Otford Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £199k in reserve, 11% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 3 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Kent · 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 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£12k | £33k | 400 |
2019-20 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£57k | £91k | 393 |
2020-21 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£131k | £222k | 382 |
2021-22 | £1.9m | £1.9m | +£22k | £244k | 367 |
2022-23 | £2.0m | £2.0m | +£29k | £273k | 332 |
2023-24 | £1.9m | £1.9m | -£986 | £272k | 307 |
2024-25 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£33k | £239k | 279 |
2025-26 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£40k | £199k | 239 |
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 63% of them. It spends £7,645 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 | £4,307 | £3,082 | £2,844–£3,284 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £828 | £1,192 | £980–£1,358 |
Supply staff | £143 | £108 | £60–£228 |
Admin and clerical | £229 | £306 | £246–£357 |
Premises | £335 | £351 | £292–£389 |
Energy | £134 | £94 | £67–£121 |
Learning resources & ICT | £333 | £314 | £249–£428 |
Bought-in services | £317 | £154 | £51–£262 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- King's Academy Gomer Large reserves
- Bishop Ellis Catholic Voluntary Academy In deficit
- Ouston Primary School Large reserves
- Bishops Cannings Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Chater Junior School Heading for deficit
- St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Haslucks Green School In deficit
- Eastern Green Junior School Large reserves
- Walderslade Primary School Large reserves
- Parkgate Junior School Large reserves
- St Mark's Church of England Junior School In deficit
- Barton Farm Primary Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.7m | £7,045 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £36k | £150 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £75k | £314 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £136k | £570 |
Money raised by parents
OTFORD PRIMARY SCHOOL PTFA (charity 1092099, Registered) raised £14k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £14k | £12k |
2024-08 | £23k | £32k |
2023-08 | £29k | £21k |
2022-08 | £19k | £16k |
2021-08 | £8k | £35k |
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 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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 40% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £317 a pupil, against a typical £154 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £134 a pupil, against a typical £94 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,307 a pupil, against a typical £3,082 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 Otford Primary School · All Kent school finances