Leigh Central Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £420k in reserve, 21% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Wigan · 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 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£74k | £277k | 231 |
2019-20 | £1.5m | £1.5m | -£19k | £258k | 226 |
2020-21 | £1.6m | £1.5m | +£67k | £325k | 221 |
2021-22 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£45k | £280k | 224 |
2022-23 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£85k | £365k | 204 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £1.7m | +£28k | £393k | 211 |
2024-25 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£61k | £454k | 211 |
2025-26 | £2.0m | £2.1m | -£33k | £420k | 211 |
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 87% of them. It spends £9,854 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,631.
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 | £3,785 | £3,246 | £2,859–£3,894 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,043 | £1,731 | £1,347–£2,201 |
Supply staff | £346 | £176 | £24–£283 |
Admin and clerical | £187 | £359 | £219–£455 |
Premises | £555 | £400 | £317–£578 |
Energy | £112 | £136 | £97–£172 |
Learning resources & ICT | £590 | £356 | £257–£411 |
Bought-in services | £578 | £178 | £59–£314 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Grove Primary School Tight
- Burnley St Peter's Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Radford Primary School Academy Healthy
- Catchgate Primary School Healthy
- Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Broken Cross Primary Academy and Nursery Large reserves
- Hindley Junior and Infant School Large reserves
- Bede Community Primary School In deficit
- St Meriadoc CofE Junior Academy Healthy
- Bluebell Meadow Primary School In deficit
- Parkwood Primary School Large reserves
- Tuckswood Academy In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.8m | £8,449 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £101k | £478 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £161k | £764 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £263k | £1,247 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 9% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £578 a pupil, against a typical £178 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £346 a pupil, against a typical £176 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £590 a pupil, against a typical £356 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 Leigh Central Primary School · All Wigan school finances