Squirrel Hayes First School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £637k, 92% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 8 years running.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Staffordshire · Primary · Foundation 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 | £677k | £736k | -£59k | -£88k | 100 |
2019-20 | £657k | £701k | -£44k | -£131k | 87 |
2020-21 | £621k | £630k | -£9k | -£140k | 88 |
2021-22 | £638k | £703k | -£65k | -£206k | 87 |
2022-23 | £706k | £798k | -£92k | -£298k | 78 |
2023-24 | £781k | £876k | -£95k | -£393k | 73 |
2024-25 | £726k | £833k | -£107k | -£500k | 61 |
2025-26 | £689k | £826k | -£137k | -£637k | 51 |
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 0% of them. It spends £16,191 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £11,230.
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 | £6,194 | £4,808 | £4,105–£5,488 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £4,648 | £1,950 | £1,367–£2,861 |
Supply staff | £481 | £141 | £88–£335 |
Admin and clerical | £761 | £613 | £453–£832 |
Premises | £212 | £631 | £429–£768 |
Energy | £364 | £187 | £140–£282 |
Learning resources & ICT | £363 | £470 | £310–£733 |
Bought-in services | £515 | £269 | £105–£492 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Banks Methodist School Healthy
- Unstone Junior School Heading for deficit
- Beamish Primary School Large reserves
- Longford Church of England Primary School Healthy
- St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Bakewell Methodist Academy Large reserves
- West Pelton Primary School Large reserves
- Princetown Community Primary School Tight
- The Olive School, Manchester In deficit
- The New Leake Primary School Large reserves
- Weston St Mary Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £678k | £13,290 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £124k | £2,434 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £42k | £818 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £11k | £224 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 49% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £481 a pupil, against a typical £141 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £4,648 a pupil, against a typical £1,950 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £364 a pupil, against a typical £187 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 Squirrel Hayes First School · All Staffordshire school finances