Bessemer Grange Primary School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £144k in reserve, 3% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Southwark · 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 | £4.3m | £4.3m | -£28k | -£39k | 653 |
2019-20 | £4.4m | £4.5m | -£76k | -£115k | 642 |
2020-21 | £4.4m | £4.2m | +£287k | £172k | 601 |
2021-22 | £4.5m | £4.4m | +£116k | £288k | 567 |
2022-23 | £4.6m | £4.8m | -£228k | £60k | 540 |
2023-24 | £4.6m | £4.6m | +£45k | £106k | 556 |
2024-25 | £4.9m | £4.8m | +£62k | £168k | 512 |
2025-26 | £4.8m | £4.8m | -£24k | £144k | 511 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 primary schools in London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 27% of them. It spends £9,377 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,397.
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 | £3,887 | £3,962 | £3,315–£4,230 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,424 | £1,597 | £1,280–£1,964 |
Supply staff | £96 | £194 | £58–£417 |
Admin and clerical | £130 | £346 | £279–£453 |
Premises | £738 | £449 | £342–£510 |
Energy | £156 | £108 | £88–£146 |
Learning resources & ICT | £349 | £276 | £170–£348 |
Bought-in services | £725 | £225 | £130–£334 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Discovery Primary School Healthy
- Mayespark Primary School Healthy
- Colville Primary School Healthy
- Aylward Primary School Large reserves
- Downshall Primary School Large reserves
- Bedonwell Junior School In deficit
- William Torbitt Primary School Healthy
- Westbrook Primary School Large reserves
- Berkeley Academy Large reserves
- Oak Hill Academy West London In deficit
- Whitings Hill Primary School Large reserves
- Lime Academy Larkswood Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.3m | £8,328 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £167k | £326 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £180k | £353 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £513k | £1,003 |
Money raised by parents
BESSEMER GRANGE PRIMARY SCHOOL PTFA (charity 1096913, Registered) raised £49k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £49k | £73k |
2024-09 | £57k | £41k |
2023-09 | £49k | £30k |
2022-09 | £29k | £27k |
2021-09 | £29k | £50k |
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.
- Pupil numbers have fallen 22% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £725 a pupil, against a typical £225 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £738 a pupil, against a typical £449 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.
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