Downs Barn School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £73k in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Milton Keynes · 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 | £745k | £718k | +£26k | £61k | 110 |
2019-20 | £676k | £708k | -£32k | £28k | 95 |
2020-21 | £641k | £670k | -£28k | -£240 | 92 |
2021-22 | £646k | £636k | +£10k | £10k | 94 |
2022-23 | £661k | £651k | +£10k | £19k | 84 |
2023-24 | £651k | £629k | +£22k | £42k | 87 |
2024-25 | £658k | £648k | +£10k | £51k | 80 |
2025-26 | £729k | £707k | +£22k | £73k | 86 |
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 57% of them. It spends £8,176 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,037.
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 | £4,004 | £3,996 | £3,413–£4,499 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,769 | £1,504 | £1,131–£1,921 |
Supply staff | £31 | £266 | £70–£381 |
Admin and clerical | £290 | £382 | £315–£529 |
Premises | £651 | £439 | £303–£557 |
Energy | £149 | £160 | £114–£187 |
Learning resources & ICT | £164 | £380 | £284–£490 |
Bought-in services | £204 | £244 | £177–£420 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- All Saints Marsh CofE Academy Healthy
- Broadbottom Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Farcet CofE (C) Primary School Healthy
- Clitheroe Brookside Primary School Healthy
- Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School Large reserves
- Swinefleet Primary School Large reserves
- The Cowbit St Mary's Church of England Academy Large reserves
- Aldermaston C.E. Primary School Healthy
- Palterton Primary School Large reserves
- Cornwood Church of England Primary School Heading for deficit
- Stalham Infant School and Nursery In deficit
- Uffington Church of England Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £717k | £8,287 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £7k | £78 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £24k | £280 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £12k | £144 |
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 21% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on premises is £651 a pupil, against a typical £439 for similar schools. What's behind that?
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 Downs Barn School · All Milton Keynes school finances