Cotton End Forest School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £24k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Bedford · 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 | £783k | £747k | +£35k | £184k | 163 |
2019-20 | £960k | £1.1m | -£113k | £71k | 248 |
2020-21 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£37k | £107k | 296 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£22k | £129k | 330 |
2022-23 | £1.9m | £1.9m | -£34k | £95k | 363 |
2023-24 | £2.1m | £2.1m | -£16k | £80k | 390 |
2024-25 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£15k | £65k | 418 |
2025-26 | £2.6m | £2.7m | -£41k | £24k | 435 |
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 £6,137 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,269.
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 | £2,707 | £2,902 | £2,679–£3,177 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,653 | £1,315 | £1,110–£1,613 |
Supply staff | £84 | £117 | £29–£189 |
Admin and clerical | £324 | £290 | £220–£352 |
Premises | £158 | £302 | £253–£366 |
Energy | £72 | £92 | £77–£109 |
Learning resources & ICT | £275 | £228 | £185–£272 |
Bought-in services | £216 | £144 | £89–£235 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Ryders Hayes School Healthy
- The Winchcombe School Tight
- Fountain Primary School Heading for deficit
- Herne Junior School Healthy
- Willow Primary School Heading for deficit
- Valley View Community Primary School Heading for deficit
- Meole Brace Church of England Primary School and Nursery Large reserves
- Carr Lodge Academy Large reserves
- Warmsworth Primary School Heading for deficit
- Great Chart Primary School Tight
- Horbury Primary Academy Large reserves
- Park View Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.5m | £5,780 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £142k | £327 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £99k | £227 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £136k | £313 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
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 Cotton End Forest School · All Bedford school finances