St Nicholas Catholic Academy: 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). Liverpool · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC MULTI 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 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£16k | £180k | 208 |
2019-20 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£23k | £203k | 196 |
2020-21 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£21k | £224k | 130 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£186k | £37k | 154 |
2022-23 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£39k | -£46k | 189 |
2023-24 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£43k | -£63k | 183 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.3m | +£199k | £20k | 186 |
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 23% of them. It spends £7,078 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,843.
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 | £3,504 | £3,549 | £3,190–£3,992 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £782 | £1,664 | £1,404–£1,830 |
Supply staff | £151 | £195 | £51–£429 |
Admin and clerical | £394 | £392 | £330–£480 |
Premises | £442 | £470 | £385–£600 |
Energy | £156 | £118 | £98–£171 |
Learning resources & ICT | £323 | £353 | £280–£488 |
Bought-in services | £485 | £244 | £67–£421 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School Healthy
- Whittlefield Primary School Healthy
- Northbrook Primary Academy In deficit
- Frances Olive Anderson Church of England (Aided) Primary School In deficit
- Co-op Academy Penny Oaks Healthy
- Pembroke Park Primary School In deficit
- Chaucer Infant School Healthy
- South Hetton Primary Large reserves
- St Patrick's Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Wilton CofE Primary School Large reserves
- St Francis Catholic and Church of England Primary Academy Healthy
- St Clement's and St John's Church of England Infant School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.5m | £7,951 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £25k | £135 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £59k | £318 |
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 11% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £485 a pupil, against a typical £244 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 Nicholas Catholic Academy · All Liverpool school finances