Priory School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £310k in reserve, 5% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Croydon · Not applicable · Community special 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 | £4.6m | £4.6m | +£43k | £243k | 121 |
2019-20 | £5.0m | £5.1m | -£70k | £173k | 132 |
2020-21 | £5.3m | £5.0m | +£317k | £490k | 137 |
2021-22 | £5.4m | £5.5m | -£129k | £361k | 138 |
2022-23 | £5.6m | £5.7m | -£59k | £302k | 139 |
2023-24 | £6.2m | £6.0m | +£133k | £436k | 139 |
2024-25 | £6.3m | £6.6m | -£288k | £147k | 138 |
2025-26 | £6.8m | £6.7m | +£163k | £310k | 140 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 special 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 30% of them. It spends £47,595 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £39,288.
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 | £13,487 | £12,478 | £11,446–£14,181 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £17,927 | £12,077 | £10,373–£17,261 |
Supply staff | £0 | £942 | £348–£3,220 |
Admin and clerical | £2,394 | £1,753 | £1,144–£2,145 |
Premises | £1,822 | £1,747 | £1,234–£2,331 |
Energy | £444 | £449 | £297–£692 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,091 | £855 | £703–£1,581 |
Bought-in services | £6,697 | £2,795 | £816–£4,605 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Rise Free School Large reserves
- Moorcroft School Large reserves
- Red Gates School Heading for deficit
- Elm Court School Large reserves
- Oakleigh School & Acorn Assessment Centre Healthy
- Addington Valley Academy Large reserves
- John Chilton School Healthy
- Vale School Tight
- Cleeve Meadow School Tight
- Perseid School In deficit
- Cambridge School Large reserves
- Kingsley High School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.8m | £48,492 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £4.8m | £34,551 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £50k | £356 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £41k | £295 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Spending on bought-in services is £6,697 a pupil, against a typical £2,795 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £2,394 a pupil, against a typical £1,753 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 Priory School · All Croydon school finances