Holy Cross Catholic Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £15k reserve runs out in about 0 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). St. Helens · Primary · Voluntary aided 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 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£3k | £121k | 178 |
2019-20 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£47k | £74k | 180 |
2020-21 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£6k | £68k | 164 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£4k | £72k | 180 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£41k | £113k | 195 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£45k | £69k | 201 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.5m | -£18k | £51k | 196 |
2025-26 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£35k | £15k | 193 |
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 20% of them. It spends £8,039 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,637.
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 | £3,546 | £3,421 | £3,199–£3,734 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,864 | £1,515 | £1,173–£1,929 |
Supply staff | £256 | £117 | £57–£223 |
Admin and clerical | £364 | £365 | £284–£439 |
Premises | £449 | £408 | £365–£465 |
Energy | £110 | £132 | £102–£171 |
Learning resources & ICT | £419 | £273 | £232–£352 |
Bought-in services | £441 | £233 | £115–£337 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Luke's CofE Primary School In deficit
- Hollingworth Primary School Large reserves
- Park Road Junior Infant and Nursery School Tight
- Longmeadow Primary School Heading for deficit
- South Kirkby Common Road Infant and Nursery School Heading for deficit
- Ilfracombe Infant and Nursery School Heading for deficit
- Peartree Primary School In deficit
- Royal Rise Primary School Large reserves
- Rishton St Peter and St Paul's Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Tiverton Academy Healthy
- Kirkbymoorside Community Primary School Healthy
- Our Lady and St Peter Catholic Primary School A Catholic Voluntary Academy Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.5m | £7,675 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £107k | £553 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £113k | £585 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £35k | £181 |
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 supply staff is £256 a pupil, against a typical £117 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £441 a pupil, against a typical £233 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £419 a pupil, against a typical £273 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 Holy Cross Catholic Primary School · All St. Helens school finances