Lifton Community Academy: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £71k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Devon · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: LEARNING ACADEMY PARTNERSHIP (SOUTH WEST) 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 | £678k | £614k | +£63k | £181k | 118 |
2019-20 | £701k | £682k | +£20k | £200k | 131 |
2020-21 | £776k | £736k | +£41k | £241k | 136 |
2021-22 | £822k | £831k | -£10k | £231k | 136 |
2022-23 | £816k | £851k | -£35k | £0 | 177 |
2023-24 | £756k | £997k | -£241k | £0 | 162 |
2024-25 | £996k | £1.0m | -£7k | £71k | 146 |
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 60% of them. It spends £6,893 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,340.
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 | £2,790 | £3,201 | £3,015–£3,739 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,546 | £1,484 | £1,185–£1,817 |
Supply staff | £570 | £169 | £73–£338 |
Admin and clerical | £137 | £337 | £230–£411 |
Premises | £557 | £354 | £282–£483 |
Energy | £89 | £110 | £97–£146 |
Learning resources & ICT | £172 | £313 | £212–£383 |
Bought-in services | £179 | £183 | £86–£266 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Gerard's Catholic Primary School Heading for deficit
- Newport Primary School In deficit
- Weston-on-Trent CofE (VA) Primary School In deficit
- Tweedmouth West Primary School In deficit
- Sandford Primary School Large reserves
- St Ives Infant School Healthy
- Marsh Lane Primary School Healthy
- Stonehouse Park Infant School Tight
- St Charles' Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Healthy
- St Stephen's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, A Voluntary Academy In deficit
- Tibshelf Infant School In deficit
- St Saviours Infant Church School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £951k | £6,536 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £18k | £124 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £45k | £309 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF LIFTON SCHOOL (charity 1177478, Registered) raised £14k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-07 | £14k | £11k |
2025-07 | £11k | £19k |
2024-07 | £8k | £5k |
2023-07 | £7k | £6k |
2022-07 | £8k | £7k |
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 is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on supply staff is £570 a pupil, against a typical £169 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £557 a pupil, against a typical £354 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 Lifton Community Academy · All Devon school finances