St Michael's Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £125k in reserve, 18% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). East Sussex · 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 | £508k | £498k | +£9k | £53k | 82 |
2019-20 | £523k | £492k | +£31k | £83k | 87 |
2020-21 | £538k | £522k | +£16k | £99k | 87 |
2021-22 | £555k | £527k | +£28k | £127k | 79 |
2022-23 | £503k | £520k | -£17k | £111k | 75 |
2023-24 | £566k | £577k | -£11k | £99k | 76 |
2024-25 | £642k | £625k | +£16k | £116k | 73 |
2025-26 | £679k | £670k | +£9k | £125k | 74 |
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 83% of them. It spends £9,054 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,277.
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 | £3,902 | £4,128 | £3,774–£4,624 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,484 | £1,259 | £964–£1,679 |
Supply staff | £520 | £158 | £38–£362 |
Admin and clerical | £462 | £434 | £325–£515 |
Premises | £408 | £421 | £379–£549 |
Energy | £264 | £124 | £94–£173 |
Learning resources & ICT | £572 | £431 | £291–£518 |
Bought-in services | £276 | £215 | £89–£312 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Coberley Church of England Primary School Heading for deficit
- Swainswick Church School In deficit
- Kirkbride Primary School In deficit
- Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School Tight
- St Peter's Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Godolphin Primary School Heading for deficit
- Oulton CofE First School Healthy
- Glapthorn Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Whitley Village School Large reserves
- Gulworthy Primary Academy Healthy
- Kempsford Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Giggleswick Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £651k | £8,802 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £123k | £1,658 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £7k | £97 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £28k | £379 |
Money raised by parents
ST MICHAEL'S PRIMARY SCHOOL WITHYHAM PARENTS ASSOCIATION (charity 1112742, Registered) raised £9k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £9k | £6k |
2024-08 | £10k | £7k |
2023-08 | £9k | £19k |
2022-08 | £13k | £8k |
2021-08 | £6k | £14k |
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 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 10% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £520 a pupil, against a typical £158 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £264 a pupil, against a typical £124 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £572 a pupil, against a typical £431 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 St Michael's Primary School · All East Sussex school finances