The Meads Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £37k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). West Sussex · Primary · Community 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 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£19k | £91k | 293 |
2019-20 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£20k | £71k | 299 |
2020-21 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£26k | £97k | 308 |
2021-22 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£23k | £120k | 311 |
2022-23 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£42k | £162k | 317 |
2023-24 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£4k | £166k | 295 |
2024-25 | £1.8m | £1.9m | -£95k | £71k | 289 |
2025-26 | £1.8m | £1.9m | -£34k | £37k | 286 |
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 43% of them. It spends £6,533 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,539.
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 | £3,384 | £3,160 | £2,916–£3,320 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £974 | £1,242 | £1,011–£1,474 |
Supply staff | £198 | £115 | £51–£170 |
Admin and clerical | £321 | £288 | £240–£355 |
Premises | £430 | £296 | £251–£355 |
Energy | £56 | £84 | £58–£103 |
Learning resources & ICT | £347 | £248 | £219–£316 |
Bought-in services | £234 | £135 | £91–£219 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Lowe's Wong Anglican Methodist Junior School Large reserves
- Wychwood Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Oakfield First School Large reserves
- St Edward's Catholic First School In deficit
- Lever House Primary School Healthy
- Poulton-le-Fylde the Breck Primary School Healthy
- Beaudesert Lower School Large reserves
- James Peacock Infant and Nursery School Large reserves
- Millfield First and Nursery School Large reserves
- Langley First School In deficit
- St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School Heading for deficit
- Rawdon Littlemoor Primary School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.7m | £5,966 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £107k | £373 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £52k | £182 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £128k | £449 |
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?
- Spending on supply staff is £198 a pupil, against a typical £115 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £430 a pupil, against a typical £296 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 The Meads Primary School · All West Sussex school finances