Downs Junior School: school finances
Tight
Holds £76k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Brighton and Hove · 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 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£52k | £29k | 502 |
2019-20 | £2.5m | £2.5m | -£20k | £9k | 509 |
2020-21 | £2.4m | £2.4m | +£29k | £38k | 493 |
2021-22 | £2.8m | £2.7m | +£22k | £60k | 498 |
2022-23 | £3.0m | £3.0m | -£7k | £53k | 508 |
2023-24 | £3.2m | £3.2m | -£38k | £14k | 505 |
2024-25 | £3.4m | £3.3m | +£78k | £93k | 499 |
2025-26 | £3.6m | £3.6m | -£17k | £76k | 495 |
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 20% of them. It spends £7,259 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,360.
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 | £3,264 | £3,137 | £2,769–£3,255 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,122 | £1,264 | £1,013–£1,386 |
Supply staff | £121 | £108 | £34–£189 |
Admin and clerical | £281 | £284 | £226–£329 |
Premises | £231 | £300 | £246–£352 |
Energy | £94 | £97 | £74–£123 |
Learning resources & ICT | £344 | £264 | £202–£333 |
Bought-in services | £160 | £80 | £64–£135 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Swalecliffe Community Primary School Tight
- Claydon Primary School Large reserves
- Higher Lane Primary School Healthy
- Tudor Grange Primary Academy Langley Healthy
- Townfield Primary School Tight
- Coundon Primary School Healthy
- Thornhill Primary School Healthy
- Woodlands Primary School Healthy
- Beaufort Primary School Heading for deficit
- Weddington Primary School Large reserves
- Malvern Primary School Healthy
- Christchurch Junior School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.1m | £6,205 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £202k | £408 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £143k | £290 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £505k | £1,021 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF DOWNS JUNIOR (FODJ) (charity 1154155, Registered) raised £21k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £21k | £36k |
2024-08 | £24k | £15k |
2023-08 | £24k | £14k |
2022-08 | £11k | £14k |
2021-08 | £12k | £5k |
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 would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on bought-in services is £160 a pupil, against a typical £80 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,122 a pupil, against a typical £1,264 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 Downs Junior School · All Brighton and Hove school finances