St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bridgwater: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £373k in reserve, 27% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Somerset · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE DUNSTAN CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL 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 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£15k | £91k | 220 |
2019-20 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£26k | £116k | 200 |
2020-21 | £1.0m | £1.0m | -£4k | £112k | 202 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£114k | £269k | 205 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£102k | £328k | 206 |
2024-25 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£94k | £373k | 202 |
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 100% of them. It spends £6,431 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,456.
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 | £3,064 | £3,198 | £2,915–£3,564 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,079 | £1,059 | £866–£1,302 |
Supply staff | £183 | £85 | £42–£155 |
Admin and clerical | £297 | £330 | £249–£388 |
Premises | £401 | £331 | £295–£389 |
Energy | £99 | £90 | £71–£118 |
Learning resources & ICT | £109 | £353 | £243–£436 |
Bought-in services | £104 | £153 | £91–£234 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Mary's Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Helsby Hillside Primary School Heading for deficit
- Garstang Community Primary School Healthy
- Bentfield Primary School and Nursery Tight
- St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Sevenoaks Large reserves
- Saint Peter's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy In deficit
- Thingwall Primary School Healthy
- Ettington CofE Primary School In deficit
- St Mary's CofE (Aided) Primary School In deficit
- Manor Way Primary Academy Heading for deficit
- Newick Church of England Primary School Heading for deficit
- Staplegrove Church School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £6,332 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £41k | £203 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £107k | £530 |
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 8% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £183 a pupil, against a typical £85 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.
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