Castle Cary Community Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £114k in reserve, 8% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Somerset · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE ACADEMIES FOR CHARACTER AND EXCELLENCE 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 | £998k | £990k | +£8k | £52k | 207 |
2019-20 | £983k | £1.0m | -£19k | £33k | 214 |
2020-21 | £1.1m | £978k | +£75k | £108k | 195 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£19k | £126k | 213 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£26k | £152k | 219 |
2024-25 | £1.4m | £1.2m | +£165k | £114k | 194 |
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 57% of them. It spends £6,299 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,436.
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 | £3,273 | £3,251 | £2,857–£3,573 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,289 | £1,615 | £1,324–£1,900 |
Supply staff | £5 | £112 | £65–£208 |
Admin and clerical | £222 | £337 | £255–£404 |
Premises | £289 | £404 | £336–£489 |
Energy | £201 | £118 | £88–£148 |
Learning resources & ICT | £232 | £339 | £263–£371 |
Bought-in services | £82 | £174 | £89–£284 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Christ Church CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Shelton Infant School Large reserves
- St Mark and All Saints Church of England Primary Healthy
- Tor Bridge Primary School Large reserves
- Milnrow Parish Church of England Primary School In deficit
- St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Ormiston Meadows Academy Large reserves
- Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy In deficit
- William Read Primary Academy Healthy
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- St Matthew's Bloxam CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Dundale Primary School and Nursery In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £6,923 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £60k | £309 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £44k | £227 |
Money raised by parents
CASTLE CARY PRIMARY SCHOOL PTFA (charity 1107941, Registered) raised £7k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £7k | £2k |
2024-08 | £6k | £2k |
2023-08 | £11k | £4k |
2022-08 | £18k | £7k |
2021-08 | £17k | £5k |
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.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Spending on energy is £201 a pupil, against a typical £118 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 Castle Cary Community Primary School · All Somerset school finances