Holy Cross RC Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £191k in reserve, 12% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Bristol, City of · 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 | £1.0m | £1.0m | +£10k | £80k | 198 |
2019-20 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£47k | £127k | 199 |
2020-21 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£7k | £134k | 190 |
2021-22 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£16k | £119k | 192 |
2022-23 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£7k | £125k | 177 |
2023-24 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£12k | £113k | 186 |
2024-25 | £1.6m | £1.5m | +£93k | £206k | 177 |
2025-26 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£15k | £191k | 170 |
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 73% of them. It spends £9,133 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,694.
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 | £3,790 | £3,837 | £3,416–£4,219 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,384 | £1,807 | £1,213–£2,171 |
Supply staff | £253 | £158 | £110–£588 |
Admin and clerical | £738 | £404 | £299–£569 |
Premises | £591 | £532 | £434–£620 |
Energy | £135 | £161 | £135–£193 |
Learning resources & ICT | £327 | £368 | £303–£435 |
Bought-in services | £721 | £209 | £100–£361 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Shirley Manor Primary School Healthy
- Victoria Road Primary Large reserves
- The Knights Enham Junior School Large reserves
- St Peter's Church of England (VC) Junior School Large reserves
- Victoria Lane Academy Tight
- Over Hall Community School Large reserves
- Netherley Park Primary School In deficit
- St Ambrose RC Primary School Heading for deficit
- Clayton Brook Primary School Healthy
- Oxclose Primary Academy Large reserves
- St Malachy's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Large reserves
- Durham Gilesgate Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.4m | £8,442 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £165k | £968 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £122k | £720 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £104k | £611 |
Money raised by parents
HOLY CROSS PTFA (BEDMINSTER) (charity 1060576, Registered) raised £2k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £2k | £2k |
2024-08 | £3k | £2k |
2023-08 | £4k | £3k |
2022-08 | £3k | £2k |
2021-08 | £32 | £0 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 14% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £721 a pupil, against a typical £209 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £738 a pupil, against a typical £404 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 Holy Cross RC Primary School · All Bristol, City of school finances