Dersingham Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £148k in reserve, 11% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Norfolk · Primary · Voluntary aided 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 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£31k | -£6k | 274 |
2019-20 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£24k | -£30k | 240 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£48k | £18k | 232 |
2021-22 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£34k | £52k | 234 |
2022-23 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£60k | -£8k | 201 |
2023-24 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£94k | £86k | 190 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£62k | £147k | 194 |
2025-26 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£447 | £148k | 188 |
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 60% of them. It spends £7,252 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,121.
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 | £2,993 | £3,435 | £3,017–£3,583 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,912 | £1,354 | £1,122–£1,612 |
Supply staff | £39 | £124 | £55–£263 |
Admin and clerical | £235 | £345 | £270–£387 |
Premises | £567 | £400 | £336–£482 |
Energy | £152 | £113 | £92–£147 |
Learning resources & ICT | £198 | £292 | £222–£421 |
Bought-in services | £133 | £199 | £89–£295 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Laburnum Primary School Heading for deficit
- Danesholme Infant Academy Large reserves
- New Marske Primary School Healthy
- Westbury Infant School Healthy
- Kexborough Primary School Large reserves
- Loscoe CofE Primary School and Nursery Large reserves
- Lumley Junior School Large reserves
- Roydon Primary Academy Large reserves
- Dingle Community Primary School In deficit
- Witton Gilbert Primary School Healthy
- Nursteed Community Primary School Large reserves
- Magdalen Gates Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £6,451 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £79k | £421 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £69k | £366 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £155k | £820 |
Money raised by parents
DERSINGHAM PRIMARY PTFA (charity 1210724, Registered) raised £6k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-10 | £6k | £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 are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 31% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on premises is £567 a pupil, against a typical £400 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,912 a pupil, against a typical £1,354 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 Dersingham Primary School · All Norfolk school finances