Willow Park CofE Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £145k in reserve, 18% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Bristol, City of · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
Reserve at the end of each year, 2022-23 to 2025-26
Income and spending, 2022-23 to 2025-26
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£70k | £96k | 147 |
2023-24 | £1.4m | £1.2m | +£201k | £298k | 127 |
2024-25 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£35k | £263k | 69 |
2025-26 | £814k | £931k | -£117k | £145k | 56 |
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 80% of them. It spends £16,630 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £11,027.
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 | £4,509 | £4,751 | £4,047–£5,972 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £3,530 | £1,867 | £1,436–£2,612 |
Supply staff | £1,538 | £171 | £68–£397 |
Admin and clerical | £829 | £540 | £441–£769 |
Premises | £775 | £629 | £456–£777 |
Energy | £142 | £231 | £174–£303 |
Learning resources & ICT | £502 | £446 | £291–£766 |
Bought-in services | £1,545 | £249 | £100–£450 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Weston St Mary Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Platts Heath Primary School Large reserves
- Southwold Primary School In deficit
- West Pelton Primary School Large reserves
- Bakewell Methodist Academy Large reserves
- Lynsted and Norton Primary School In deficit
- Highgate Infant School Large reserves
- Princetown Community Primary School Tight
- Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Unstone Junior School Heading for deficit
- Waterman Primary School Healthy
- St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £808k | £14,436 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £27k | £475 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £52k | £920 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £6k | £98 |
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 62% since 2022-23. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £1,538 a pupil, against a typical £171 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £1,545 a pupil, against a typical £249 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £3,530 a pupil, against a typical £1,867 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 Willow Park CofE Primary School · All Bristol, City of school finances