Schools in Reach

Dovelands Primary School: school finances

Heading for deficit

Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £153k reserve runs out in about 1 year.

Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Leicester · Primary · Community school.

Reserve at year end
£153k4% of a year's income
Last year's balance
-£197kincome minus spending
Income per pupil
£6,523
Pupils
529-5% since 2018-19

Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2025-26

£0£200k£400k£600k2018-19: £246k reserve2018-192019-20: £326k reserve2019-202020-21: £321k reserve2020-212021-22: £474k reserve2021-222022-23: £594k reserve2022-232023-24: £760k reserve2023-242024-25: £350k reserve2024-252025-26: £153k reserve2025-26

Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2025-26

Income Spending

£2.0m£2.5m£3.0m£3.5mIncomeSpending2018-19: income £2.4m, spending £2.4m2018-192019-20: income £2.7m, spending £2.6m2019-202020-21: income £2.9m, spending £2.9m2020-212021-22: income £3.2m, spending £3.0m2021-222022-23: income £3.3m, spending £3.2m2022-232023-24: income £3.6m, spending £3.4m2023-242024-25: income £3.4m, spending £3.8m2024-252025-26: income £3.5m, spending £3.6m2025-26
Show the figures as a table
YearIncomeSpendingBalanceReservePupils
2018-19
£2.4m
£2.4m
+£21k
£246k
556
2019-20
£2.7m
£2.6m
+£80k
£326k
546
2020-21
£2.9m
£2.9m
-£5k
£321k
544
2021-22
£3.2m
£3.0m
+£152k
£474k
546
2022-23
£3.3m
£3.2m
+£120k
£594k
553
2023-24
£3.6m
£3.4m
+£166k
£760k
542
2024-25
£3.4m
£3.8m
-£410k
£350k
531
2025-26
£3.5m
£3.6m
-£197k
£153k
529

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 40% of them. It spends £6,896 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,226.

This school Middle half of similar schools Similar schools’ median

Teachers: this school £3,209 per pupil; similar schools £3,083 (middle half £2,689–£3,267)Teachers£3,209Support staff (e.g. TAs): this school £1,398 per pupil; similar schools £1,196 (middle half £1,063–£1,641)Support staff (e.g. TAs)£1,398Supply staff: this school £101 per pupil; similar schools £100 (middle half £45–£194)Supply staff£101Admin and clerical: this school £300 per pupil; similar schools £275 (middle half £244–£342)Admin and clerical£300Premises: this school £384 per pupil; similar schools £301 (middle half £241–£374)Premises£384Energy: this school £88 per pupil; similar schools £93 (middle half £75–£117)Energy£88Learning resources & ICT: this school £314 per pupil; similar schools £268 (middle half £214–£326)Learning resources & ICT£314Bought-in services: this school £166 per pupil; similar schools £134 (middle half £72–£205)Bought-in services£166
Show the comparison as a table
Spending per pupilThis schoolSimilar schools (median)Middle half
Teachers
£3,209
£3,083
£2,689–£3,267
Support staff (e.g. TAs)
£1,398
£1,196
£1,063–£1,641
Supply staff
£101
£100
£45–£194
Admin and clerical
£300
£275
£244–£342
Premises
£384
£301
£241–£374
Energy
£88
£93
£75–£117
Learning resources & ICT
£314
£268
£214–£326
Bought-in services
£166
£134
£72–£205

Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools

Which schools are these?

Where the money comes from, 2025-26

SourceAmountPer pupil
Government grants
£3.2m
£6,039
SEN funding (part of grants)
£165k
£311
Pupil premium (part of grants)
£125k
£237
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations)
£256k
£484

Questions to ask the school

Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.

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 Dovelands Primary School · All Leicester school finances