Tatham Fells Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £15k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lancashire · 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 | £354k | £353k | +£1k | £37k | 44 |
2019-20 | £329k | £325k | +£4k | £42k | 46 |
2020-21 | £344k | £320k | +£24k | £65k | 46 |
2021-22 | £373k | £359k | +£14k | £80k | 40 |
2022-23 | £397k | £397k | -£695 | £79k | 36 |
2023-24 | £413k | £452k | -£39k | £40k | 35 |
2024-25 | £418k | £424k | -£6k | £34k | 24 |
2025-26 | £371k | £390k | -£19k | £15k | 26 |
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 37% of them. It spends £14,713 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £15,641.
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 | £6,892 | £6,569 | £5,630–£7,884 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,983 | £2,395 | £1,723–£2,767 |
Supply staff | £197 | £329 | £100–£1,012 |
Admin and clerical | £680 | £964 | £800–£1,401 |
Premises | £576 | £865 | £709–£1,065 |
Energy | £364 | £258 | £207–£367 |
Learning resources & ICT | £257 | £833 | £607–£1,171 |
Bought-in services | £1,300 | £691 | £350–£936 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Mawes Primary School Tight
- Edale CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Slaidburn Brennands Endowed Primary School In deficit
- Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, Dunsop Bridge Large reserves
- Talbot First School Large reserves
- Burston Community Primary School Tight
- Holme Junior and Infant School In deficit
- Tritlington Church of England First School Large reserves
- Farlow CofE Primary School Heading for deficit
- Grindleton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Tight
- Patterdale CofE Primary School Tight
- King's Caple Primary Academy Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £362k | £13,645 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £7k | £257 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £10k | £364 |
Money raised by parents
THE FRIENDS OF TATHAM FELLS C OF E SCHOOL (charity 1096336, Registered) raised £621 in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2021-09 | £621 | £1k |
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 is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- 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 £1,300 a pupil, against a typical £691 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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.
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