St. Mary's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy: school finances
Tight
Holds £11k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Cheshire East · 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 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 | £1.0m | £1.0m | -£30k | £11k | 215 |
2019-20 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£49k | -£38k | 207 |
2020-21 | £1.0m | £991k | +£30k | -£8k | 204 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£3k | -£5k | 194 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£33k | £28k | 194 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£1k | £26k | 182 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£16k | £11k | 176 |
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 27% of them. It spends £7,301 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,676.
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 | £3,167 | £3,398 | £3,233–£3,580 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,320 | £1,226 | £938–£1,510 |
Supply staff | £7 | £98 | £38–£192 |
Admin and clerical | £365 | £281 | £220–£372 |
Premises | £544 | £348 | £214–£416 |
Energy | £135 | £106 | £76–£126 |
Learning resources & ICT | £228 | £246 | £191–£354 |
Bought-in services | £187 | £166 | £79–£234 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Leyland Methodist Infant School Large reserves
- St Mary's Church of England Infant School Tight
- The Claypole Church of England Primary School In deficit
- All Saints' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Lawshall Large reserves
- Wickhambrook Primary Academy Healthy
- Triangle CofE VC Primary School Heading for deficit
- High Ham Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Stithians Community Primary School In deficit
- St John Boste Catholic Primary School, Washington Tight
- Loxwood Primary School Healthy
- Ridgeway Primary School In deficit
- Burham Church of England Primary School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £6,677 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £56k | £318 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £53k | £300 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £94k | £534 |
Money raised by parents
THE PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION OF ST MARY'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL (charity 1098070, Registered) raised £4k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £4k | £2k |
2024-09 | £4k | £1k |
2023-09 | £4k | £1k |
2022-09 | £3k | £2k |
2021-09 | £2k | £345 |
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 would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 18% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on premises is £544 a pupil, against a typical £348 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 St. Mary's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy · All Cheshire East school finances