Defford and Besford CofE Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £27k reserve runs out in about 3 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Worcestershire · 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 | £359k | £398k | -£39k | -£2k | 46 |
2019-20 | £416k | £401k | +£15k | £13k | 51 |
2020-21 | £418k | £412k | +£6k | £20k | 54 |
2021-22 | £434k | £433k | +£646 | £20k | 55 |
2022-23 | £533k | £496k | +£37k | £57k | 53 |
2023-24 | £545k | £510k | +£35k | £92k | 45 |
2024-25 | £529k | £532k | -£3k | £89k | 43 |
2025-26 | £538k | £600k | -£62k | £27k | 54 |
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 37% of them. It spends £11,106 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £10,191.
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 | £5,601 | £4,837 | £4,278–£5,138 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,256 | £1,477 | £1,381–£1,934 |
Supply staff | £3 | £247 | £77–£345 |
Admin and clerical | £573 | £525 | £419–£704 |
Premises | £412 | £498 | £362–£726 |
Energy | £99 | £174 | £136–£238 |
Learning resources & ICT | £206 | £456 | £372–£680 |
Bought-in services | £671 | £332 | £112–£570 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Carlton and Faceby Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary's Church of England Infant School In deficit
- Kniveton CofE Primary School Healthy
- Diptford Parochial Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Heptonstall Junior Infant and Nursery School In deficit
- Milton Parochial Primary School Heading for deficit
- St Matthew's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Kirkby in Malhamdale United Voluntary Aided Primary School Healthy
- Marwood Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, Great Ayton Large reserves
- Easton Royal Academy Healthy
- St Germans Primary School Large reserves
- Little Weighton Rowley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £511k | £9,460 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £9k | £161 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £27k | £502 |
Money raised by parents
Friends of Defford and Besford CE Primary School (charity 1101986, Registered) raised £13k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £13k | £4k |
2024-08 | £6k | £6k |
2023-08 | £12k | £8k |
2022-08 | £3k | £5k |
2021-08 | £4k | £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 is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on bought-in services is £671 a pupil, against a typical £332 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,256 a pupil, against a typical £1,477 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 Defford and Besford CofE Primary School · All Worcestershire school finances