Chater Junior School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £120k reserve runs out in about 3 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Hertfordshire · 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 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£3k | £114k | 241 |
2019-20 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£97k | £211k | 240 |
2020-21 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£62k | £272k | 236 |
2021-22 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£21k | £293k | 234 |
2022-23 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£37k | £256k | 239 |
2023-24 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£28k | £283k | 235 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.5m | -£49k | £235k | 241 |
2025-26 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£115k | £120k | 238 |
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 50% of them. It spends £7,096 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,344.
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 | £3,233 | £3,069 | £2,844–£3,275 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,248 | £1,144 | £975–£1,351 |
Supply staff | £296 | £109 | £36–£213 |
Admin and clerical | £505 | £289 | £227–£354 |
Premises | £357 | £349 | £290–£383 |
Energy | £87 | £94 | £63–£124 |
Learning resources & ICT | £421 | £288 | £247–£389 |
Bought-in services | £179 | £153 | £55–£258 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Haslucks Green School In deficit
- St Andrew's Church School Large reserves
- Otford Primary School Large reserves
- Little Stanion Primary School Healthy
- Woodside Junior School Large reserves
- Whiston Worrygoose Junior and Infant School Large reserves
- King's Academy Gomer Large reserves
- St Mark's Church of England Junior School In deficit
- Barton Farm Primary Academy Large reserves
- Nunthorpe Primary Academy Large reserves
- Christ The King RC Primary School Healthy
- Brookdale Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.5m | £6,265 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £48k | £200 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £53k | £223 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £122k | £514 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on supply staff is £296 a pupil, against a typical £109 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £505 a pupil, against a typical £289 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 Chater Junior School · All Hertfordshire school finances