Church Cowley St James Church of England Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £199k, 6% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 4 years running.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Oxfordshire · 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 | £2.0m | £2.2m | -£200k | £266k | 436 |
2019-20 | £2.2m | £2.2m | -£58k | £208k | 442 |
2020-21 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£51k | £157k | 430 |
2021-22 | £2.4m | £2.4m | +£76k | £234k | 438 |
2022-23 | £2.5m | £2.5m | -£5k | £228k | 449 |
2023-24 | £2.7m | £2.9m | -£118k | £111k | 456 |
2024-25 | £3.1m | £3.2m | -£78k | £32k | 463 |
2025-26 | £3.1m | £3.4m | -£232k | -£199k | 428 |
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 0% of them. It spends £7,872 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,529.
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 | £2,993 | £3,205 | £2,883–£3,312 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,647 | £1,473 | £1,141–£1,815 |
Supply staff | £13 | £161 | £66–£285 |
Admin and clerical | £533 | £274 | £208–£358 |
Premises | £458 | £349 | £295–£402 |
Energy | £86 | £89 | £73–£102 |
Learning resources & ICT | £632 | £263 | £177–£336 |
Bought-in services | £633 | £129 | £44–£201 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Cherry Orchard Primary School Large reserves
- Southfield Primary Academy Healthy
- Greenwood Primary and Nursery School Healthy
- Portswood Primary School Large reserves
- Monkwood Primary School Large reserves
- Church Road Primary School Large reserves
- Birkby Infant and Nursery School Healthy
- Somers Heath Primary School Large reserves
- Hetton Lyons Primary School Large reserves
- Woodhall Primary School Healthy
- Poplars Farm Primary School Healthy
- St Thomas CofE Primary Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.9m | £6,878 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £89k | £208 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £186k | £436 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £194k | £453 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on bought-in services is £633 a pupil, against a typical £129 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £632 a pupil, against a typical £263 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £533 a pupil, against a typical £274 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £458 a pupil, against a typical £349 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 Church Cowley St James Church of England Primary School · All Oxfordshire school finances