Shadsworth Infant School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £174k in reserve, 8% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 3 years.
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 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£24k | £118k | 211 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£11k | £129k | 184 |
2020-21 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£106k | £234k | 191 |
2021-22 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£10k | £225k | 186 |
2022-23 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£52k | £277k | 188 |
2023-24 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£65k | £213k | 188 |
2024-25 | £1.8m | £1.9m | -£21k | £191k | 204 |
2025-26 | £2.1m | £2.1m | -£18k | £174k | 182 |
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 73% of them. It spends £11,509 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,127.
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 | £4,915 | £3,643 | £3,295–£3,924 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £3,124 | £1,534 | £1,309–£1,817 |
Supply staff | £95 | £172 | £57–£326 |
Admin and clerical | £350 | £404 | £320–£499 |
Premises | £738 | £442 | £366–£536 |
Energy | £141 | £120 | £94–£152 |
Learning resources & ICT | £424 | £280 | £222–£407 |
Bought-in services | £649 | £283 | £105–£468 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn Heading for deficit
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gateshead Large reserves
- Pool House Community Primary School Large reserves
- Brookside Primary School Large reserves
- St Michael's Church of England Academy Tight
- Woodchurch CofE Primary School In deficit
- The Martin Wilson School In deficit
- Roach Vale Primary School Large reserves
- East Crompton St James CofE Primary School Healthy
- St John's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Broomhill Junior School Large reserves
- Marlfields Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.0m | £10,821 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £450k | £2,478 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £130k | £716 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £107k | £591 |
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 14% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £649 a pupil, against a typical £283 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £3,124 a pupil, against a typical £1,534 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £738 a pupil, against a typical £442 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 Shadsworth Infant School · All Blackburn with Darwen school finances