Merley First School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £59k in reserve, 4% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: INITIO LEARNING 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 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£96k | £252k | 305 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£75k | £271k | 305 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.2m | +£105k | £315k | 305 |
2021-22 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£158k | £405k | 302 |
2022-23 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£68k | £0 | 302 |
2023-24 | £1.6m | £1.4m | +£139k | £0 | 285 |
2024-25 | £1.6m | £1.4m | +£164k | £59k | 287 |
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 53% of them. It spends £4,993 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,428.
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 | £2,847 | £3,197 | £2,960–£3,402 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £822 | £1,212 | £978–£1,474 |
Supply staff | £17 | £101 | £49–£170 |
Admin and clerical | £213 | £295 | £255–£361 |
Premises | £261 | £298 | £251–£345 |
Energy | £52 | £92 | £73–£103 |
Learning resources & ICT | £247 | £281 | £227–£367 |
Bought-in services | £31 | £135 | £90–£234 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Bolton-le-Sands Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Rendlesham Primary School In deficit
- Holly Primary School In deficit
- Oakfield First School Large reserves
- Wychwood Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Picknalls First School Large reserves
- Perton First School Large reserves
- Nafferton Primary School In deficit
- Bartley Church of England Junior School Healthy
- Barugh Green Primary School Large reserves
- The Colleton Primary School In deficit
- Cramlington Northburn Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.6m | £5,446 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £23k | £80 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £34k | £118 |
Money raised by parents
MERLEY PTA (charity 1203901, Registered) raised £7k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-02 | £7k | £2k |
2025-02 | £3k | £2k |
2024-02 | £3k | £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.
- 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 Merley First School · All Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole school finances