Earls Colne Primary School and Nursery: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £407k in reserve, 15% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Essex · Primary · Foundation 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 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£52k | £356k | 367 |
2019-20 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£30k | £386k | 390 |
2020-21 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£150k | £537k | 410 |
2021-22 | £2.1m | £2.1m | +£17k | £554k | 419 |
2022-23 | £2.2m | £2.3m | -£161k | £392k | 407 |
2023-24 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£2k | £390k | 408 |
2024-25 | £2.6m | £2.6m | +£3k | £393k | 407 |
2025-26 | £2.7m | £2.7m | +£14k | £407k | 402 |
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 77% of them. It spends £6,744 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,286.
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 | £3,476 | £3,075 | £2,881–£3,315 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £925 | £1,103 | £898–£1,235 |
Supply staff | £45 | £154 | £66–£268 |
Admin and clerical | £313 | £300 | £227–£336 |
Premises | £583 | £301 | £265–£365 |
Energy | £90 | £87 | £69–£106 |
Learning resources & ICT | £133 | £302 | £226–£346 |
Bought-in services | £183 | £154 | £89–£268 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Trinity Anglican-Methodist Primary School Healthy
- Balshaw Lane Community Primary School Large reserves
- Much Woolton Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Mulbarton Primary School Large reserves
- Halsford Park Primary School Tight
- Aston Clinton School Tight
- Pirbright Village Primary School Healthy
- Badgerbrook Primary School Large reserves
- Elsenham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- Mortimer St Mary's C.E. Junior School Heading for deficit
- Our Lady of Pity Catholic Primary and Nursery School Large reserves
- St Alphege Church of England Junior School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.5m | £6,294 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £118k | £293 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £83k | £207 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £195k | £486 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF EARLS COLNE PRIMARY SCHOOL & NURSEY (charity 1102783, Registered) raised £13k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £13k | £8k |
2024-08 | £13k | £10k |
2023-08 | £10k | £11k |
2022-08 | £13k | £11k |
2021-08 | £71 | £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?
- Spending on premises is £583 a pupil, against a typical £301 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.
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