Watlington Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £172k in reserve, 13% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Oxfordshire · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ACER TRUST can move money between its schools. The reserve includes this school's per-pupil share of the trust's central reserve.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
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 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£13k | £78k | 267 |
2019-20 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£101k | £129k | 244 |
2020-21 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£88k | £178k | 231 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£137k | £277k | 196 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£40k | £267k | 198 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£54k | £241k | 193 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£26k | £172k | 217 |
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 80% of them. It spends £5,940 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,779.
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 | £3,300 | £3,107 | £2,897–£3,376 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,152 | £1,265 | £1,019–£1,596 |
Supply staff | £0 | £115 | £45–£187 |
Admin and clerical | £332 | £328 | £273–£390 |
Premises | £249 | £386 | £277–£465 |
Energy | £111 | £101 | £86–£123 |
Learning resources & ICT | £461 | £306 | £236–£410 |
Bought-in services | £18 | £182 | £79–£316 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Booth Wood Academy Heading for deficit
- All Saints CofE Junior School Large reserves
- Beechcroft Infant School Heading for deficit
- Unsworth Primary School Heading for deficit
- Bearwood Primary School Large reserves
- The Sacred Heart Primary Catholic Voluntary Academy Healthy
- Ashleigh Primary School Tight
- Blue Coat CofE (Aided) Junior School Large reserves
- High Wych Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery Healthy
- Tadley Community Primary School In deficit
- Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £6,180 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £102k | £470 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £41k | £189 |
Money raised by parents
WATLINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL PTA (charity 1102185, Registered) raised £22k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £22k | £29k |
2024-08 | £17k | £12k |
2023-08 | £18k | £21k |
2022-08 | £19k | £20k |
2021-03 | £8k | £6k |
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 19% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £461 a pupil, against a typical £306 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 Watlington Primary School · All Oxfordshire school finances