The Heights Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £323k, 14% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Reading · Primary · Free schools.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: BELLEVUE PLACE 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 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£116k | £85k | 276 |
2019-20 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£71k | £17k | 328 |
2020-21 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£103k | £5k | 353 |
2021-22 | £2.0m | £2.2m | -£219k | -£61k | 347 |
2022-23 | £2.1m | £1.9m | +£262k | £0 | 350 |
2024-25 | £2.2m | £2.2m | +£44k | -£323k | 359 |
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 3% of them. It spends £6,123 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,327.
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 | £3,195 | £3,050 | £2,930–£3,214 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,045 | £1,089 | £911–£1,255 |
Supply staff | £36 | £117 | £66–£176 |
Admin and clerical | £354 | £311 | £257–£385 |
Premises | £262 | £351 | £270–£383 |
Energy | £75 | £78 | £70–£95 |
Learning resources & ICT | £267 | £316 | £245–£404 |
Bought-in services | £103 | £144 | £79–£180 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- West Leigh Infant School Large reserves
- Tranmere Park Primary School In deficit
- Wheatfields Junior Mixed School Large reserves
- Hursthead Junior School Large reserves
- Cassiobury Junior School Healthy
- Dobcroft Junior School Heading for deficit
- Willows Primary School Tight
- Elmlea Junior School Large reserves
- St Francis Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Roundwood Primary School Healthy
- Elloughton Primary School Healthy
- Wymondham College Prep School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.1m | £5,741 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £115k | £320 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £181k | £504 |
Money raised by parents
THE HEIGHTS PTFA (charity 1164551, Registered) raised £41k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £41k | £29k |
2024-08 | £36k | £26k |
2023-08 | £38k | £38k |
2022-08 | £43k | £55k |
2021-08 | £23k | £20k |
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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with its trust, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- 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 The Heights Primary School · All Reading school finances