Blackthorns Community Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £5k reserve runs out in about 0 year.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). West Sussex · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: HURST EDUCATION 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 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£1k | £0 | 238 |
2019-20 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£113k | £0 | 209 |
2020-21 | £1.0m | £1.0m | +£20k | £0 | 211 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£2k | £0 | 209 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£58k | £0 | 210 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£106k | £0 | 210 |
2024-25 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£84k | £5k | 210 |
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 23% of them. It spends £6,348 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,190.
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 | £3,471 | £3,112 | £2,913–£3,260 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £105 | £1,004 | £801–£1,195 |
Supply staff | £210 | £81 | £35–£133 |
Admin and clerical | £1,214 | £345 | £262–£388 |
Premises | £262 | £320 | £254–£387 |
Energy | £81 | £96 | £72–£121 |
Learning resources & ICT | £419 | £336 | £265–£375 |
Bought-in services | £43 | £172 | £122–£214 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Cookham Large reserves
- St Peter's Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Collingham Lady Elizabeth Hastings Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Large reserves
- Holy Apostles' Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Redfield Edge Primary School Heading for deficit
- Hatch Ride Primary School Large reserves
- Weldon Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Clatford Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Frodsham CofE Primary School Healthy
- Berkswich CofE (VC) Primary School Tight
- Castlewood Primary School Large reserves
- St Finian's Catholic Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £5,805 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £73k | £348 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £30k | £143 |
Money raised by parents
THE BLACKTHORNS PARENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (charity 296156, Registered) raised £6k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £6k | £7k |
2024-08 | £7k | £2k |
2023-08 | £11k | £17k |
2022-08 | £13k | £11k |
2021-08 | £5k | £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.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 12% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,214 a pupil, against a typical £345 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £210 a pupil, against a typical £81 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £419 a pupil, against a typical £336 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 Blackthorns Community Primary School · All West Sussex school finances