Layston Church of England First School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £23k, 2% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 5 years running.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Hertfordshire · Primary · Voluntary controlled 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 | £784k | £757k | +£27k | £80k | 149 |
2019-20 | £828k | £817k | +£11k | £90k | 151 |
2020-21 | £804k | £759k | +£45k | £135k | 149 |
2021-22 | £878k | £882k | -£4k | £131k | 148 |
2022-23 | £940k | £943k | -£2k | £129k | 145 |
2023-24 | £984k | £991k | -£6k | £123k | 146 |
2024-25 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£34k | £88k | 139 |
2025-26 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£111k | -£23k | 124 |
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 23% of them. It spends £9,596 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,990.
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 | £3,845 | £3,646 | £3,344–£3,899 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,244 | £1,545 | £1,291–£2,001 |
Supply staff | £604 | £152 | £62–£361 |
Admin and clerical | £385 | £425 | £329–£520 |
Premises | £547 | £406 | £341–£497 |
Energy | £56 | £148 | £103–£178 |
Learning resources & ICT | £319 | £323 | £266–£396 |
Bought-in services | £507 | £234 | £127–£371 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- All Saints Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- Luddington & Garthorpe Primary Large reserves
- Bilton Infant School In deficit
- Houghton Conquest Primary School In deficit
- Bingham Primary School Large reserves
- Brownsover Community School In deficit
- Surrey Hills All Saints Primary School Healthy
- Stanhope Barrington CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Bomere Heath Church of England Primary School Healthy
- William Lilley Infant and Nursery School Tight
- Northiam Church of England Primary School and Nursery Large reserves
- Netherfield CofE Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.0m | £8,202 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £52k | £415 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £47k | £376 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £62k | £501 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF LAYSTON SCHOOL (charity 1140983, Registered) raised £6k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £6k | £3k |
2024-08 | £5k | £3k |
2023-08 | £6k | £6k |
2022-08 | £3k | £3k |
2021-08 | £1k | £2k |
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.
- 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 17% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £604 a pupil, against a typical £152 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £507 a pupil, against a typical £234 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,244 a pupil, against a typical £1,545 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 Layston Church of England First School · All Hertfordshire school finances