The Wells Free School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £73k in reserve, 5% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Kent · Primary · Free schools.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE WELLS FREE SCHOOL 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 | £854k | £827k | +£27k | £78k | 166 |
2019-20 | £906k | £881k | +£25k | £31k | 170 |
2020-21 | £972k | £937k | +£35k | £16k | 181 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£33k | £29k | 183 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£35k | £42k | 208 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£37k | £55k | 210 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£25k | £73k | 212 |
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 37% of them. It spends £6,750 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,689.
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 | £3,278 | £3,133 | £3,025–£3,355 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,212 | £1,321 | £991–£1,516 |
Supply staff | £57 | £109 | £64–£217 |
Admin and clerical | £453 | £318 | £265–£440 |
Premises | £259 | £385 | £301–£431 |
Energy | £113 | £91 | £73–£111 |
Learning resources & ICT | £519 | £261 | £202–£355 |
Bought-in services | £113 | £172 | £121–£267 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Bishops Itchington Primary School Healthy
- Sandfield Primary School Large reserves
- St Nicholas At Wade Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Sawtry Infants' School Large reserves
- St John Fisher Catholic Primary School In deficit
- St James' Church of England Primary School Healthy
- William Fletcher Primary School Healthy
- Moseley Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Cayton Community Primary School Large reserves
- Chancel Primary School Large reserves
- Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Skinners' Kent Primary School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £6,292 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £67k | £316 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £122k | £575 |
Money raised by parents
THE WELLS FREE SCHOOL PARENT FRIENDS ASSOCIATION (charity 1178180, Registered) raised £7k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-08 | £7k | £2k |
2025-08 | £6k | £9k |
2024-08 | £8k | £6k |
2023-08 | £12k | £15k |
2022-08 | £9k | £3k |
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.
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £519 a pupil, against a typical £261 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.
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