Priory Primary School, Bicknacre: school finances
Tight
Holds £8k 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). Essex · 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 | £851k | £844k | +£8k | £53k | 188 |
2019-20 | £830k | £881k | -£51k | £2k | 179 |
2020-21 | £906k | £908k | -£2k | £414 | 185 |
2021-22 | £935k | £952k | -£18k | -£17k | 188 |
2022-23 | £983k | £995k | -£12k | -£29k | 180 |
2023-24 | £1.0m | £1.0m | +£7k | -£22k | 154 |
2024-25 | £977k | £939k | +£38k | £16k | 142 |
2025-26 | £927k | £935k | -£8k | £8k | 153 |
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 30% of them. It spends £6,111 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,844.
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 | £3,255 | £3,366 | £3,209–£3,780 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £910 | £1,352 | £1,024–£1,682 |
Supply staff | £294 | £103 | £51–£226 |
Admin and clerical | £306 | £335 | £203–£404 |
Premises | £297 | £311 | £251–£439 |
Energy | £141 | £104 | £90–£126 |
Learning resources & ICT | £243 | £337 | £281–£473 |
Bought-in services | £104 | £147 | £37–£224 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Croftlands Junior School In deficit
- Stoke Fleming Community Primary School Healthy
- Newport Primary School Healthy
- Temple Ewell Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Rushwick CofE Primary School In deficit
- St Newlyn East Learning Academy Healthy
- Severn Beach Primary School Large reserves
- St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School Large reserves
- English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy In deficit
- Stratford-sub-Castle Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School In deficit
- Lanivet Community Primary School Healthy
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Warton In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £877k | £5,734 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £29k | £192 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £26k | £170 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £49k | £323 |
Money raised by parents
BICKNACRE PRIORY PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (charity 1115004, Registered) raised £13k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £13k | £11k |
2024-08 | £7k | £12k |
2023-08 | £10k | £9k |
2022-08 | £39 | £466 |
2021-08 | £0 | £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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 18% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £294 a pupil, against a typical £103 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £141 a pupil, against a typical £104 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 Priory Primary School, Bicknacre · All Essex school finances