St Merryn School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £52k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Cornwall · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: KERNOW LEARNING MULTI ACADEMY 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 | £694k | £687k | +£7k | £129k | 148 |
2019-20 | £713k | £698k | +£15k | £117k | 142 |
2020-21 | £751k | £722k | +£29k | £109k | 142 |
2021-22 | £787k | £763k | +£24k | £6k | 138 |
2022-23 | £877k | £931k | -£54k | £6k | 137 |
2023-24 | £891k | £901k | -£10k | £1k | 131 |
2024-25 | £954k | £957k | -£3k | £52k | 126 |
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 57% of them. It spends £7,595 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,171.
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 | £3,405 | £3,536 | £3,245–£3,738 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,381 | £1,335 | £980–£1,573 |
Supply staff | £238 | £154 | £59–£269 |
Admin and clerical | £302 | £416 | £318–£464 |
Premises | £238 | £373 | £312–£512 |
Energy | £135 | £115 | £91–£130 |
Learning resources & ICT | £810 | £348 | £253–£479 |
Bought-in services | £103 | £173 | £125–£301 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Helmdon Primary School Tight
- Kington St Michael Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Welton Church of England Academy Large reserves
- Fittleworth CofE Village School Heading for deficit
- Northern Infant School Heading for deficit
- Overstrand, the Belfry, Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School In deficit
- Newton Ferrers Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Swanbourne Church of England VA School Large reserves
- Chandler's Ford Infant School In deficit
- Salhouse CofE Primary School Tight
- Barns Green Primary School Healthy
- Ashby Hastings Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £912k | £7,238 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £49k | £389 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £42k | £333 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF ST MERRYN SCHOOL (charity 1209502, Registered) raised £18k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £18k | £15k |
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 is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 15% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £810 a pupil, against a typical £348 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- 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.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for St Merryn School · All Cornwall school finances