Merton Abbey Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £105k, 5% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Merton · 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 | £1.9m | £2.0m | -£81k | £21k | 274 |
2019-20 | £1.9m | £1.9m | -£12k | £8k | 234 |
2020-21 | £1.8m | £1.8m | +£42k | £50k | 214 |
2021-22 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£27k | £23k | 208 |
2022-23 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£67k | -£43k | 213 |
2023-24 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£30k | -£14k | 205 |
2024-25 | £2.0m | £2.2m | -£114k | -£128k | 204 |
2025-26 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£22k | -£105k | 198 |
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 £11,240 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £10,950.
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 | £4,820 | £4,427 | £3,917–£5,041 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,314 | £1,985 | £1,646–£2,389 |
Supply staff | £468 | £370 | £188–£616 |
Admin and clerical | £595 | £480 | £398–£684 |
Premises | £714 | £757 | £512–£847 |
Energy | £170 | £137 | £93–£187 |
Learning resources & ICT | £367 | £375 | £256–£547 |
Bought-in services | £334 | £586 | £349–£1,043 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Enfield Heights Academy Large reserves
- St Luke's CofE Primary School Tight
- St John's Upper Holloway CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Vauxhall Primary School Healthy
- Harrington Hill Primary School Large reserves
- Edith Neville Primary School Large reserves
- St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School Tight
- Stratford Manor Primary School & Nursery In deficit
- Windrush Thamesmead Primary School Healthy
- St Luke's CofE Primary School In deficit
- St Mary's RC Voluntary Aided Primary School Healthy
- Reay Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.2m | £10,862 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £192k | £967 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £145k | £733 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £97k | £491 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF MERTON ABBEY PRIMARY SCHOOL (charity 1212907, Registered)
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 27% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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 Merton Abbey Primary School · All Merton school finances