Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £50k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Wirral · 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 | £1.9m | £1.9m | +£1k | £89k | 420 |
2019-20 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£29k | £118k | 397 |
2020-21 | £1.9m | £1.9m | +£29k | £147k | 386 |
2021-22 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£79k | £226k | 360 |
2022-23 | £2.0m | £2.1m | -£142k | £84k | 346 |
2023-24 | £2.0m | £2.0m | +£58k | £142k | 299 |
2024-25 | £1.9m | £1.9m | -£13k | £129k | 298 |
2025-26 | £1.9m | £2.0m | -£79k | £50k | 267 |
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 23% of them. It spends £7,517 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,928.
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 | £4,089 | £3,288 | £3,095–£3,578 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,237 | £1,243 | £947–£1,564 |
Supply staff | £190 | £110 | £51–£228 |
Admin and clerical | £292 | £330 | £256–£404 |
Premises | £287 | £338 | £280–£503 |
Energy | £133 | £107 | £79–£134 |
Learning resources & ICT | £346 | £285 | £205–£426 |
Bought-in services | £229 | £125 | £39–£186 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Carbeile Junior School Large reserves
- Howbridge Infant School Large reserves
- Poulner Junior School Healthy
- Ludgershall Castle Primary School Large reserves
- Knaphill Junior School In deficit
- Boroughbridge Primary School Large reserves
- East Oxford Primary School Tight
- Watton Westfield Infant and Nursery School Large reserves
- Marchwood Junior School Large reserves
- Springmead Primary School Large reserves
- Ravensdale Infant and Nursery School Heading for deficit
- Brushwood Junior School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.8m | £6,780 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £65k | £245 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £89k | £335 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £118k | £443 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 36% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £229 a pupil, against a typical £125 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,089 a pupil, against a typical £3,288 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 Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School · All Wirral school finances