St Joseph the Worker Catholic Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £275k in reserve, 21% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Essex · Primary · Voluntary aided 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 | £1.0m | £1.0m | +£7k | £205k | 211 |
2019-20 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£14k | £191k | 212 |
2020-21 | £1.0m | £1.0m | +£4k | £195k | 208 |
2021-22 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£16k | £180k | 208 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£24k | £155k | 207 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£30k | £125k | 210 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£69k | £194k | 213 |
2025-26 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£81k | £275k | 205 |
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 93% of them. It spends £5,983 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,260.
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 | £2,658 | £3,064 | £2,863–£3,174 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,392 | £1,050 | £884–£1,321 |
Supply staff | £277 | £85 | £47–£179 |
Admin and clerical | £286 | £282 | £229–£355 |
Premises | £321 | £302 | £263–£354 |
Energy | £41 | £89 | £77–£111 |
Learning resources & ICT | £269 | £319 | £244–£383 |
Bought-in services | £285 | £172 | £97–£217 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Baxenden St John's Church of England Primary School In deficit
- St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Alkrington Heading for deficit
- Charles Kingsley's Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Healthy
- St John Bosco Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- St Helen's Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Eccleston Primary School Large reserves
- The Royal Kent CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Bosham Primary School In deficit
- Bowsland Green Primary School Tight
- Chapel Hill Primary School & Nursery Large reserves
- Winkfield St Mary's CofE Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £5,965 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £37k | £183 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £24k | £116 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £85k | £414 |
Money raised by parents
ST JOSEPH THE WORKER PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (charity 1043333, Registered) raised £10k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £10k | £7k |
2024-08 | £6k | £514 |
2023-08 | £5k | £4k |
2022-08 | £10k | £8k |
2021-08 | £5k | £2k |
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?
- Spending on supply staff is £277 a pupil, against a typical £85 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £285 a pupil, against a typical £172 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- 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 St Joseph the Worker Catholic Primary School · All Essex school finances