Shadsworth Junior School: school finances
Tight
Holds £17k 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). Blackburn with Darwen · 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 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£31k | £96k | 237 |
2019-20 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£45k | £51k | 233 |
2020-21 | £1.6m | £1.5m | +£53k | £104k | 228 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£9k | £96k | 232 |
2022-23 | £1.7m | £1.8m | -£25k | £71k | 227 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £2.0m | -£140k | -£69k | 224 |
2024-25 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£12k | -£81k | 222 |
2025-26 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£98k | £17k | 215 |
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 17% of them. It spends £8,824 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,213.
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 | £3,897 | £3,589 | £3,274–£3,979 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,115 | £1,649 | £1,332–£1,970 |
Supply staff | £107 | £165 | £63–£247 |
Admin and clerical | £362 | £322 | £257–£448 |
Premises | £661 | £476 | £375–£568 |
Energy | £149 | £120 | £90–£168 |
Learning resources & ICT | £179 | £311 | £187–£430 |
Bought-in services | £543 | £210 | £91–£330 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Berrybrook Primary School Healthy
- Hasting Hill Academy Large reserves
- Springfield Academy Large reserves
- West Grantham Church of England Primary Academy Large reserves
- St Brigid's RC Primary School Heading for deficit
- Landau Forte Academy Moorhead In deficit
- Beacon Primary School Healthy
- Christ Church CE Academy Large reserves
- Vale View Community School Large reserves
- Laygate Community School In deficit
- Dukesgate Academy Heading for deficit
- St Michael's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.9m | £8,647 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £170k | £791 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £201k | £936 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £136k | £635 |
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 9% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £543 a pupil, against a typical £210 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £661 a pupil, against a typical £476 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 Shadsworth Junior School · All Blackburn with Darwen school finances