St Matthew's Church of England Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £297k in reserve, 12% 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 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£59k | £186k | 301 |
2019-20 | £1.7m | £1.7m | -£4k | £182k | 274 |
2020-21 | £1.8m | £1.8m | -£5k | £177k | 302 |
2021-22 | £1.8m | £1.8m | +£476 | £177k | 276 |
2022-23 | £2.0m | £2.0m | -£28k | £149k | 273 |
2023-24 | £2.2m | £2.1m | +£109k | £258k | 300 |
2024-25 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£25k | £283k | 286 |
2025-26 | £2.4m | £2.4m | +£14k | £297k | 278 |
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 60% of them. It spends £8,619 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,242.
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 | £3,381 | £3,332 | £3,028–£3,849 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,371 | £1,512 | £1,270–£1,915 |
Supply staff | £1,440 | £144 | £83–£392 |
Admin and clerical | £337 | £334 | £252–£392 |
Premises | £354 | £388 | £340–£496 |
Energy | £120 | £99 | £88–£134 |
Learning resources & ICT | £358 | £328 | £203–£383 |
Bought-in services | £524 | £164 | £60–£279 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Highweek Community Primary and Nursery School In deficit
- Moorlands Primary School In deficit
- Bedwell Primary School Large reserves
- Kingsway Primary School Large reserves
- Carlinghow Academy Large reserves
- Granby Junior School Healthy
- Wardley Primary School Large reserves
- Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School Healthy
- Wombridge Primary School Large reserves
- Edward Worlledge Ormiston Academy Large reserves
- Portfield Primary Academy Healthy
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.3m | £8,395 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £196k | £704 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £128k | £461 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £76k | £273 |
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?
- Spending on supply staff is £1,440 a pupil, against a typical £144 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £524 a pupil, against a typical £164 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 St Matthew's Church of England Primary School · All Blackburn with Darwen school finances