Lower Darwen Primary School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £93k in reserve, 3% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Blackburn with Darwen · 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 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£22k | -£29k | 355 |
2019-20 | £1.9m | £2.0m | -£80k | -£108k | 385 |
2020-21 | £2.2m | £2.1m | +£86k | -£23k | 388 |
2021-22 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£18k | -£41k | 387 |
2022-23 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£30k | -£71k | 379 |
2023-24 | £2.4m | £2.5m | -£99k | -£169k | 380 |
2024-25 | £2.6m | £2.5m | +£99k | -£70k | 389 |
2025-26 | £2.7m | £2.5m | +£163k | £93k | 382 |
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 17% of them. It spends £6,560 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,219.
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 | £3,237 | £3,113 | £2,991–£3,297 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,159 | £1,270 | £1,062–£1,565 |
Supply staff | £233 | £116 | £32–£195 |
Admin and clerical | £347 | £288 | £208–£329 |
Premises | £119 | £303 | £240–£349 |
Energy | £85 | £97 | £78–£114 |
Learning resources & ICT | £154 | £237 | £193–£303 |
Bought-in services | £353 | £96 | £48–£163 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Sir Henry Fermor Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Cedars Primary School Large reserves
- River Primary School Large reserves
- Colmore Infant and Nursery School Tight
- St Georges CofE (Aided) Primary School Large reserves
- Sunnyside Primary Academy Large reserves
- Trimley St Mary Primary School Large reserves
- Potton Primary School Heading for deficit
- Puss Bank School and Nursery Healthy
- Sheringham Community Primary School Healthy
- Minterne Junior School Healthy
- The Grove Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.5m | £6,490 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £221k | £578 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £111k | £291 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £190k | £498 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Spending on bought-in services is £353 a pupil, against a typical £96 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £233 a pupil, against a typical £116 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 Lower Darwen Primary School · All Blackburn with Darwen school finances