Barley (VA) Church of England First School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £70k reserve runs out in about 3 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Hertfordshire · Primary · Voluntary aided 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 | £343k | £341k | +£2k | £30k | 32 |
2019-20 | £689k | £640k | +£50k | £80k | 74 |
2020-21 | £712k | £642k | +£70k | £150k | 64 |
2021-22 | £699k | £686k | +£12k | £163k | 29 |
2022-23 | £731k | £740k | -£8k | £154k | 32 |
2023-24 | £752k | £740k | +£12k | £166k | 58 |
2024-25 | £754k | £797k | -£43k | £123k | 58 |
2025-26 | £817k | £870k | -£53k | £70k | 48 |
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 47% of them. It spends £18,309 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £11,246.
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 | £8,933 | £5,290 | £4,057–£5,966 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,611 | £1,749 | £1,426–£2,329 |
Supply staff | £246 | £233 | £102–£303 |
Admin and clerical | £1,401 | £631 | £476–£766 |
Premises | £1,363 | £550 | £451–£742 |
Energy | £416 | £195 | £141–£290 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,286 | £531 | £374–£690 |
Bought-in services | £569 | £343 | £83–£520 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Orford Church of England Primary School and Nursery Large reserves
- Whitesheet Church of England Primary Academy Healthy
- Happisburgh Church of England Primary Academy Tight
- Woodbury Salterton Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Antingham and Southrepps Primary School In deficit
- St Thomas of Canterbury CofE Primary School In deficit
- Gaddesden Row JMI School Healthy
- St Mary's CofE Primary School Healthy
- Lowca Community School Large reserves
- Holm Cultram Abbey CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Wood Lane Primary School In deficit
- St Michael's CofE Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £741k | £15,594 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £27k | £571 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £13k | £279 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £76k | £1,604 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF BARLEY SCHOOL (charity 1058017, Registered) raised £6k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £6k | £4k |
2024-08 | £4k | £6k |
2023-08 | £2k | £570 |
2022-08 | £2k | £3k |
2021-08 | £356 | £0 |
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 £1,363 a pupil, against a typical £550 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,286 a pupil, against a typical £531 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,401 a pupil, against a typical £631 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £416 a pupil, against a typical £195 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £8,933 a pupil, against a typical £5,290 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 Barley (VA) Church of England First School · All Hertfordshire school finances