Phoenix Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £389k, 9% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 3 years running.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Southwark · Primary · Community school.
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 | £3.7m | £3.7m | +£54k | £169k | 616 |
2019-20 | £3.9m | £4.0m | -£77k | £92k | 637 |
2020-21 | £4.3m | £4.0m | +£228k | £319k | 629 |
2021-22 | £4.2m | £4.0m | +£194k | £514k | 603 |
2022-23 | £4.6m | £4.1m | +£412k | £926k | 552 |
2023-24 | £4.1m | £4.5m | -£453k | £473k | 521 |
2024-25 | £4.3m | £5.1m | -£851k | -£378k | 508 |
2025-26 | £4.5m | £4.5m | -£12k | -£389k | 480 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 primary schools in London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 7% of them. It spends £9,352 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,407.
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 | £4,406 | £4,107 | £3,688–£4,691 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,081 | £1,709 | £1,123–£2,215 |
Supply staff | £70 | £180 | £40–£316 |
Admin and clerical | £449 | £429 | £335–£537 |
Premises | £653 | £458 | £378–£564 |
Energy | £187 | £106 | £89–£132 |
Learning resources & ICT | £204 | £252 | £177–£370 |
Bought-in services | £441 | £313 | £162–£894 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Charles Dickens Primary School Tight
- Salisbury Primary School Healthy
- Willow Tree Primary School In deficit
- Avenue Primary School In deficit
- John Scurr Primary School Large reserves
- Tufnell Park Primary School Heading for deficit
- Kelvin Grove Primary School In deficit
- Lathom Junior School In deficit
- Ark Priory Primary Academy Large reserves
- Selwyn Primary School In deficit
- Woodlands Primary School Tight
- West Twyford Primary School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.4m | £9,109 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £201k | £419 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £299k | £624 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £107k | £223 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 22% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on energy is £187 a pupil, against a typical £106 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £653 a pupil, against a typical £458 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 Phoenix Primary School · All Southwark school finances