Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £48k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
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 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£11k | £96k | 213 |
2019-20 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£4k | £100k | 207 |
2020-21 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£51k | £152k | 197 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£19k | £171k | 184 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£56k | £116k | 165 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£8k | £124k | 150 |
2024-25 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£15k | £108k | 120 |
2025-26 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£60k | £48k | 109 |
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 40% of them. It spends £10,827 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,496.
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 | £3,784 | £4,334 | £3,736–£4,631 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,545 | £1,712 | £1,445–£2,183 |
Supply staff | £843 | £203 | £85–£317 |
Admin and clerical | £707 | £428 | £343–£571 |
Premises | £582 | £591 | £437–£658 |
Energy | £178 | £156 | £123–£211 |
Learning resources & ICT | £728 | £454 | £324–£546 |
Bought-in services | £1,211 | £181 | £53–£331 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Nelson Infant School Large reserves
- Queensway Infant Academy Healthy
- Peel Brow School Tight
- Killingholme Primary School Large reserves
- Shottery St Andrew's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Montreal CofE Primary School Healthy
- Brampton Abbotts CofE Primary School Large reserves
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon Large reserves
- Bearnes Voluntary Primary School Healthy
- SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Prior Park Primary School In deficit
- St Augustine's Catholic Voluntary Academy Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.1m | £9,640 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £48k | £439 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £92k | £844 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £70k | £638 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 49% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £1,211 a pupil, against a typical £181 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £843 a pupil, against a typical £203 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £707 a pupil, against a typical £428 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £728 a pupil, against a typical £454 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 Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School · All Lancashire school finances