St James' Church of England Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £154k in reserve, 11% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Blackburn with Darwen · Primary · Voluntary aided 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 | -£47k | £56k | 206 |
2019-20 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£36k | £92k | 209 |
2020-21 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£39k | £131k | 191 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£74k | £57k | 189 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£27k | £30k | 184 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£6k | £24k | 191 |
2024-25 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£48k | £71k | 191 |
2025-26 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£83k | £154k | 202 |
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 53% of them. It spends £6,845 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,012.
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 | £2,972 | £3,295 | £2,952–£3,644 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,595 | £1,298 | £1,078–£1,584 |
Supply staff | £225 | £123 | £63–£269 |
Admin and clerical | £384 | £325 | £230–£399 |
Premises | £306 | £353 | £279–£416 |
Energy | £106 | £117 | £92–£138 |
Learning resources & ICT | £226 | £294 | £214–£384 |
Bought-in services | £269 | £202 | £121–£331 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Upwood Primary Academy Large reserves
- Micklehurst All Saints CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Weobley Primary School Tight
- Overseal Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Heading for deficit
- Oswaldtwistle Hippings Methodist Voluntary Controlled Primary School Healthy
- Marsden Primary School Heading for deficit
- Kennet Valley Primary School In deficit
- Hazel Slade Primary Academy Large reserves
- Thurlby Community Primary Academy Large reserves
- Brompton Community Primary School Large reserves
- Byerley Park Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.4m | £7,095 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £132k | £654 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £84k | £414 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £33k | £164 |
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?
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 St James' Church of England Primary School · All Blackburn with Darwen school finances