The Valley Community Primary School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £248k in reserve, 7% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Bolton · 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 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£4k | £83k | 496 |
2019-20 | £2.5m | £2.5m | -£24k | £60k | 498 |
2020-21 | £2.7m | £2.6m | +£35k | £95k | 492 |
2021-22 | £2.7m | £2.8m | -£25k | £70k | 484 |
2022-23 | £2.9m | £3.0m | -£75k | -£6k | 488 |
2023-24 | £3.1m | £3.0m | +£97k | £91k | 490 |
2024-25 | £3.4m | £3.3m | +£92k | £183k | 483 |
2025-26 | £3.6m | £3.5m | +£65k | £248k | 501 |
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 67% of them. It spends £7,043 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 | £3,159 | £3,100 | £2,735–£3,251 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,822 | £1,271 | £1,062–£1,655 |
Supply staff | £110 | £98 | £38–£233 |
Admin and clerical | £236 | £292 | £209–£344 |
Premises | £447 | £320 | £227–£371 |
Energy | £132 | £95 | £66–£115 |
Learning resources & ICT | £323 | £280 | £187–£346 |
Bought-in services | £104 | £92 | £65–£167 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Christchurch Junior School Healthy
- Alkrington Primary School Tight
- Coundon Primary School Healthy
- Higher Lane Primary School Healthy
- Barley Hill Primary School In deficit
- Avanti Park School Large reserves
- Claydon Primary School Large reserves
- Brookside Community Primary School Healthy
- Downs Junior School Tight
- Swalecliffe Community Primary School Tight
- Worplesdon Primary School In deficit
- Highfield South Farnham School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.4m | £6,794 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £235k | £468 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £121k | £241 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £191k | £381 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,822 a pupil, against a typical £1,271 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £447 a pupil, against a typical £320 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £132 a pupil, against a typical £95 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 The Valley Community Primary School · All Bolton school finances