St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Swindon: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 7 years running; at that rate its £25k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Swindon · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ST CATHERINE'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL (ACADEMY) SWINDON 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 | £981k | £996k | -£15k | £190k | 193 |
2019-20 | £958k | £1.0m | -£52k | £170k | 213 |
2020-21 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£36k | £198k | 204 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£144k | £145k | 230 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£6k | £139k | 228 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£75k | £70k | 235 |
2024-25 | £1.4m | £1.5m | -£47k | £25k | 217 |
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 27% of them. It spends £6,797 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,245.
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 | £3,115 | £3,026 | £2,850–£3,223 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,341 | £1,284 | £975–£1,448 |
Supply staff | £120 | £80 | £16–£188 |
Admin and clerical | £433 | £286 | £251–£388 |
Premises | £419 | £300 | £260–£385 |
Energy | £65 | £88 | £78–£118 |
Learning resources & ICT | £318 | £290 | £230–£384 |
Bought-in services | £300 | £123 | £84–£194 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Redhill Primary School Large reserves
- Christ Church CofE Primary School In deficit
- Highnam CofE Primary Academy Healthy
- Lyncrest Primary School Healthy
- Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Walter Infant School In deficit
- Cobham Primary School Large reserves
- St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Skipton, Water Street Community Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Barnsley Tight
- The Wroxham School In deficit
- Heddon-on-the-Wall, St Andrew's Church of England Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.4m | £6,313 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £56k | £258 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £59k | £272 |
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 bought-in services is £300 a pupil, against a typical £123 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £433 a pupil, against a typical £286 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 St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Swindon · All Swindon school finances