Fairfield Park Lower School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £186k, 5% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 4 years running.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Central Bedfordshire · 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 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£71k | £169k | 398 |
2019-20 | £2.0m | £2.2m | -£154k | £15k | 424 |
2020-21 | £2.4m | £2.3m | +£101k | £115k | 448 |
2021-22 | £2.5m | £2.4m | +£57k | £172k | 458 |
2022-23 | £2.7m | £2.8m | -£128k | £44k | 470 |
2023-24 | £3.0m | £3.1m | -£111k | -£67k | 477 |
2024-25 | £3.2m | £3.3m | -£44k | -£111k | 489 |
2025-26 | £3.4m | £3.5m | -£75k | -£186k | 468 |
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 3% of them. It spends £7,487 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £5,907.
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 | £3,072 | £2,856 | £2,705–£3,011 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,059 | £1,264 | £1,089–£1,423 |
Supply staff | £0 | £79 | £37–£170 |
Admin and clerical | £377 | £225 | £163–£378 |
Premises | £339 | £257 | £219–£305 |
Energy | £156 | £88 | £75–£103 |
Learning resources & ICT | £143 | £292 | £207–£395 |
Bought-in services | £211 | £107 | £64–£191 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Talbot Primary School Healthy
- Ponteland Primary School Large reserves
- Thomas A Becket Infant School Healthy
- St Matthew's Church of England Primary and Nursery Academy Healthy
- Dore Primary School Heading for deficit
- Lethbridge Primary School In deficit
- Corby Primary Academy Large reserves
- Runnymede St Edward's Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Werrington Primary School Large reserves
- Redhill Primary Academy Large reserves
- Castleview Primary School Large reserves
- Allington Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.1m | £6,689 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £163k | £348 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £55k | £117 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £299k | £637 |
Money raised by parents
FAIRFIELD PARK LOWER SCHOOL PTA (charity 1169022, Registered) raised £17k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £17k | £12k |
2024-08 | £11k | £9k |
2023-08 | £12k | £8k |
2022-08 | £165 | £2k |
2021-08 | £3k | £2k |
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.
- 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?
- Spending on bought-in services is £211 a pupil, against a typical £107 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £156 a pupil, against a typical £88 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,059 a pupil, against a typical £1,264 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £339 a pupil, against a typical £257 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 Fairfield Park Lower School · All Central Bedfordshire school finances