How Wood Primary and Nursery School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £58k, 4% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 2 years running.
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 | £996k | £1.0m | -£29k | £38k | 196 |
2019-20 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£21k | £59k | 214 |
2020-21 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£53k | £112k | 204 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£33k | £79k | 220 |
2022-23 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£29k | £50k | 215 |
2023-24 | £1.6m | £1.5m | +£55k | £105k | 219 |
2024-25 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£76k | £29k | 218 |
2025-26 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£87k | -£58k | 213 |
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 7% of them. It spends £8,027 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,771.
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 | £3,576 | £3,104 | £2,940–£3,388 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,826 | £1,114 | £988–£1,444 |
Supply staff | £139 | £122 | £74–£242 |
Admin and clerical | £333 | £307 | £253–£323 |
Premises | £318 | £335 | £261–£368 |
Energy | £117 | £87 | £74–£116 |
Learning resources & ICT | £476 | £340 | £246–£419 |
Bought-in services | £245 | £186 | £104–£285 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Jessie Younghusband Primary School In deficit
- St Vigor & St John Church School Large reserves
- Westgate Primary School In deficit
- St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Lowton Large reserves
- Maltese Road Primary School Large reserves
- Watton-at-Stone Primary and Nursery School Large reserves
- St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale Heading for deficit
- Mundford Church of England Primary Academy Tight
- Knightlow CofE Primary School Healthy
- Woodsetts Primary School Tight
- Frodsham Manor House Primary School Tight
- Carrington Primary and Nursery School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.5m | £6,938 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £138k | £650 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £46k | £218 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £145k | £681 |
Money raised by parents
HOW WOOD SCHOOL PARENT-TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION (charity 274545, Registered) raised £21k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-07 | £21k | £22k |
2024-07 | £14k | £9k |
2023-07 | £11k | £5k |
2022-07 | £8k | £7k |
2021-07 | £7k | £10k |
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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,826 a pupil, against a typical £1,114 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £476 a pupil, against a typical £340 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 How Wood Primary and Nursery School · All Hertfordshire school finances