Swanage St Mark's Church of England Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £15k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Dorset · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: COASTAL LEARNING PARTNERSHIP 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 | £907k | £790k | +£117k | -£19k | 169 |
2019-20 | £950k | £817k | +£133k | -£10k | 156 |
2020-21 | £955k | £826k | +£129k | £28k | 153 |
2021-22 | £18k | £0 | +£18k | -£80k | 152 |
2022-23 | £950k | £944k | +£6k | -£122k | 155 |
2023-24 | £1.1m | £952k | +£126k | -£74k | 141 |
2024-25 | £982k | £914k | +£68k | £15k | 120 |
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 20% of them. It spends £7,617 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,413.
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 | £1,067 | £4,036 | £3,765–£4,617 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £417 | £1,770 | £1,469–£2,205 |
Supply staff | £2,633 | £243 | £128–£478 |
Admin and clerical | £1,733 | £446 | £360–£540 |
Premises | £525 | £593 | £553–£721 |
Energy | £125 | £175 | £139–£232 |
Learning resources & ICT | £333 | £382 | £331–£504 |
Bought-in services | £0 | £277 | £137–£350 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Austin Farm Academy In deficit
- Moorside Primary Academy Large reserves
- Greenacres Primary School Large reserves
- Priory Infant School Large reserves
- St Peter's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Holy Trinity VC School Healthy
- Brockley Primary School Healthy
- The Corsham Regis Primary Academy Large reserves
- Palace Fields Primary Academy Large reserves
- Marlborough Primary Academy Healthy
- Fishburn Primary School Large reserves
- Eythorne Elvington Community Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £975k | £8,125 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £9k | £75 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £7k | £58 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 29% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £2,633 a pupil, against a typical £243 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,733 a pupil, against a typical £446 for similar schools. What's behind that?
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 Swanage St Mark's Church of England Primary School · All Dorset school finances