Lower Farm Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £352k in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Walsall · 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 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£28k | £77k | 458 |
2019-20 | £2.4m | £2.3m | +£98k | £175k | 466 |
2020-21 | £2.4m | £2.4m | +£17k | £192k | 450 |
2021-22 | £2.4m | £2.5m | -£133k | £59k | 452 |
2022-23 | £2.7m | £2.7m | +£36k | £95k | 454 |
2023-24 | £2.9m | £2.9m | +£11k | £106k | 449 |
2024-25 | £3.1m | £3.1m | +£52k | £158k | 445 |
2025-26 | £3.4m | £3.2m | +£194k | £352k | 446 |
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 57% of them. It spends £7,110 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,171.
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 | £3,035 | £3,231 | £3,040–£3,381 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,668 | £1,511 | £1,099–£1,997 |
Supply staff | £317 | £193 | £75–£305 |
Admin and clerical | £352 | £311 | £249–£361 |
Premises | £276 | £349 | £313–£475 |
Energy | £128 | £102 | £84–£151 |
Learning resources & ICT | £234 | £316 | £256–£425 |
Bought-in services | £287 | £203 | £104–£309 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Colebourne Primary School Healthy
- Sandown Primary School and Nursery Large reserves
- St Michael's CofE Academy Large reserves
- St Matthew's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Newsham Primary School Tight
- Boarshaw Community Primary School Healthy
- Florence Melly Community Primary School Large reserves
- Greenmount Primary School Heading for deficit
- St Luke's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Carlton Road Academy Large reserves
- Whetley Academy Large reserves
- Mile Cross Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.2m | £7,217 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £221k | £495 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £272k | £610 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £166k | £372 |
Money raised by parents
Lower Farm Parent Teacher Association (charity 1045186, Registered) raised £11k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-08 | £11k | £9k |
2025-09 | £14k | £11k |
2024-09 | £9k | £9k |
2023-09 | £13k | £11k |
2022-09 | £6k | £6k |
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.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- 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 Lower Farm Primary School · All Walsall school finances