Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £388k in reserve, 14% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). East Sussex · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ARK SCHOOLS 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 | £1.8m | £1.9m | -£33k | £92k | 424 |
2019-20 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£152k | £81k | 426 |
2020-21 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£128k | £121k | 429 |
2021-22 | £2.3m | £2.1m | +£235k | £216k | 431 |
2022-23 | £2.4m | £2.3m | +£24k | £240k | 429 |
2023-24 | £2.6m | £2.5m | +£103k | £241k | 435 |
2024-25 | £2.9m | £2.8m | +£98k | £388k | 436 |
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 80% of them. It spends £6,346 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,621.
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 | £3,216 | £3,157 | £2,933–£3,401 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,261 | £1,540 | £1,223–£1,803 |
Supply staff | £0 | £109 | £51–£174 |
Admin and clerical | £667 | £264 | £219–£393 |
Premises | £158 | £319 | £275–£398 |
Energy | £64 | £91 | £72–£120 |
Learning resources & ICT | £383 | £242 | £146–£304 |
Bought-in services | £0 | £151 | £95–£261 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Cherry Tree Primary School Healthy
- St John Vianney Catholic Primary School, West Denton Large reserves
- St Michael-in-the-Hamlet Community Primary School In deficit
- Desmond Anderson Primary Academy Tight
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Sidmouth Primary School Large reserves
- Legh Vale Primary School Large reserves
- Town Farm Primary School & Nursery Large reserves
- St Monica's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy Large reserves
- Bonnygate Primary School Large reserves
- Langley Green Primary Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.8m | £6,477 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £217k | £498 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £41k | £94 |
Money raised by parents
ARK LITTLE RIDGE PRIMARY ACADEMY PARENTS AND STAFF ASSOCIATION (charity 1050913, Registered) raised £9k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-07 | £9k | £9k |
2024-07 | £8k | £6k |
2023-07 | £9k | £6k |
2022-07 | £6k | £8k |
2021-07 | £866 | £2k |
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?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £667 a pupil, against a typical £264 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £383 a pupil, against a typical £242 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 Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy · All East Sussex school finances