Gothic Mede Academy: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £256k, 12% 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). Central Bedfordshire · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: BEDFORDSHIRE SCHOOLS TRUST LIMITED 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 | £1.4m | +£61k | £370k | 302 |
2019-20 | £1.5m | £1.3m | +£159k | £13k | 298 |
2020-21 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£61k | £171k | 294 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£60k | £27k | 293 |
2022-23 | £1.7m | £1.8m | -£98k | -£132k | 296 |
2023-24 | £1.9m | £2.1m | -£203k | -£295k | 296 |
2024-25 | £2.1m | £2.0m | +£83k | -£256k | 268 |
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 0% of them. It spends £7,377 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,701.
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 | £3,504 | £3,164 | £3,019–£3,534 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,004 | £1,390 | £1,098–£1,803 |
Supply staff | £49 | £102 | £33–£154 |
Admin and clerical | £425 | £298 | £209–£372 |
Premises | £276 | £343 | £298–£426 |
Energy | £116 | £116 | £82–£151 |
Learning resources & ICT | £299 | £291 | £200–£364 |
Bought-in services | £112 | £147 | £83–£240 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Trewirgie Infants' School Heading for deficit
- Balksbury Infant School Large reserves
- Stepgates Community School Tight
- Haworth Primary School Healthy
- All Saints Church of England Primary School, Sapcote Large reserves
- St Edmund's and St Thomas' Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Scawthorpe Castle Hills Primary Academy Tight
- Knypersley First School Large reserves
- Tenacres First School Healthy
- Tudor Grange Primary Academy Yew Tree Healthy
- Church Hill Church of England Junior School Large reserves
- The John Harrox Primary School, Moulton Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.9m | £7,063 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £227k | £847 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £175k | £653 |
Money raised by parents
PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF GOTHIC MEDE LOWER SCHOOL (charity 1042695, Registered) raised £2k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £2k | £1k |
2024-09 | £4k | £2k |
2023-09 | £8k | £5k |
2022-09 | £7k | £5k |
2021-09 | £2k | £1k |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 11% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,004 a pupil, against a typical £1,390 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £425 a pupil, against a typical £298 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 Gothic Mede Academy · All Central Bedfordshire school finances