Oakley Primary Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £230k in reserve, 15% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Bedford · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: MERIDIAN 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 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£53k | £0 | 308 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£113k | £0 | 306 |
2020-21 | £1.6m | £1.5m | +£57k | £0 | 302 |
2021-22 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£64k | £93k | 286 |
2022-23 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£154k | £147k | 286 |
2023-24 | £1.6m | £1.5m | +£108k | £158k | 260 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£82k | £230k | 224 |
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 87% of them. It spends £6,536 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,614.
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 | £3,790 | £3,101 | £2,937–£3,343 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £857 | £1,194 | £1,033–£1,464 |
Supply staff | £80 | £96 | £31–£213 |
Admin and clerical | £281 | £318 | £277–£399 |
Premises | £482 | £346 | £265–£420 |
Energy | £85 | £90 | £66–£121 |
Learning resources & ICT | £268 | £255 | £207–£343 |
Bought-in services | £9 | £185 | £54–£335 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Thomas' CofE Primary School Healthy
- Clifton-upon-Dunsmore CofE Primary School Healthy
- Hillside Primary School Healthy
- Freegrounds Infant School Tight
- St Wilfrid's Cof E Primary School Large reserves
- Bishopswood Junior School In deficit
- Monksmoor Park Church of England Primary School Tight
- St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Field Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School Healthy
- Stourfield Infant School Large reserves
- Merdon Junior School Large reserves
- Thaxted Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.5m | £6,656 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £24k | £107 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £55k | £246 |
Money raised by parents
OAKLEY PRIMARY ACADEMY PTA (charity 1208082, Registered) raised £5k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-04 | £5k | £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.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 27% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on premises is £482 a pupil, against a typical £346 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £3,790 a pupil, against a typical £3,101 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.
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