Long Mead Community Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £125k in reserve, 10% 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). Kent · Primary · Foundation 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 | £881k | £872k | +£9k | £16k | 145 |
2019-20 | £851k | £840k | +£11k | £27k | 144 |
2020-21 | £874k | £826k | +£48k | £75k | 134 |
2021-22 | £889k | £905k | -£16k | £59k | 126 |
2022-23 | £971k | £926k | +£44k | £104k | 122 |
2023-24 | £1.0m | £927k | +£115k | £218k | 112 |
2024-25 | £982k | £1.0m | -£62k | £157k | 114 |
2025-26 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£32k | £125k | 132 |
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 87% of them. It spends £9,931 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,676.
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 | £4,236 | £4,243 | £3,803–£4,841 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,509 | £1,972 | £1,678–£2,385 |
Supply staff | £126 | £233 | £112–£342 |
Admin and clerical | £517 | £433 | £325–£517 |
Premises | £288 | £591 | £487–£661 |
Energy | £156 | £162 | £129–£216 |
Learning resources & ICT | £367 | £356 | £300–£462 |
Bought-in services | £518 | £312 | £149–£538 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Thornton Cleveleys Manor Beach Primary School Healthy
- Wild Bank Primary School Large reserves
- Gillas Lane Primary Academy Large reserves
- Little Digmoor Primary School Healthy
- Hillside Community Primary School Healthy
- Bloemfontein Primary School In deficit
- Earby Springfield Primary School Healthy
- Christ Church CofE Primary School Tight
- NCEA William Leech CofE Primary School Tight
- St Lawrence's Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Spire Junior School Large reserves
- Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £9,336 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £104k | £789 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £107k | £810 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £47k | £358 |
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 9% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
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 Long Mead Community Primary School · All Kent school finances