Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £347k in reserve, 25% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Hertfordshire · Primary · Community 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 | £957k | +£53k | £332k | 206 |
2019-20 | £1.0m | £1.0m | -£24k | £307k | 206 |
2020-21 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£91k | £398k | 201 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£20k | £418k | 198 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£93k | £325k | 200 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£66k | £258k | 202 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£39k | £298k | 184 |
2025-26 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£49k | £347k | 160 |
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 100% of them. It spends £8,519 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,876.
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 | £4,139 | £3,401 | £3,149–£3,805 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,512 | £1,155 | £923–£1,480 |
Supply staff | £21 | £131 | £45–£226 |
Admin and clerical | £439 | £298 | £220–£384 |
Premises | £367 | £342 | £298–£457 |
Energy | £132 | £111 | £78–£138 |
Learning resources & ICT | £297 | £289 | £238–£378 |
Bought-in services | £213 | £192 | £121–£230 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Sutton Benger Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Springfield Infant School and Nursery Healthy
- Constantine Primary School Heading for deficit
- Harthill Primary School Tight
- Little Sutton C of E Primary School Large reserves
- Mattishall Primary School In deficit
- Primrose Lane Primary School In deficit
- St Ippolyts Church of England Aided Primary School Heading for deficit
- Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Healthy
- High Lane Primary School Healthy
- Hempnall Primary School Tight
- St Mary's Priory Junior School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £7,763 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £28k | £173 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £27k | £166 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £170k | £1,065 |
Money raised by parents
THE FRIENDS OF MERRY HILL SCHOOL (charity 1119169, Registered) raised £5k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £5k | £5k |
2024-08 | £6k | £5k |
2023-08 | £9k | £8k |
2022-08 | £7k | £3k |
2021-08 | £2k | £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?
- 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 admin and clerical is £439 a pupil, against a typical £298 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 Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery · All Hertfordshire school finances