Shirley Warren Primary & Nursery School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £612k, 20% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Southampton · Primary · Foundation 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 | -£11k | £142k | 452 |
2019-20 | £2.6m | £2.7m | -£93k | £49k | 431 |
2020-21 | £2.4m | £2.5m | -£128k | -£79k | 432 |
2021-22 | £2.6m | £2.7m | -£75k | -£127k | 436 |
2022-23 | £2.7m | £2.9m | -£188k | -£315k | 436 |
2023-24 | £2.8m | £2.9m | -£154k | -£469k | 440 |
2024-25 | £3.1m | £3.0m | +£143k | -£326k | 425 |
2025-26 | £3.0m | £3.3m | -£286k | -£612k | 372 |
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 0% of them. It spends £8,841 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,859.
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 | £3,676 | £3,316 | £3,080–£3,641 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,978 | £1,333 | £1,123–£1,623 |
Supply staff | £431 | £134 | £69–£312 |
Admin and clerical | £318 | £320 | £233–£410 |
Premises | £616 | £328 | £270–£416 |
Energy | £77 | £104 | £83–£142 |
Learning resources & ICT | £312 | £248 | £202–£321 |
Bought-in services | £389 | £203 | £90–£308 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Maltby Manor Academy Large reserves
- Fordley Primary School In deficit
- Willows Primary Academy Large reserves
- Wallsend Jubilee Primary School In deficit
- Pirton Hill Primary School Large reserves
- Clayton St John CofE Primary School Healthy
- Aylesham Primary School Heading for deficit
- Pilgrim Primary Academy Healthy
- Queensmead Primary Academy Large reserves
- Westbourne Primary School Large reserves
- St Laurence's Catholic Primary School Tight
- Claremont Primary and Nursery School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.9m | £7,847 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £73k | £196 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £239k | £643 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £83k | £224 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- 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 £431 a pupil, against a typical £134 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £389 a pupil, against a typical £203 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £616 a pupil, against a typical £328 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.
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