St Mary's Church of England Controlled Primary School Boston Spa: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £118k in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Leeds · Primary · Voluntary controlled 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 | £701k | £733k | -£32k | £38k | 130 |
2019-20 | £706k | £720k | -£14k | £24k | 137 |
2020-21 | £703k | £643k | +£61k | £84k | 132 |
2021-22 | £741k | £810k | -£69k | £15k | 133 |
2022-23 | £827k | £870k | -£43k | -£28k | 139 |
2023-24 | £995k | £880k | +£115k | £87k | 141 |
2024-25 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£87k | £175k | 136 |
2025-26 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£57k | £118k | 134 |
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 50% of them. It spends £8,929 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,965.
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 | £3,726 | £3,245 | £3,042–£3,708 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,724 | £1,354 | £1,063–£1,711 |
Supply staff | £656 | £137 | £74–£256 |
Admin and clerical | £211 | £367 | £287–£431 |
Premises | £420 | £317 | £252–£472 |
Energy | £133 | £126 | £97–£167 |
Learning resources & ICT | £592 | £326 | £274–£414 |
Bought-in services | £562 | £175 | £72–£239 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Ashcroft Infants' School Large reserves
- Leven Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School In deficit
- St Nicholas Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Longcot and Fernham Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Silkstone Common Junior and Infant School Healthy
- Great Dalby School Large reserves
- St Peter's Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Whitchurch Primary School Tight
- The Meadows Primary School Heading for deficit
- Corbridge (VA) Church of England First School Large reserves
- Abbey Farm Educate Together Primary Healthy
- The Primary School of St Mary and St Martin Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.0m | £7,855 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £114k | £855 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £17k | £127 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £86k | £646 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF ST MARY'S C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL, BOSTON SPA (charity 1129350, Registered) raised £45k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £45k | £37k |
2024-08 | £42k | £32k |
2023-08 | £46k | £41k |
2022-08 | £19k | £11k |
2021-08 | £2k | £12k |
Matched to this school by name and postcode from the Charity Commission register. Parent associations' money isn't in the school's accounts above.
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 supply staff is £656 a pupil, against a typical £137 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £562 a pupil, against a typical £175 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £592 a pupil, against a typical £326 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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 Mary's Church of England Controlled Primary School Boston Spa · All Leeds school finances