St James Church of England First School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £126k in reserve, 12% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Dorset · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: DIOCESE OF SALISBURY ACADEMY 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 | £587k | £588k | -£2k | £40k | 119 |
2019-20 | £603k | £597k | +£6k | £46k | 121 |
2021-22 | £634k | £623k | +£11k | £53k | 123 |
2022-23 | £698k | £672k | +£26k | £34k | 117 |
2023-24 | £721k | £728k | -£7k | £28k | 102 |
2024-25 | £1.1m | £924k | +£133k | £126k | 125 |
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 £7,392 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,290.
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 | £3,264 | £3,480 | £3,064–£3,761 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,032 | £1,409 | £1,080–£1,856 |
Supply staff | £72 | £109 | £51–£240 |
Admin and clerical | £576 | £362 | £267–£500 |
Premises | £184 | £345 | £305–£415 |
Energy | £88 | £111 | £89–£139 |
Learning resources & ICT | £416 | £346 | £263–£531 |
Bought-in services | £24 | £221 | £113–£424 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Marshfield Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Low Furness CofE Primary School In deficit
- Knayton Church of England Academy Large reserves
- Freeland Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- St Andrew's Church of England Primary Academy, Marks Tey Large reserves
- Syresham St James CofE Primary School and Nursery Healthy
- Moresby Primary School Heading for deficit
- Tibberton Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Elvington Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School In deficit
- Pollington-Balne Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Stannington First School Large reserves
- Trumps Green Infant School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £980k | £7,840 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £15k | £120 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £86k | £688 |
Money raised by parents
ST JAMES' SCHOOL PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION (charity 1003759, Registered) raised £16k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-08 | £16k | £8k |
2025-08 | £13k | £9k |
2024-08 | £6k | £8k |
2023-08 | £8k | £23k |
2022-08 | £9k | £4k |
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?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £576 a pupil, against a typical £362 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 St James Church of England First School · All Dorset school finances