Barrowford School: school finances
Tight
Holds £79k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lancashire · 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 | £1.8m | £1.8m | +£42k | -£30k | 381 |
2019-20 | £1.8m | £1.8m | +£75k | £45k | 363 |
2020-21 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£99k | £143k | 345 |
2021-22 | £2.1m | £2.1m | -£37k | £106k | 347 |
2022-23 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£58k | £48k | 326 |
2023-24 | £2.6m | £2.5m | +£79k | £127k | 296 |
2024-25 | £2.7m | £2.8m | -£40k | £87k | 327 |
2025-26 | £3.0m | £3.1m | -£8k | £79k | 312 |
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 20% of them. It spends £9,778 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,672.
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 | £4,332 | £3,351 | £3,183–£3,852 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,724 | £1,686 | £1,331–£2,274 |
Supply staff | £60 | £169 | £28–£392 |
Admin and clerical | £357 | £317 | £245–£391 |
Premises | £133 | £402 | £347–£465 |
Energy | £124 | £118 | £94–£144 |
Learning resources & ICT | £765 | £302 | £192–£383 |
Bought-in services | £409 | £196 | £71–£336 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Yewtree Primary School Large reserves
- Ling Bob Junior, Infant and Nursery School Large reserves
- Henbury Court Primary Academy Large reserves
- Sacred Heart Primary School Large reserves
- Inglehurst Junior School Healthy
- St Dunstan's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Healthy
- Alford Primary School Large reserves
- Elmore Green Primary School Tight
- Oakwood Primary School Healthy
- Windwhistle Primary School Healthy
- Gorse Hill Primary School Tight
- Lift Beacon Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.9m | £9,449 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £570k | £1,827 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £209k | £670 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £95k | £303 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- 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 learning resources & ict is £765 a pupil, against a typical £302 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £409 a pupil, against a typical £196 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,724 a pupil, against a typical £1,686 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,332 a pupil, against a typical £3,351 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 Barrowford School · All Lancashire school finances