Anstey First School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £46k in reserve, 9% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 2 years.
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 | £401k | £390k | +£11k | £52k | 48 |
2019-20 | £422k | £419k | +£3k | £54k | 52 |
2020-21 | £446k | £420k | +£25k | £80k | 50 |
2021-22 | £441k | £426k | +£15k | £95k | 46 |
2022-23 | £463k | £477k | -£14k | £81k | 46 |
2023-24 | £509k | £501k | +£8k | £89k | 40 |
2024-25 | £534k | £547k | -£13k | £76k | 40 |
2025-26 | £540k | £570k | -£30k | £46k | 34 |
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 43% of them. It spends £16,517 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £12,687.
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 | £6,795 | £5,757 | £4,704–£6,824 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £3,701 | £2,221 | £1,605–£2,735 |
Supply staff | £467 | £471 | £137–£783 |
Admin and clerical | £1,832 | £768 | £609–£969 |
Premises | £717 | £724 | £515–£913 |
Energy | £99 | £226 | £163–£285 |
Learning resources & ICT | £506 | £664 | £335–£909 |
Bought-in services | £717 | £501 | £260–£603 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Bishopstone Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- All Saints CofE Primary School, Bednall Large reserves
- Charleton Church of England Academy Healthy
- St Edward's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- The Valley Primary School Large reserves
- Hyde Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Tattingstone Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- Hollinsclough Church of England Academy Large reserves
- Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School In deficit
- Vernham Dean Gillum's Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- St James' CofE Primary School In deficit
- Shirwell Community Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £504k | £14,605 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £24k | £689 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £19k | £559 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £36k | £1,054 |
Money raised by parents
ASSOCIATION OF PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF ANSTEY FIRST SCHOOL (charity 1055536, Registered) raised £3k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £3k | £4k |
2024-09 | £5k | £5k |
2023-09 | £2k | £429 |
2022-09 | £2k | £1k |
2021-09 | £116 | £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 28% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,832 a pupil, against a typical £768 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £3,701 a pupil, against a typical £2,221 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £717 a pupil, against a typical £501 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.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for Anstey First School · All Hertfordshire school finances