St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton: school finances
Tight
Holds £20k 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). County Durham · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: BISHOP WILKINSON CATHOLIC EDUCATION 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 | £900k | £860k | +£40k | £166k | 161 |
2019-20 | £907k | £917k | -£9k | £157k | 164 |
2020-21 | £956k | £940k | +£16k | £173k | 164 |
2021-22 | £971k | £959k | +£12k | £124k | 161 |
2022-23 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£22k | £59k | 157 |
2023-24 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£24k | £38k | 145 |
2024-25 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£27k | £20k | 138 |
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 43% of them. It spends £7,645 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,313.
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 | £4,116 | £3,792 | £3,265–£4,139 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £754 | £1,777 | £1,207–£1,945 |
Supply staff | £348 | £205 | £84–£434 |
Admin and clerical | £442 | £374 | £279–£434 |
Premises | £500 | £454 | £367–£538 |
Energy | £174 | £116 | £72–£154 |
Learning resources & ICT | £261 | £390 | £287–£475 |
Bought-in services | £14 | £151 | £81–£272 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Lift Offa's Mead Large reserves
- Cam Woodfield Infant School In deficit
- Sutton St James Community Primary School Large reserves
- Brewster Avenue Infant School Tight
- Middle Street Primary School In deficit
- Hadfield Infant School Large reserves
- Wateringbury Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- The Ashbeach Primary School In deficit
- The Green Flying High Academy Tight
- Bishops Castle Primary School Large reserves
- Wickham Market Primary School Large reserves
- Angel Road Infant School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.0m | £7,514 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £64k | £464 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £27k | £196 |
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 14% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on energy is £174 a pupil, against a typical £116 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 St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton · All County Durham school finances