Cotham Gardens Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £117k reserve runs out in about 3 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Bristol, City of · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: COTHAM GARDENS PRIMARY SCHOOL LTD 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 | £2.6m | £2.7m | -£113k | £280k | 544 |
2019-20 | £2.6m | £2.6m | +£27k | £277k | 565 |
2020-21 | £2.7m | £2.9m | -£242k | £173k | 541 |
2021-22 | £2.9m | £3.0m | -£98k | £247k | 543 |
2022-23 | £3.0m | £3.0m | +£28k | £273k | 536 |
2023-24 | £3.2m | £3.3m | -£84k | £189k | 482 |
2024-25 | £3.1m | £3.2m | -£71k | £117k | 412 |
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 17% of them. It spends £7,818 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,659.
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 | £3,483 | £3,082 | £2,846–£3,297 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,252 | £1,309 | £1,060–£1,576 |
Supply staff | £626 | £152 | £50–£263 |
Admin and clerical | £386 | £302 | £212–£393 |
Premises | £507 | £356 | £264–£458 |
Energy | £138 | £93 | £73–£115 |
Learning resources & ICT | £318 | £247 | £203–£323 |
Bought-in services | £383 | £188 | £57–£297 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Palm Bay Primary School Large reserves
- Three Peaks Primary Academy Large reserves
- Trumpington Park Primary School Large reserves
- Somerset Bridge Primary School Large reserves
- Hazel Community Primary School Healthy
- St George's Foundation Primary School Large reserves
- Belmont Primary School Heading for deficit
- John F Kennedy Primary School Large reserves
- Heygarth Primary School Tight
- Eastover Primary School Large reserves
- Templars Academy Large reserves
- Long Sutton County Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.0m | £7,403 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £240k | £583 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £112k | £272 |
Money raised by parents
COTHAM GARDENS PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION (charity 1005349, Registered) raised £24k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £24k | £21k |
2024-08 | £26k | £42k |
2023-08 | £32k | £25k |
2022-08 | £24k | £15k |
2021-08 | £16k | £6k |
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 24% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £626 a pupil, against a typical £152 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £383 a pupil, against a typical £188 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £138 a pupil, against a typical £93 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £507 a pupil, against a typical £356 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 Cotham Gardens Primary School · All Bristol, City of school finances