Distington Community School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 5 years running; at that rate its £6k reserve runs out in about 0 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Cumberland · 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 | £698k | £685k | +£13k | £69k | 122 |
2019-20 | £714k | £716k | -£2k | £66k | 119 |
2020-21 | £762k | £702k | +£60k | £126k | 119 |
2021-22 | £823k | £843k | -£20k | £106k | 108 |
2022-23 | £907k | £924k | -£17k | £89k | 114 |
2023-24 | £958k | £963k | -£4k | £85k | 100 |
2024-25 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£43k | £42k | 112 |
2025-26 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£35k | £6k | 114 |
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 37% of them. It spends £9,374 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,969.
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 | £4,372 | £4,030 | £3,628–£4,324 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,371 | £1,560 | £1,266–£2,044 |
Supply staff | £778 | £248 | £85–£444 |
Admin and clerical | £366 | £484 | £360–£579 |
Premises | £546 | £540 | £425–£640 |
Energy | £258 | £153 | £129–£199 |
Learning resources & ICT | £546 | £357 | £295–£452 |
Bought-in services | £28 | £189 | £71–£330 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Weaverham Primary Academy In deficit
- Jarvis Brook Primary School Large reserves
- Aldbrough Primary School In deficit
- Monkwray Junior School Healthy
- Henley-In-Arden CofE Primary School Large reserves
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham In deficit
- St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy In deficit
- King David Primary School In deficit
- Ryton-On-Dunsmore Provost Williams Church of England Academy Healthy
- Blyton Cum Laughton Church of England School Large reserves
- Uppingham Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Hetts Lane Infant and Nursery School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £935k | £8,205 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £63k | £555 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £56k | £492 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £98k | £859 |
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?
- Spending on supply staff is £778 a pupil, against a typical £248 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £258 a pupil, against a typical £153 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £546 a pupil, against a typical £357 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 Distington Community School · All Cumberland school finances