Burston Community Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £12k 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). Norfolk · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: SAPIENTIA 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 | £290k | £279k | +£11k | £64k | 40 |
2019-20 | £304k | £281k | +£23k | £0 | 36 |
2020-21 | £281k | £267k | +£14k | £0 | 35 |
2021-22 | £322k | £284k | +£38k | £0 | 37 |
2022-23 | £354k | £314k | +£40k | £0 | 42 |
2023-24 | £425k | £485k | -£60k | £0 | 36 |
2024-25 | £472k | £438k | +£34k | £12k | 25 |
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 £17,520 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £15,641.
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 | £9,000 | £6,757 | £5,750–£7,884 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £3,680 | £2,253 | £1,723–£2,722 |
Supply staff | £0 | £339 | £133–£1,198 |
Admin and clerical | £920 | £937 | £758–£1,325 |
Premises | £720 | £916 | £663–£1,094 |
Energy | £360 | £292 | £224–£389 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,160 | £833 | £601–£1,230 |
Bought-in services | £160 | £736 | £350–£1,303 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Slaidburn Brennands Endowed Primary School In deficit
- Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, Dunsop Bridge Large reserves
- St Mawes Primary School Tight
- Edale CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Farlow CofE Primary School Heading for deficit
- Tatham Fells Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Heading for deficit
- King's Caple Primary Academy Healthy
- Cringleford Prep Tight
- Patterdale CofE Primary School Tight
- Talbot First School Large reserves
- Holme Junior and Infant School In deficit
- Tritlington Church of England First School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £461k | £18,440 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £39k | £1,560 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £11k | £440 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF BURSTON CP SCHOOL (charity 1038846, Registered) raised £5k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-07 | £5k | £7k |
2024-07 | £4k | £4k |
2023-07 | £5k | £5k |
2022-07 | £1k | £5k |
2021-08 | £284 | £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.
- 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 38% 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 £3,680 a pupil, against a typical £2,253 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £9,000 a pupil, against a typical £6,757 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 Burston Community Primary School · All Norfolk school finances