St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whickham: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £180k in reserve, 15% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Gateshead · 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 | £903k | £920k | -£17k | £43k | 212 |
2019-20 | £957k | £961k | -£4k | £38k | 206 |
2020-21 | £947k | £927k | +£20k | £59k | 206 |
2021-22 | £1.0m | £1.0m | -£9k | £49k | 202 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£100k | £113k | 207 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£83k | £147k | 198 |
2024-25 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£90k | £180k | 189 |
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 93% of them. It spends £5,741 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,415.
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 | £2,979 | £3,235 | £2,977–£3,460 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £540 | £1,051 | £847–£1,341 |
Supply staff | £175 | £82 | £25–£167 |
Admin and clerical | £344 | £315 | £242–£398 |
Premises | £413 | £297 | £248–£375 |
Energy | £148 | £93 | £75–£120 |
Learning resources & ICT | £201 | £302 | £195–£360 |
Bought-in services | £5 | £165 | £127–£284 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Briavels Parochial Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Downham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Healthy
- St Bees Village Primary School Healthy
- Boyne Hill CofE Infant and Nursery School In deficit
- Grange CofE Primary School Healthy
- Larkhill Primary School Large reserves
- Harpole Primary School Large reserves
- The Priory Primary School Large reserves
- Lambley Primary School In deficit
- West Oxford Community Primary School Healthy
- Hambleton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- Mottram St Andrew Primary Academy Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.1m | £5,862 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £27k | £143 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £45k | £238 |
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 11% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on energy is £148 a pupil, against a typical £93 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £413 a pupil, against a typical £297 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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