Bells Farm Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £84k, 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). Birmingham · 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 | £1.4m | £1.5m | -£61k | -£25k | 206 |
2019-20 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£86 | -£25k | 201 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£82k | £57k | 201 |
2021-22 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£63k | £119k | 203 |
2022-23 | £1.4m | £1.5m | -£87k | £33k | 199 |
2023-24 | £1.5m | £1.7m | -£149k | -£116k | 203 |
2024-25 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£32k | -£149k | 202 |
2025-26 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£65k | -£84k | 195 |
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 £8,482 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,788.
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 | £3,682 | £3,498 | £3,207–£3,871 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,275 | £1,596 | £1,258–£1,884 |
Supply staff | £37 | £178 | £114–£306 |
Admin and clerical | £778 | £372 | £276–£479 |
Premises | £436 | £440 | £386–£558 |
Energy | £150 | £111 | £88–£160 |
Learning resources & ICT | £409 | £386 | £276–£517 |
Bought-in services | £626 | £184 | £86–£373 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Nantwich Primary Academy Large reserves
- Our Lady and St Brendan's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Large reserves
- Silkmore Primary Academy Tight
- St Dennis Primary Academy Large reserves
- All Saints Bedworth CofE Academy Healthy
- Bradwell Village School Large reserves
- St Ives Junior School Large reserves
- Limpsfield Junior School Healthy
- Southwold Primary School and Early Years' Centre Large reserves
- Horizon Primary Academy Healthy
- Waverley Primary School Tight
- Little Heath Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.7m | £8,499 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £118k | £605 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £125k | £639 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £61k | £315 |
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 £626 a pupil, against a typical £184 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £778 a pupil, against a typical £372 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 Bells Farm Primary School · All Birmingham school finances