Caton Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £72k in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lancashire · 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 | £398k | £375k | +£24k | -£23k | 34 |
2019-20 | £319k | £302k | +£17k | -£6k | 35 |
2020-21 | £326k | £316k | +£9k | £3k | 53 |
2021-22 | £415k | £398k | +£16k | £20k | 72 |
2022-23 | £572k | £550k | +£22k | £42k | 73 |
2023-24 | £647k | £629k | +£18k | £59k | 83 |
2024-25 | £745k | £717k | +£29k | £88k | 74 |
2025-26 | £751k | £766k | -£16k | £72k | 81 |
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 60% of them. It spends £9,461 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,046.
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 | £4,522 | £4,125 | £3,585–£4,299 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,018 | £1,619 | £1,248–£1,873 |
Supply staff | £356 | £182 | £82–£400 |
Admin and clerical | £251 | £453 | £370–£581 |
Premises | £634 | £431 | £332–£531 |
Energy | £273 | £142 | £116–£172 |
Learning resources & ICT | £592 | £443 | £352–£510 |
Bought-in services | £840 | £269 | £135–£440 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- West Heslerton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- East Huntspill Primary Academy Large reserves
- Pembridge CofE Primary School In deficit
- Bridstow CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Purley CofE Primary School In deficit
- Henshaw Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- New Mill Infant School In deficit
- St Matthews Church of England Academy In deficit
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle Healthy
- East Meon Church of England Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- New Hinksey Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Warcop CofE Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £678k | £8,374 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £48k | £592 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £25k | £305 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £72k | £892 |
Money raised by parents
CATON COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL PTA (charity 1096315, Registered) raised £4k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-12 | £4k | £3k |
2024-12 | £6k | £6k |
2023-12 | £3k | £3k |
2022-12 | £5k | £7k |
2021-12 | £5k | £2k |
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 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?
- Spending on bought-in services is £840 a pupil, against a typical £269 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £273 a pupil, against a typical £142 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £634 a pupil, against a typical £431 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £592 a pupil, against a typical £443 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 Caton Primary School · All Lancashire school finances