Harpole Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £222k in reserve, 18% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). West Northamptonshire · 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 | £856k | £887k | -£30k | £86k | 208 |
2019-20 | £926k | £931k | -£5k | £81k | 206 |
2020-21 | £955k | £914k | +£41k | £123k | 204 |
2021-22 | £1.0m | £968k | +£39k | £161k | 187 |
2022-23 | £976k | £963k | +£12k | £175k | 185 |
2023-24 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£54k | £228k | 182 |
2024-25 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£83k | £146k | 181 |
2025-26 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£76k | £222k | 186 |
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 93% of them. It spends £6,083 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,168.
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 | £3,172 | £3,259 | £2,940–£3,516 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £853 | £1,017 | £829–£1,427 |
Supply staff | £233 | £86 | £25–£179 |
Admin and clerical | £356 | £334 | £246–£403 |
Premises | £295 | £280 | £213–£352 |
Energy | £80 | £97 | £76–£134 |
Learning resources & ICT | £313 | £351 | £199–£405 |
Bought-in services | £300 | £177 | £108–£255 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Gaddesby Primary School Large reserves
- St Briavels Parochial Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whickham Large reserves
- Boyne Hill CofE Infant and Nursery School In deficit
- The Priory Primary School Large reserves
- Great Witley CofE Primary School Large reserves
- The Nettleham Infant and Nursery School Tight
- Otley the Whartons Primary School Heading for deficit
- Smallwood CofE Primary School Healthy
- Downham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Healthy
- St Bees Village Primary School Healthy
- Renhold VC Primary School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.0m | £5,597 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £18k | £95 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £19k | £104 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £167k | £897 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF HARPOLE SCHOOL (charity 1024596, Registered) raised £11k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £11k | £17k |
2024-08 | £4k | £6k |
2023-08 | £11k | £6k |
2022-08 | £9k | £9k |
2021-08 | £4k | £4k |
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 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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 11% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £233 a pupil, against a typical £86 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £300 a pupil, against a typical £177 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.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for Harpole Primary School · All West Northamptonshire school finances