Harborne Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £698k, 12% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 2 years running.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Birmingham · 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, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £3.2m | £3.3m | -£172k | £180k | 656 |
2019-20 | £3.5m | £3.3m | +£124k | £304k | 680 |
2020-21 | £3.5m | £3.4m | +£68k | £372k | 708 |
2021-22 | £3.7m | £3.8m | -£70k | £302k | 746 |
2022-23 | £4.1m | £4.4m | -£291k | £11k | 772 |
2023-24 | £5.1m | £4.9m | +£180k | £191k | 806 |
2024-25 | £4.7m | £5.4m | -£692k | -£501k | 836 |
2025-26 | £5.7m | £5.9m | -£197k | -£698k | 800 |
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 0% of them. It spends £7,398 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,132.
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 | £3,697 | £3,015 | £2,634–£3,207 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £966 | £1,231 | £993–£1,436 |
Supply staff | £239 | £82 | £20–£133 |
Admin and clerical | £679 | £298 | £249–£387 |
Premises | £337 | £310 | £257–£363 |
Energy | £151 | £80 | £68–£114 |
Learning resources & ICT | £205 | £252 | £181–£293 |
Bought-in services | £361 | £100 | £49–£133 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Biggleswade Academy Large reserves
- Winton Primary School Large reserves
- West Park CofE Primary (Controlled) School In deficit
- Earlswood Infant and Nursery School Healthy
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Heading for deficit
- Alderman Richard Hallam Primary School Tight
- Tudor Court Primary School Tight
- Ashley Down Primary School Healthy
- Bushmead Primary & Nursery School In deficit
- Moulsham Junior School Large reserves
- Abbey Mead Primary Academy Large reserves
- Danetree Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.1m | £6,386 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £413k | £516 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £158k | £197 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £613k | £766 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF HARBORNE PRIMARY SCHOOL (charity 1019440, Registered) raised £21k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £21k | £27k |
2024-08 | £24k | £35k |
2023-08 | £21k | £7k |
2022-08 | £19k | £20k |
2021-08 | £21k | £28k |
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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on bought-in services is £361 a pupil, against a typical £100 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £239 a pupil, against a typical £82 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £679 a pupil, against a typical £298 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £151 a pupil, against a typical £80 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 Harborne Primary School · All Birmingham school finances