Combs Infant School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £145k in reserve, 38% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Derbyshire · 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 | £280k | £280k | +£588 | £11k | 29 |
2019-20 | £313k | £348k | -£35k | -£24k | 33 |
2020-21 | £385k | £330k | +£55k | £31k | 38 |
2021-22 | £389k | £351k | +£38k | £69k | 37 |
2022-23 | £373k | £343k | +£30k | £99k | 35 |
2023-24 | £397k | £340k | +£56k | £155k | 20 |
2024-25 | £400k | £380k | +£20k | £175k | 16 |
2025-26 | £385k | £415k | -£30k | £145k | 14 |
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 £29,617 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £18,381.
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 | £11,556 | £7,930 | £6,511–£9,007 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £4,968 | £2,599 | £1,761–£3,062 |
Supply staff | £1,374 | £599 | £108–£1,197 |
Admin and clerical | £2,137 | £1,130 | £775–£1,459 |
Premises | £2,383 | £1,109 | £792–£1,624 |
Energy | £118 | £356 | £255–£598 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,647 | £975 | £641–£1,435 |
Bought-in services | £1,700 | £743 | £179–£1,463 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Hornby St Margaret's Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Thurnham Glasson Christ Church, Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Nenthead Primary School In deficit
- North and South Cowton Community Primary School Large reserves
- Wellington Place Primary School Healthy
- Stoke Goldington Church of England School Large reserves
- Alanbrooke Academy Healthy
- Hickling CofE Infants Academy Large reserves
- St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy Tight
- Coverack Primary School Tight
- Harbottle Church of England First School Tight
- Hartington CofE Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £359k | £25,655 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £3k | £236 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £25k | £1,821 |
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 52% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £1,374 a pupil, against a typical £599 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £1,700 a pupil, against a typical £743 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,383 a pupil, against a typical £1,109 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 Combs Infant School · All Derbyshire school finances