Houghton CofE School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £16k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Cumberland · Primary · Voluntary controlled 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 | £840k | £811k | +£30k | £46k | 185 |
2019-20 | £891k | £874k | +£17k | £64k | 185 |
2020-21 | £923k | £890k | +£34k | £97k | 182 |
2021-22 | £1.0m | £997k | +£9k | £107k | 194 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£14k | £93k | 193 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£17k | £75k | 196 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£5k | £71k | 183 |
2025-26 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£55k | £16k | 179 |
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 £7,065 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,828.
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 | £3,631 | £3,302 | £2,960–£3,485 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,576 | £1,194 | £859–£1,503 |
Supply staff | £38 | £75 | £58–£191 |
Admin and clerical | £369 | £332 | £273–£404 |
Premises | £259 | £314 | £249–£413 |
Energy | £71 | £105 | £77–£133 |
Learning resources & ICT | £287 | £326 | £240–£431 |
Bought-in services | £115 | £198 | £113–£330 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Tylers Green First School Large reserves
- Houghton Primary School In deficit
- Brinscall St John's CofE and Methodist Primary School Large reserves
- Oakwood Infant School Large reserves
- Fetcham Village Infant School Tight
- Bledlow Ridge School Healthy
- Walford Nursery & Primary School Large reserves
- Heathwood Lower School Large reserves
- St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester Healthy
- Cuddington and Dinton CofE School Healthy
- Lightwater Village Infant School and Nursery Heading for deficit
- Thornton Hough Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.1m | £6,424 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £123k | £689 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £30k | £170 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £60k | £337 |
Money raised by parents
HOUGHTON SCHOOL PTA (charity 1214731, Registered)
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 is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- 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 Houghton CofE School · All Cumberland school finances