Melling St Wilfrid Church of England Primary School: school finances
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April to March). Lancashire · Primary · Voluntary aided school
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £23k £1,043 per pupil reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Why schools go into deficit. Most of a school's money goes on people: over 80% of schools' costs are staff costs. So when pay and other costs rise faster than funding, or a school loses pupils and the money that comes with each one, the budget is squeezed quickly and staffing is the only big thing left to cut. In 2024–25 and 2025–26, mainstream school funding per pupil grew by 2 percentage points less than school costs, partly because rising special needs costs took a large share of the extra money. A deficit usually comes from several of these pressures at once, not one bad decision. (IFS, pp. 62–63)
What helps. Schools in this position usually agree a recovery plan with the council, often over two or three years, and governors check progress against it each term. The questions further down are a good way to start that conversation.
Status by year
- 2018-19 Large reserves reserve 8% or more of a year's income
- 2019-20 Large reserves same as the year before
- 2020-21 Large reserves same as the year before
- 2021-22 Large reserves same as the year before
- 2022-23 Large reserves same as the year before
- 2023-24 Large reserves same as the year before
- 2024-25 Large reserves same as the year before
- 2025-26 Heading for deficit spending more than it received, reserve running down
Government funding vs spending per pupil
In 2025-26, government funding was £358k £16,267 per pupil and spending £406k £18,468 per pupil. Spending was £48k £2,201 per pupil more than government funding; the difference came from other income, such as lettings, catering or donations, or from the school's reserve.
Funding is the money a school receives; spending is what it pays out. The two differ when a school adds to or draws on its savings, and because some money is spent on its pupils by someone else: the council (for example special needs top-ups and transport) or, for academies, the trust's central team. (IFS, pp. 7, 10, 46, 52, 54)
Government funding is the academy accounts line "grant funding from government" in academy (AAR) years and the CFR grant funding total in council-run years. The two are not strictly comparable: CFR line I07 can include some money that is not from government.
Real terms: in 2025-26 prices (HM Treasury GDP deflator, October 2026).
Reserve per pupil by year
Real terms: in 2025-26 prices (HM Treasury GDP deflator, October 2026).
| Year | Pupils | Income | Spending | In-year balance | Reserve at year end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 22.0 | £388k £17,642 per pupil | £406k £18,468 per pupil | -£18k -£826 per pupil | £23k £1,043 per pupil |
| 2024-25 | 23.0 | £398k £17,289 per pupil | £408k £17,754 per pupil | -£11k -£465 per pupil | £41k £1,788 per pupil |
| 2023-24 | 28.0 | £407k £14,544 per pupil | £418k £14,943 per pupil | -£11k -£398 per pupil | £52k £1,851 per pupil |
| 2022-23 | 31.0 | £375k £12,082 per pupil | £361k £11,645 per pupil | +£14k +£437 per pupil | £63k £2,032 per pupil |
| 2021-22 | 33.0 | £321k £9,740 per pupil | £322k £9,751 per pupil | -£351 -£11 per pupil | £49k £1,498 per pupil |
| 2020-21 | 28.0 | £318k £11,356 per pupil | £316k £11,290 per pupil | +£2k +£66 per pupil | £50k £1,778 per pupil |
| 2019-20 | 31.0 | £311k £10,024 per pupil | £315k £10,163 per pupil | -£4k -£140 per pupil | £48k £1,546 per pupil |
| 2018-19 | 32.0 | £351k £10,966 per pupil | £318k £9,927 per pupil | +£33k +£1,040 per pupil | £52k £1,633 per pupil |
Where the money comes from
| Line | 2025-26 | Trend per pupil | Change per pupil since 2018-19 | Similar schools (median per pupil) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total income | £388k £17,642 per pupil | +61% +23% real | £17k | |
| Government funding | £358k £16,267 per pupil | +66% +26% real | £15k | |
| Special needs (SEN) funding | £19k £851 per pupil | +1133% +846% real | £364 | |
| Pupil premium | £2k £69 per pupil | -79% -84% real | £97 | |
| Money the school raised itself | £30k £1,375 per pupil | +19% -9% real | £827 | |
| Donations (day-to-day) | £0 £0 per pupil recorded | -100% -100% real | £148 | |
| Donations for buildings and equipment | £0 £0 per pupil | £0 | ||
| Facilities and services | £23k £1,034 per pupil | +81% +38% real | £277 | |
| Catering income | £3k £124 per pupil | -32% -48% real | £183 | |
| Other DfE grants | £19k £867 per pupil | +27% -3% real | £983 |
Other DfE grants is a container line. It includes the grants that cover higher employer pension and National Insurance costs, which cannot be separated out, so no figure is shown for them on their own. Not every rise in a school's income is extra spending power. When the government raised what schools pay as employers into staff pensions and National Insurance, it gave schools grants to cover the bill. The IFS describes this as extra money to pay for extra outgoings, with no change in real resources. About £2.3 billion of the growth in school funding between 2019–20 and 2025–26 was this kind of grant. So when a school's income jumps, check whether its staff costs jumped by the same amount: the money may simply have passed through. (IFS, p. 50)
Where it goes
| Line | 2025-26 | Trend per pupil | Change per pupil since 2018-19 | Similar schools (median per pupil) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total spending | £406k £18,468 per pupil | +86% +42% real | £17k | |
| Teachers | £157k £7,127 per pupil | +69% +29% real | £7k | |
| Supply staff | £27k £1,240 per pupil | +1933% +1450% real | £153 | |
| Support staff | £72k £3,261 per pupil | +180% +114% real | £3k | |
| Office and admin staff | £18k £820 per pupil | +156% +95% real | £1k | |
| Premises staff | £14k £647 per pupil | +129% +75% real | £403 | |
| Catering staff | £0 £0 per pupil | £0 | ||
| Other staff costs | £27k £1,205 per pupil | +66% +26% real | £525 | |
| All staff costs | £303k £13,787 per pupil | +111% +61% real | £12k | |
| Premises | £26k £1,191 per pupil | +119% +67% real | £1k | |
| Energy | £9k £419 per pupil | +61% +23% real | £310 | |
| Rates, water and other building costs | £32k £1,471 per pupil | +45% +11% real | £1k | |
| Catering | £20k £892 per pupil | +76% +34% real | £693 | |
| Learning resources | £9k £403 per pupil | -55% -65% real | £878 | |
| Supplies and services | £44k £2,018 per pupil | +11% -16% real | £2k | |
| Bought-in services | £33k £1,492 per pupil | +70% +30% real | £978 |
Staff costs were 75% of this school's spending in 2025-26. Across England, over 80% of schools' costs are staff costs. (IFS, p. 63)
In 2025-26 prices, this school spent £406k £18,468 per pupil in 2025-26. Across England, primary schools are expected to spend about £7,000 per pupil in 2025–26. (IFS, p. 7)
Pupils by year
- 2018-19 32.0
- 2019-20 31.0
- 2020-21 28.0
- 2021-22 33.0
- 2022-23 31.0
- 2023-24 28.0
- 2024-25 23.0
- 2025-26 22.0
Pupil numbers fell from 32.0 to 22.0 (31% fewer) over the years shown.
Schools are mostly funded per pupil, so fewer pupils means less money. Costs do not fall in step: a class with a few fewer pupils still needs a teacher. Primary schools in England have already lost about 100,000 pupils (3%) between 2019–20 and 2024–25, and are expected to lose over 300,000 more (about 8%) by 2030–31. Secondary numbers are expected to start falling from about 2026–27. The IFS points out that money is only saved if schools actually reduce what they spend, such as staff or the number of schools. That is why a well-run school with falling numbers can still find its budget under pressure. (IFS, pp. 19, 64)
Money raised by parents
No registered parents' association found for Melling St Wilfrid Church of England Primary School. Charities with an income of £5,000 or less a year don't have to register with the Charity Commission, so many schools have an active PTA or friends' group that isn't on the register.
Across England, the typical registered parents' association raised £50 per pupil in 2025-26.
Intake and area
- 0% of pupils eligible for free school meals (median school: council 21%, England 22%)
- Neighbourhood deprivation decile 7 of 10 (1 = most deprived)
- Income deprivation affecting children: decile 8 of 10 (1 = most deprived)
- 48% of adults nearby hold a degree-level qualification
- 78% of nearby homes are owner-occupied
- 5% of nearby homes are social rented
Intake band 1 of 5 nationally, combining free-school-meal eligibility and the deprivation of the school's neighbourhood (1 = least disadvantaged, 5 = most).
Context, not a judgement: schools with different intakes get different funding and face different costs.
How my school's money is split
For pupils: out of every pound the school spent in 2025-26, here is roughly where it went, with the amount for each pupil.
- Teachers £184k £8,367 per pupil
- Support staff £72k £3,261 per pupil
- Buildings and grounds £26k £1,191 per pupil
- Energy £9k £419 per pupil
- Learning resources £9k £403 per pupil
- Everything else £106k £4,826 per pupil
National context
- In 2024–25 and 2025–26, mainstream school funding per pupil grew by 2 percentage points less than school costs nationally. (IFS, p. 62)
- Primary pupil numbers in England are expected to fall by over 300,000 (about 8%) between 2024–25 and 2030–31. (IFS, p. 19)
- Council-run primary schools spend about £400 (6%) more per pupil than primary academies, and council-run secondaries about £300 (4%) more, partly because trusts spend some money centrally. (IFS, p. 56)
- Pupil premium is £1,515 a year per eligible primary pupil and £1,075 per eligible secondary pupil, over 16% lower in real terms than in 2015–16. (IFS, p. 51)
- Mainstream schools are expected to fund the first £6,000 a year of extra support for a pupil with special needs from their own budget. (IFS, p. 46)
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTFA committees.
- Melling St Wilfrid Church of England Primary School has spent more than it received for 3 years. Is that planned, and what does the school expect its reserve to be in three years' time?
- How many pupils does Melling St Wilfrid Church of England Primary School expect in each year group over the next three years? Why ask: Primary pupil numbers in England are expected to fall by over 300,000 (about 8%) by 2030–31. (IFS, p. 19)
- How much does the PTA (or friends' association) raise each year, and what does it pay for?
- What does the budget assume about pay rises and pupil numbers over the next three years? Why ask: The IFS projects school costs could grow 0.5 to 1 percentage points a year faster than funding to 2028–29. (IFS, p. 11)
- Is the school planning to merge classes, share staff or work more closely with another school?
- How does Melling St Wilfrid Church of England Primary School's spending per pupil compare with similar schools, and why? Why ask: Nationally, primaries spend about £7,000 and secondaries about £7,800 per pupil in 2025–26. (IFS, p. 7)
- If the gap does not close, what would the school cut first?
- Has the council talked about reducing places, merging or closing schools in this area? Why ask: The IFS notes savings from falling numbers only come if staff or the number of schools are reduced. (IFS, p. 64)
Check at source
Every figure here comes from the school's published return. Check it on the DfE benchmarking page for this school, and see how the figures are worked out.
Similar schools: the closest in phase, size and share of pupils on free school meals.
- Lee Common Church of England School
- Peaslake Free School
- North Clifton Primary School
- Hartington CofE Primary School
- King's Caple Primary Academy
Admissions and catchments for Melling St Wilfrid Church of England Primary School on Schools in Reach · All Lancashire school finances · Schools in Morecambe and Lunesdale
- DfE Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool data: CFR returns for council-run schools (April to March) and academy accounts returns (September to August), Open Government Licence v3.0
- Get Information about Schools, Open Government Licence v3.0
- National context: IFS, Annual report on education spending in England: 2025–26 (January 2026); IFS figures are in 2025-26 prices (HM Treasury GDP deflator, November 2025)
- Real-terms figures on this page: in 2025-26 prices (HM Treasury GDP deflator, October 2026)