Dovery Academy: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £13k, 1% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Central Bedfordshire · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: KNOWLEDGE SCHOOLS 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 | £850k | £910k | -£60k | £13k | 164 |
2019-20 | £823k | £833k | -£10k | £4k | 162 |
2020-21 | £831k | £820k | +£11k | £15k | 158 |
2021-22 | £862k | £941k | -£79k | -£64k | 149 |
2022-23 | £994k | £1.1m | -£85k | -£26k | 154 |
2023-24 | £1.0m | £983k | +£17k | -£2k | 152 |
2024-25 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£44k | -£13k | 157 |
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 20% of them. It spends £7,025 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,589.
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 | £3,045 | £3,410 | £2,947–£3,635 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,631 | £1,105 | £925–£1,316 |
Supply staff | £0 | £76 | £34–£169 |
Admin and clerical | £376 | £329 | £225–£438 |
Premises | £592 | £315 | £227–£436 |
Energy | £172 | £95 | £78–£127 |
Learning resources & ICT | £446 | £319 | £221–£424 |
Bought-in services | £70 | £163 | £92–£268 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Cutnall Green CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Curzon Church of England Combined School Large reserves
- Western Downland Church of England Aided Primary School Healthy
- Ide Hill Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Eaton Primary School In deficit
- Trinity Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston Large reserves
- Ingoldisthorpe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Large reserves
- Pattishall Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Farnham Common Infant School Healthy
- St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham Heading for deficit
- Onslow Infant School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £987k | £6,287 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £51k | £325 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £73k | £465 |
Money raised by parents
Dovery Academy Parents Association (charity 1045766, Registered) raised £6k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £6k | £14k |
2024-08 | £9k | £11k |
2023-08 | £12k | £9k |
2022-08 | £8k | £3k |
2021-08 | £7k | £2k |
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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with its trust, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on premises is £592 a pupil, against a typical £315 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £172 a pupil, against a typical £95 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,631 a pupil, against a typical £1,105 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 Dovery Academy · All Central Bedfordshire school finances