St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Lowton: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £163k in reserve, 12% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Wigan · 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 | £926k | £938k | -£12k | -£6k | 195 |
2019-20 | £922k | £931k | -£9k | -£15k | 198 |
2020-21 | £968k | £922k | +£46k | £31k | 193 |
2021-22 | £992k | £975k | +£17k | £48k | 199 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£15k | £33k | 206 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£35k | £68k | 216 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£79k | £147k | 213 |
2025-26 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£16k | £163k | 212 |
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 £6,480 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,894.
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 | £3,058 | £3,108 | £2,921–£3,319 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,180 | £1,252 | £1,073–£1,522 |
Supply staff | £231 | £114 | £30–£234 |
Admin and clerical | £250 | £317 | £261–£349 |
Premises | £449 | £334 | £290–£359 |
Energy | £76 | £98 | £77–£126 |
Learning resources & ICT | £375 | £317 | £229–£419 |
Bought-in services | £255 | £204 | £108–£264 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Jessie Younghusband Primary School In deficit
- How Wood Primary and Nursery School In deficit
- Maltese Road Primary School Large reserves
- St Vigor & St John Church School Large reserves
- Knightlow CofE Primary School Healthy
- Woodsetts Primary School Tight
- Carrington Primary and Nursery School Tight
- Melling Primary School Large reserves
- Westgate Primary School In deficit
- Cherry Tree School In deficit
- St Catherine's RC Primary School Healthy
- Watton-at-Stone Primary and Nursery School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £6,110 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £27k | £129 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £57k | £271 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £95k | £449 |
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?
- Spending on premises is £449 a pupil, against a typical £334 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 St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Lowton · All Wigan school finances