Pensans Community Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £259k, 19% 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). Cornwall · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: TRURO & PENWITH ACADEMY 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 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£86k | £35k | 276 |
2019-20 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£36k | -£47k | 260 |
2020-21 | £1.6m | £1.5m | +£80k | -£17k | 240 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£58k | -£145k | 209 |
2022-23 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£105k | -£87k | 165 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£36k | -£54k | 128 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£81k | -£259k | 116 |
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 3% of them. It spends £12,275 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,590.
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 | £5,691 | £3,868 | £3,715–£4,460 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,704 | £1,764 | £1,471–£2,113 |
Supply staff | £326 | £351 | £117–£596 |
Admin and clerical | £592 | £524 | £367–£623 |
Premises | £652 | £607 | £433–£726 |
Energy | £283 | £189 | £147–£219 |
Learning resources & ICT | £618 | £411 | £263–£574 |
Bought-in services | £43 | £196 | £108–£570 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Beacon View Primary School In deficit
- Castle View Primary School Large reserves
- New Brancepeth Primary Academy Large reserves
- Annfield Plain Junior School In deficit
- St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Stacksteads, Bacup Healthy
- Eden Park Academy Healthy
- Fairfield Infant and Nursery School In deficit
- Rawtenstall Newchurch Church of England Primary School Healthy
- NCEA William Leech CofE Primary School Tight
- Phoenix St Peter Academy Tight
- Christ Church CofE Primary School Tight
- Earby Springfield Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £11,579 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £239k | £2,052 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £15k | £129 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF PENSANS SCHOOL (charity 1115915, Registered) raised £2k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-03 | £2k | £1k |
2024-03 | £287 | £700 |
2023-03 | £1k | £1k |
2022-03 | £0 | £300 |
2021-03 | £2k | £3k |
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 58% 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 £2,704 a pupil, against a typical £1,764 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £283 a pupil, against a typical £189 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £5,691 a pupil, against a typical £3,868 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 Pensans Community Primary School · All Cornwall school finances