New Invention Infant School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £21k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
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 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£24k | £154k | 308 |
2019-20 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£11k | £165k | 311 |
2020-21 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£33k | £198k | 307 |
2021-22 | £1.8m | £1.9m | -£89k | £109k | 309 |
2022-23 | £1.9m | £1.9m | -£20k | £90k | 319 |
2023-24 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£85k | £175k | 316 |
2024-25 | £2.3m | £2.4m | -£57k | £118k | 309 |
2025-26 | £2.3m | £2.4m | -£97k | £21k | 304 |
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 13% of them. It spends £8,010 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,406.
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 | £3,257 | £3,115 | £2,838–£3,287 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,402 | £1,370 | £1,216–£1,612 |
Supply staff | £87 | £118 | £86–£204 |
Admin and clerical | £348 | £274 | £220–£366 |
Premises | £338 | £311 | £279–£399 |
Energy | £67 | £97 | £81–£126 |
Learning resources & ICT | £183 | £249 | £179–£291 |
Bought-in services | £257 | £101 | £55–£155 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Farmilo Primary School and Nursery Healthy
- St. Clements Hill Primary Academy In deficit
- Yapton CE Primary School Tight
- Cutteslowe Primary School Large reserves
- Hasland Infant School Large reserves
- Reinwood Infant and Nursery School Tight
- Carlton Primary Academy Large reserves
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whitstable Large reserves
- Chesham Primary Academy Large reserves
- Wellesley Park Primary School Large reserves
- Tywardreath School Large reserves
- Albrighton Primary School & Nursery Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.3m | £7,403 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £174k | £571 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £80k | £264 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £87k | £287 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on bought-in services is £257 a pupil, against a typical £101 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,402 a pupil, against a typical £1,370 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 New Invention Infant School · All Walsall school finances