The Links Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £11k 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). Stockton-on-Tees · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: SPARK EDUCATION 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 | £969k | £966k | +£3k | £144k | 204 |
2019-20 | £985k | £957k | +£28k | £165k | 204 |
2020-21 | £1.0m | £1.0m | -£8k | £123k | 196 |
2021-22 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£53k | £37k | 189 |
2022-23 | £1.0m | £979k | +£39k | £34k | 187 |
2023-24 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£65k | -£51k | 176 |
2024-25 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£5k | £11k | 166 |
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 30% of them. It spends £7,363 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,388.
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 | £3,964 | £3,347 | £2,889–£3,833 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £979 | £1,234 | £939–£1,602 |
Supply staff | £258 | £133 | £62–£333 |
Admin and clerical | £276 | £389 | £284–£473 |
Premises | £372 | £399 | £338–£462 |
Energy | £138 | £98 | £85–£114 |
Learning resources & ICT | £342 | £299 | £220–£370 |
Bought-in services | £42 | £174 | £70–£320 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Hawridge and Cholesbury Church of England School In deficit
- Bollington Cross CofE Primary School In deficit
- Our Lady Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Colwall CofE Primary School and Nursery Large reserves
- Hallbrook Primary School Large reserves
- Marcham Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School In deficit
- Motcombe CofE Primary School In deficit
- Tidcombe Primary School Healthy
- The Avenue Infant School Large reserves
- St Swithun's Church of England VC Primary School Tight
- Lostwithiel School Healthy
- Bagthorpe Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.1m | £6,847 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £73k | £438 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £91k | £547 |
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 18% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on energy is £138 a pupil, against a typical £98 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 The Links Primary School · All Stockton-on-Tees school finances