Lark Rise Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £204k in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Central Bedfordshire · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: CHILTERN LEARNING TRUST can move money between its schools. The reserve includes this school's per-pupil share of the trust's central reserve.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2024-25
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2024-25
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £1.7m | £1.8m | -£144k | £213k | 339 |
2019-20 | £1.8m | £1.7m | +£123k | £196k | 336 |
2020-21 | £1.9m | £1.6m | +£224k | £188k | 330 |
2021-22 | £1.8m | £1.6m | +£154k | £284k | 341 |
2022-23 | £2.1m | £1.8m | +£245k | £244k | 349 |
2023-24 | £2.3m | £1.9m | +£327k | £103k | 347 |
2024-25 | £2.1m | £2.0m | +£71k | £204k | 346 |
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 53% of them. It spends £5,890 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £5,982.
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 | £3,143 | £3,072 | £2,854–£3,214 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,378 | £1,098 | £924–£1,380 |
Supply staff | £0 | £98 | £50–£172 |
Admin and clerical | £0 | £265 | £216–£284 |
Premises | £304 | £286 | £234–£366 |
Energy | £61 | £87 | £62–£101 |
Learning resources & ICT | £246 | £326 | £251–£426 |
Bought-in services | £133 | £140 | £97–£225 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Eastbury Farm Primary School Large reserves
- Bernards Heath Junior School Healthy
- Clitheroe Pendle Primary School Heading for deficit
- Healing Primary Academy Heading for deficit
- Holy Trinity Church of England (Aided) School Large reserves
- West Bridgford Junior School Large reserves
- Horsell CofE Junior School Large reserves
- Little Green Junior School Large reserves
- Fleetville Junior School Large reserves
- Canada Hill Community Primary School Healthy
- St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior School Large reserves
- Ravenshead CofE Primary School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.0m | £5,763 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £71k | £205 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £115k | £333 |
Money raised by parents
Friends of Lark Rise Academy (charity 1033843, Registered) raised £11k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £11k | £13k |
2024-09 | £11k | £10k |
2023-09 | £7k | £5k |
2022-09 | £11k | £9k |
2021-09 | £4k | £5k |
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 are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- 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.
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