The Downley School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £147k in reserve, 6% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Buckinghamshire · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: OXFORD DIOCESAN BUCKS 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 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£24k | £89k | 415 |
2019-20 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£28k | £60k | 410 |
2020-21 | £2.0m | £2.0m | +£23k | £84k | 414 |
2021-22 | £2.1m | £2.0m | +£100k | £183k | 414 |
2022-23 | £2.1m | £2.3m | -£195k | -£11k | 407 |
2023-24 | £2.4m | £2.2m | +£185k | £51k | 388 |
2024-25 | £2.3m | £2.1m | +£214k | £147k | 380 |
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 67% of them. It spends £5,532 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,466.
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 | £2,429 | £2,992 | £2,802–£3,285 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,026 | £1,244 | £1,042–£1,474 |
Supply staff | £245 | £82 | £39–£168 |
Admin and clerical | £213 | £285 | £231–£375 |
Premises | £255 | £316 | £224–£426 |
Energy | £74 | £87 | £68–£122 |
Learning resources & ICT | £192 | £270 | £212–£310 |
Bought-in services | £155 | £101 | £64–£172 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Co-op Academy New Islington Healthy
- Queen Elizabeth's Primary School Tight
- Norden Primary Academy In deficit
- Gorsemoor Primary School Large reserves
- Farndon Fields Primary School Large reserves
- Waddington All Saints Academy Healthy
- Redbourn Primary School Heading for deficit
- Wooden Hill Primary and Nursery School In deficit
- Woodley Primary School In deficit
- Cedars Park Community Primary School Large reserves
- Chaddlewood Primary School Large reserves
- Holy Rood Catholic Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.2m | £5,903 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £57k | £150 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £73k | £192 |
Money raised by parents
The Downley School Parent Teacher Association (charity 1047449, Registered) raised £29k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £29k | £25k |
2024-08 | £15k | £12k |
2023-08 | £15k | £12k |
2022-08 | £21k | £14k |
2021-08 | £17k | £9k |
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.
- 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 £245 a pupil, against a typical £82 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 The Downley School · All Buckinghamshire school finances