Merlin Top Primary Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £342k in reserve, 13% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Bradford · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: NORTHERN EDUCATION 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 | £2.0m | £2.0m | +£67k | £15k | 317 |
2019-20 | £2.0m | £2.0m | -£29k | £15k | 314 |
2020-21 | £2.1m | £1.9m | +£207k | £15k | 308 |
2021-22 | £2.1m | £2.1m | +£51k | £15k | 320 |
2022-23 | £2.4m | £2.2m | +£105k | £15k | 332 |
2023-24 | £2.6m | £2.4m | +£188k | £15k | 322 |
2024-25 | £2.6m | £2.6m | +£48k | £342k | 321 |
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 63% of them. It spends £8,000 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,686.
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 | £3,573 | £3,790 | £3,366–£4,076 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,729 | £1,425 | £1,244–£1,676 |
Supply staff | £358 | £197 | £63–£361 |
Admin and clerical | £252 | £292 | £209–£412 |
Premises | £374 | £405 | £329–£517 |
Energy | £371 | £117 | £84–£154 |
Learning resources & ICT | £271 | £345 | £212–£435 |
Bought-in services | £28 | £167 | £50–£259 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- West Denton Primary School Large reserves
- Rimrose Hope CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Southcoates Primary Academy Large reserves
- Quay Academy Large reserves
- Littlemoor Primary School In deficit
- Great Malvern Primary School Large reserves
- Delce Academy In deficit
- Longhill Primary School Healthy
- South Bank Community Primary School Healthy
- Bowesfield Primary School Large reserves
- Norwich Primary Academy Healthy
- Alt Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.5m | £7,869 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £171k | £533 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £90k | £280 |
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?
- Spending on energy is £371 a pupil, against a typical £117 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 Merlin Top Primary Academy · All Bradford school finances