Cranborne Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £417k in reserve, 14% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Hertfordshire · 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 | £2.1m | £2.1m | +£78k | £362k | 437 |
2019-20 | £2.1m | £2.1m | +£17k | £379k | 436 |
2020-21 | £2.1m | £2.0m | +£55k | £434k | 430 |
2021-22 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£92k | £526k | 430 |
2022-23 | £2.1m | £2.5m | -£369k | £157k | 440 |
2023-24 | £2.7m | £2.7m | +£28k | £185k | 444 |
2024-25 | £2.9m | £2.8m | +£124k | £309k | 452 |
2025-26 | £3.0m | £2.9m | +£108k | £417k | 443 |
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 80% of them. It spends £6,625 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,005.
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 | £2,924 | £2,960 | £2,660–£3,102 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,316 | £1,297 | £877–£1,495 |
Supply staff | £35 | £94 | £30–£215 |
Admin and clerical | £430 | £246 | £194–£303 |
Premises | £308 | £297 | £237–£337 |
Energy | £112 | £90 | £70–£100 |
Learning resources & ICT | £340 | £234 | £182–£325 |
Bought-in services | £110 | £127 | £83–£173 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Acklam Whin Primary School Large reserves
- Woodheys Primary School Heading for deficit
- St Thomas A Becket Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Isle of Ely Primary School Large reserves
- Clifford Bridge Academy Healthy
- Didcot Primary Academy Large reserves
- Didsbury Road Primary School Large reserves
- The Bishops' Church of England and Roman Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Simon de Senlis Primary School Large reserves
- Ewell Grove Primary and Nursery School Large reserves
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School Tight
- Applecroft School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.7m | £6,180 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £135k | £306 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £60k | £136 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £322k | £727 |
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?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £430 a pupil, against a typical £246 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £112 a pupil, against a typical £90 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 Cranborne Primary School · All Hertfordshire school finances