Heathwood Lower School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £267k in reserve, 17% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Central Bedfordshire · 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 | £950k | £965k | -£15k | £70k | 162 |
2019-20 | £995k | £985k | +£10k | £80k | 162 |
2020-21 | £1.0m | £994k | +£54k | £134k | 167 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£5k | £129k | 170 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£17k | £112k | 168 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£13k | £99k | 175 |
2024-25 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£111k | £210k | 184 |
2025-26 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£57k | £267k | 184 |
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 93% of them. It spends £8,034 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,239.
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 | £2,972 | £3,260 | £3,072–£3,484 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,863 | £974 | £844–£1,263 |
Supply staff | £83 | £104 | £34–£181 |
Admin and clerical | £490 | £289 | £229–£382 |
Premises | £340 | £331 | £248–£426 |
Energy | £148 | £100 | £71–£113 |
Learning resources & ICT | £201 | £287 | £222–£353 |
Bought-in services | £99 | £159 | £120–£259 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Thornton Hough Primary School In deficit
- Wisborough Green Primary School Tight
- Brinscall St John's CofE and Methodist Primary School Large reserves
- Brindle Gregson Lane Primary School Healthy
- Walford Nursery & Primary School Large reserves
- Little Eaton Primary School In deficit
- Hartsbourne Primary School Healthy
- Ben Rhydding Primary School Healthy
- Stoke Holy Cross Primary School Large reserves
- Ketton Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Tylers Green First School Large reserves
- Houghton CofE School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.4m | £7,488 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £179k | £974 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £22k | £119 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £164k | £891 |
Money raised by parents
HEATHWOOD SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATION (charity 1057879, Registered) raised £9k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £9k | £7k |
2024-08 | £16k | £15k |
2023-08 | £10k | £9k |
2022-08 | £10k | £9k |
2021-08 | £4k | £6k |
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 support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,863 a pupil, against a typical £974 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £490 a pupil, against a typical £289 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £148 a pupil, against a typical £100 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 Heathwood Lower School · All Central Bedfordshire school finances