St Helen's Catholic Infant & Nursery School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £7k reserve runs out in about 0 year.
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 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£4k | £103k | 265 |
2019-20 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£61k | £42k | 262 |
2020-21 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£17k | £59k | 250 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£3k | £56k | 243 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£3k | £53k | 233 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£48k | £101k | 212 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£8k | £93k | 187 |
2025-26 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£86k | £7k | 173 |
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 27% of them. It spends £7,776 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 | £4,000 | £3,344 | £3,141–£3,641 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,051 | £1,119 | £900–£1,455 |
Supply staff | £26 | £91 | £42–£218 |
Admin and clerical | £550 | £309 | £268–£437 |
Premises | £574 | £325 | £249–£397 |
Energy | £140 | £96 | £78–£137 |
Learning resources & ICT | £177 | £279 | £241–£388 |
Bought-in services | £494 | £188 | £104–£316 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Underwood Church of England Primary School Heading for deficit
- Blisworth Community Primary School Large reserves
- Hutton Cranswick Community Primary School In deficit
- St Bede's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Mowden Infant School Large reserves
- Bishopswood Infant School In deficit
- Belbroughton CofE Primary School In deficit
- Burton-Upon-Stather Primary Academy In deficit
- The Spinney Primary School Tight
- Haverigg Primary School In deficit
- Kingsacre Primary School Large reserves
- Orleton CofE Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £6,937 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £87k | £503 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £29k | £166 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £59k | £340 |
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 35% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £494 a pupil, against a typical £188 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £550 a pupil, against a typical £309 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £574 a pupil, against a typical £325 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.
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