Mells Church First School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £119k in reserve, 25% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2022-23, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Somerset · 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 2022-23
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2022-23
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £388k | £377k | +£11k | £30k | 66 |
2019-20 | £389k | £374k | +£15k | £45k | 61 |
2020-21 | £404k | £346k | +£58k | £103k | 70 |
2021-22 | £465k | £449k | +£16k | £119k | 73 |
2022-23 | £471k | £472k | -£346 | £119k | 66 |
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 £7,145 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,038.
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 | £2,978 | £4,427 | £3,934–£5,044 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,163 | £1,280 | £1,009–£1,857 |
Supply staff | £232 | £170 | £100–£385 |
Admin and clerical | £388 | £465 | £352–£631 |
Premises | £428 | £426 | £291–£606 |
Energy | £125 | £158 | £116–£226 |
Learning resources & ICT | £568 | £397 | £342–£585 |
Bought-in services | £290 | £266 | £67–£350 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Garras Community Primary School Healthy
- Thurlton Primary School Large reserves
- Westbury-on-Severn Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Ab Kettleby Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Osbaldeston In deficit
- Newton-on-Trent CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Bellingham Primary School Healthy
- Webber's Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Mugginton CofE Primary School Healthy
- Horningsham Primary School Healthy
- St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Toppesfield Large reserves
- Polesden Lacey Infant Academy Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2022-23
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £445k | £6,742 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £9k | £143 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £8k | £125 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £26k | £397 |
Money raised by parents
MELLS FIRST SCHOOL PFA (PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOC) (charity 1188744, Registered) raised £3k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-07 | £3k | £3k |
2024-07 | £2k | £3k |
2023-07 | £2k | £3k |
2022-07 | £3k | £4k |
2021-07 | £6k | £3k |
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?
- 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 Mells Church First School · All Somerset school finances