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £15k | £160 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £25k | £272 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £42k | £452 |
Money raised by parents
BIRCHANGER C OF E (CONTROLLED) PRIMARY SCHOOL PTA (charity 1116237, Registered) raised £3k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £3k | £4k |
2024-09 | £3k | £6k |
2023-09 | £5k | £4k |
2022-09 | £8k | £4k |
2021-09 | £8k | £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 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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 23% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £354 a pupil, against a typical £168 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £163 a pupil, against a typical £109 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £608 a pupil, against a typical £410 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 Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School · All Essex school finances