Valley Primary: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £685k in reserve, 20% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2023-24, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Solihull · Primary · Academy converter.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
A 2024-25 return is published too, but it covers part of a year or leaves out the income or reserve figure, so the latest complete year is shown.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2023-24
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2023-24
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £3.0m | £3.1m | -£61k | £137k | 676 |
2019-20 | £3.1m | £3.1m | -£12k | £125k | 658 |
2020-21 | £3.1m | £2.9m | +£229k | £355k | 636 |
2021-22 | £3.2m | £2.9m | +£300k | £654k | 618 |
2022-23 | £3.3m | £3.1m | +£155k | £809k | 612 |
2023-24 | £3.5m | £3.6m | -£124k | £685k | 598 |
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 93% of them. It spends £6,011 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,202.
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 | £2,833 | £3,073 | £2,846–£3,266 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £915 | £1,277 | £1,017–£1,577 |
Supply staff | £56 | £87 | £46–£192 |
Admin and clerical | £254 | £247 | £208–£292 |
Premises | £501 | £290 | £248–£339 |
Energy | £168 | £89 | £78–£119 |
Learning resources & ICT | £287 | £259 | £199–£300 |
Bought-in services | £181 | £118 | £65–£167 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Westways Primary School Healthy
- Hill View Primary Academy Large reserves
- Putteridge Primary School Large reserves
- King's Academy Meadow Vale Heading for deficit
- Chapelford Village Primary School Tight
- Copplestone Primary School In deficit
- Anchorsholme Primary Academy Large reserves
- Chuter Ede Primary School In deficit
- Madginford Primary School Healthy
- Launde Primary School Large reserves
- Cherry Orchard Primary School Large reserves
- St Edburg's Church of England (VA) School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2023-24
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.3m | £5,508 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £55k | £92 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £143k | £239 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £179k | £299 |
Money raised by parents
VALLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL PTFA (charity 1103325, Registered) raised £15k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £15k | £18k |
2024-08 | £12k | £14k |
2023-08 | £11k | £16k |
2022-08 | £7k | £4k |
2021-08 | £7k | £4k |
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?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 12% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on energy is £168 a pupil, against a typical £89 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £501 a pupil, against a typical £290 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 Valley Primary · All Solihull school finances