Burscough Bridge St John's Church of England Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £23k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lancashire · Primary · Voluntary controlled 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 | £818k | £806k | +£12k | £59k | 175 |
2019-20 | £846k | £840k | +£7k | £66k | 168 |
2020-21 | £821k | £819k | +£2k | £68k | 165 |
2021-22 | £850k | £899k | -£49k | £18k | 167 |
2022-23 | £924k | £933k | -£9k | £9k | 159 |
2023-24 | £974k | £976k | -£1k | £8k | 163 |
2024-25 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£27k | £35k | 147 |
2025-26 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£12k | £23k | 135 |
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 40% of them. It spends £8,664 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,112.
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 | £4,310 | £3,281 | £3,033–£3,659 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,414 | £1,386 | £954–£1,796 |
Supply staff | £198 | £126 | £17–£249 |
Admin and clerical | £204 | £376 | £287–£517 |
Premises | £682 | £360 | £260–£467 |
Energy | £123 | £112 | £87–£148 |
Learning resources & ICT | £284 | £314 | £237–£443 |
Bought-in services | £362 | £141 | £27–£218 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Pirton School Large reserves
- Rattlesden Church of England Primary Academy Large reserves
- Newtown Primary School Large reserves
- Diss Infant Academy and Nursery Tight
- Eileen Wade Primary School Healthy
- St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Child Okeford In deficit
- Netheravon All Saints CofE Primary School Large reserves
- High Ongar Primary School Large reserves
- Kinsale Infant School Heading for deficit
- Wyton on the Hill Community Primary School In deficit
- Chagford Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Great Bowden Academy, A Church of England Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.1m | £7,816 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £46k | £339 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £35k | £260 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £102k | £757 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 23% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £362 a pupil, against a typical £141 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £682 a pupil, against a typical £360 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,310 a pupil, against a typical £3,281 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 Burscough Bridge St John's Church of England Primary School · All Lancashire school finances