Swanage Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £25k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Dorset · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: COASTAL LEARNING PARTNERSHIP 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 | £829k | £917k | -£88k | -£31k | 182 |
2019-20 | £865k | £956k | -£90k | -£121k | 186 |
2020-21 | £941k | £908k | +£33k | -£88k | 189 |
2021-22 | £962k | £1.0m | -£45k | -£133k | 202 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£2k | -£135k | 199 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£14k | £25k | 202 |
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 7% of them. It spends £6,574 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,812.
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 | £936 | £3,210 | £2,984–£3,371 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £302 | £1,204 | £1,066–£1,464 |
Supply staff | £2,455 | £91 | £64–£183 |
Admin and clerical | £1,416 | £316 | £226–£386 |
Premises | £540 | £360 | £324–£481 |
Energy | £84 | £100 | £79–£130 |
Learning resources & ICT | £366 | £299 | £248–£357 |
Bought-in services | £0 | £222 | £138–£300 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Kingsclere Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- St John the Baptist Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Wellington Eagles Primary Academy Healthy
- The Duchy School Bradninch Large reserves
- Mount Pleasant Lane Primary School Large reserves
- Our Lady Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Penns Primary School In deficit
- The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury Healthy
- Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Oliver's Battery Primary and Nursery School Large reserves
- St John's Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior and Infant School Healthy
- Saint Mary's Catholic Primary School, Loughborough In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £6,406 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £120k | £594 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £20k | £99 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on supply staff is £2,455 a pupil, against a typical £91 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,416 a pupil, against a typical £316 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £540 a pupil, against a typical £360 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 Swanage Primary School · All Dorset school finances