Carswell Community Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £13k reserve runs out in about 0 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Oxfordshire · 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 | -£26k | £146k | 226 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£25k | £121k | 248 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£2k | £119k | 226 |
2021-22 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£1k | £118k | 215 |
2022-23 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£26k | £144k | 210 |
2023-24 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£9k | £135k | 214 |
2024-25 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£12k | £122k | 206 |
2025-26 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£109k | £13k | 206 |
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 £7,592 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,639.
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 | £3,125 | £3,077 | £2,976–£3,319 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,441 | £1,283 | £994–£1,488 |
Supply staff | £148 | £86 | £47–£141 |
Admin and clerical | £702 | £348 | £266–£400 |
Premises | £518 | £375 | £296–£440 |
Energy | £158 | £88 | £70–£116 |
Learning resources & ICT | £324 | £292 | £248–£377 |
Bought-in services | £135 | £155 | £67–£219 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Helen's Church of England School In deficit
- Saint Albert the Great Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Healthy
- Loughton Manor First School Healthy
- Ann Edwards Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Red Barn Community Primary School Healthy
- Meadow Primary School Tight
- East Bierley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Healthy
- Albert Village Primary School Healthy
- Saint Bernadette Voluntary Catholic Primary Academy Large reserves
- Maynards Green Community Primary School Heading for deficit
- Delph Primary School Large reserves
- Alconbury CofE Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £6,476 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £63k | £307 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £55k | £268 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £120k | £586 |
Money raised by parents
CARSWELL PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (charity 1066920, Registered) raised £23k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £23k | £6k |
2024-08 | £18k | £6k |
2023-08 | £16k | £15k |
2022-08 | £21k | £15k |
2021-08 | £10k | £7k |
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 is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 9% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £702 a pupil, against a typical £348 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £158 a pupil, against a typical £88 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £518 a pupil, against a typical £375 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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 Carswell Community Primary School · All Oxfordshire school finances