The Russell School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 6 years running; at that rate its £8k reserve runs out in about 0 year.
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 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£81k | £136k | 214 |
2019-20 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£68k | £203k | 210 |
2020-21 | £1.0m | £1.0m | -£22k | £181k | 212 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£30k | £152k | 220 |
2022-23 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£44k | £108k | 218 |
2023-24 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£18k | £90k | 224 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.5m | -£60k | £30k | 221 |
2025-26 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£22k | £8k | 234 |
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 13% of them. It spends £6,750 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,382.
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 | £3,468 | £3,119 | £2,895–£3,322 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £889 | £1,232 | £1,008–£1,448 |
Supply staff | £81 | £95 | £40–£144 |
Admin and clerical | £339 | £293 | £244–£363 |
Premises | £512 | £324 | £261–£408 |
Energy | £163 | £105 | £76–£126 |
Learning resources & ICT | £380 | £312 | £223–£406 |
Bought-in services | £273 | £150 | £84–£279 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Grove Infant and Nursery School Large reserves
- Park Road Academy Primary School Large reserves
- Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Our Lady of the Rosary RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Healthy
- Little Chalfont Primary School Healthy
- Yarlside Academy Large reserves
- St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Stapeley Broad Lane CofE Primary School Tight
- St Charles Borromeo Catholic Primary School, Weybridge Large reserves
- Ackworth Howard Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School Tight
- Bromley Heath Junior School Large reserves
- Whittle-le-Woods Church of England Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £5,711 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £13k | £55 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £9k | £39 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £222k | £946 |
Money raised by parents
RUSSELL SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATION (charity 1035257, Registered) raised £49k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £49k | £60k |
2024-08 | £38k | £24k |
2023-08 | £27k | £11k |
2022-08 | £31k | £31k |
2021-08 | £15k | £15k |
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 premises is £512 a pupil, against a typical £324 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £163 a pupil, against a typical £105 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 The Russell School · All Hertfordshire school finances