Bedford Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £102k 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). Sefton · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: SOUTHPORT LEARNING 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 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£34k | £321k | 391 |
2019-20 | £2.3m | £2.4m | -£57k | £264k | 376 |
2020-21 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£13k | £251k | 375 |
2021-22 | £2.5m | £2.5m | -£22k | £229k | 379 |
2022-23 | £2.7m | £2.6m | +£56k | £286k | 373 |
2023-24 | £3.3m | £3.3m | +£67k | £246k | 404 |
2024-25 | £3.5m | £3.5m | +£59k | £102k | 407 |
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 17% of them. It spends £8,568 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,733.
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 | £3,688 | £3,458 | £3,113–£3,814 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,123 | £1,765 | £1,365–£1,875 |
Supply staff | £93 | £122 | £57–£361 |
Admin and clerical | £233 | £317 | £260–£467 |
Premises | £425 | £402 | £324–£515 |
Energy | £125 | £116 | £88–£136 |
Learning resources & ICT | £201 | £290 | £251–£391 |
Bought-in services | £600 | £177 | £67–£468 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- James Watt Primary School Heading for deficit
- St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth Large reserves
- Highlands Primary School Large reserves
- West Heath Primary School Healthy
- Rolls Crescent Primary School Healthy
- St Luke's CofE Primary School Healthy
- Lewis Street Primary School Large reserves
- Grange Farm Primary School Healthy
- Pinfold Street Primary School Healthy
- Leigh Primary School Large reserves
- Paget Primary School In deficit
- Margate, Holy Trinity and St John's Church of England Primary School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.5m | £8,499 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £575k | £1,413 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £87k | £214 |
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?
- Spending on bought-in services is £600 a pupil, against a typical £177 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,123 a pupil, against a typical £1,765 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 Bedford Primary School · All Sefton school finances