Park Lane Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £128k, 5% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 2 years running.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Reading · 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 | £1.8m | £1.8m | +£9k | £78k | 413 |
2019-20 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£29k | £49k | 413 |
2020-21 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£88k | £138k | 407 |
2021-22 | £2.0m | £2.0m | +£3k | £141k | 410 |
2022-23 | £2.1m | £2.2m | -£76k | £65k | 410 |
2023-24 | £2.3m | £2.3m | +£36k | £101k | 402 |
2024-25 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£81k | £20k | 378 |
2025-26 | £2.3m | £2.5m | -£148k | -£128k | 388 |
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 0% of them. It spends £6,434 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,367.
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 | £3,468 | £3,014 | £2,843–£3,274 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,107 | £1,174 | £999–£1,418 |
Supply staff | £32 | £126 | £49–£245 |
Admin and clerical | £463 | £281 | £233–£302 |
Premises | £324 | £305 | £249–£364 |
Energy | £113 | £80 | £61–£99 |
Learning resources & ICT | £83 | £273 | £237–£335 |
Bought-in services | £283 | £128 | £61–£177 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Charlton Wood Primary Academy Large reserves
- Carclaze Community Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Beverley Healthy
- Heycroft Primary School Large reserves
- Kingsnorth Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Abbots Hall Primary School Tight
- Welton St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy Large reserves
- Rydon Primary School Large reserves
- Stanway Primary School Large reserves
- Low Moor CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Thatcham Park CofE Primary Heading for deficit
- Moreton Christ Church CofE Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.3m | £6,048 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £27k | £69 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £119k | £306 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £2k | £4 |
Money raised by parents
THE FRIENDS OF PARK LANE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (charity 1003604, Registered) raised £19k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £19k | £10k |
2024-08 | £26k | £16k |
2023-08 | £24k | £22k |
2022-08 | £11k | £12k |
2021-08 | £11k | £21k |
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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on bought-in services is £283 a pupil, against a typical £128 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £463 a pupil, against a typical £281 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £113 a pupil, against a typical £80 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 Park Lane Primary School · All Reading school finances