Arrow Valley First School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £38k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Worcestershire · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: CENTRAL REGION SCHOOLS 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 | £968k | £1.0m | -£81k | £21k | 203 |
2019-20 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£32k | -£12k | 176 |
2020-21 | £969k | £979k | -£11k | -£22k | 176 |
2021-22 | £1.0m | £1.0m | +£10k | £43k | 160 |
2022-23 | £1.0m | £1.0m | +£3k | £0 | 150 |
2023-24 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£78k | £0 | 141 |
2024-25 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£28k | £38k | 148 |
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 33% of them. It spends £7,347 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,093.
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 | £3,785 | £3,855 | £3,152–£4,092 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £909 | £1,661 | £1,316–£1,933 |
Supply staff | £209 | £172 | £69–£439 |
Admin and clerical | £505 | £387 | £309–£488 |
Premises | £404 | £421 | £370–£575 |
Energy | £128 | £132 | £113–£172 |
Learning resources & ICT | £249 | £287 | £209–£369 |
Bought-in services | £310 | £146 | £81–£269 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Newlyn School Large reserves
- Manor Field Infant School Heading for deficit
- Lady Katherine Leveson Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Ryhope Infant School Academy Large reserves
- Troon Community Primary School Tight
- St Paul's CofE Primary School Heading for deficit
- Buxton Infant School Heading for deficit
- St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School, Dunston In deficit
- Albany Infant and Nursery School Healthy
- St John the Evangelist Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Mill Lane Primary School Healthy
- Alfred Lord Tennyson School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.0m | £7,030 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £34k | £229 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £19k | £128 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- 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 bought-in services is £310 a pupil, against a typical £146 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 Arrow Valley First School · All Worcestershire school finances