Carden Nursery and Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £17k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Brighton and Hove · 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 | £2.1m | £2.1m | +£40k | £45k | 359 |
2019-20 | £2.2m | £2.2m | +£8k | £53k | 353 |
2020-21 | £2.2m | £2.2m | -£15k | £37k | 362 |
2021-22 | £2.4m | £2.3m | +£74k | £111k | 350 |
2022-23 | £2.5m | £2.6m | -£87k | £24k | 370 |
2023-24 | £2.7m | £2.7m | +£8k | £32k | 358 |
2024-25 | £2.8m | £2.8m | +£6k | £38k | 358 |
2025-26 | £3.0m | £3.0m | -£21k | £17k | 358 |
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 30% of them. It spends £8,354 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,931.
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 | £4,376 | £3,320 | £3,025–£3,579 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,033 | £1,408 | £1,278–£1,776 |
Supply staff | £125 | £211 | £101–£377 |
Admin and clerical | £321 | £292 | £238–£373 |
Premises | £345 | £375 | £285–£472 |
Energy | £161 | £101 | £76–£135 |
Learning resources & ICT | £96 | £271 | £188–£338 |
Bought-in services | £309 | £154 | £93–£325 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Parklands Primary School In deficit
- Little Parndon Primary Academy Healthy
- Guildford Grove Primary School Large reserves
- St Paul's CofE Primary School Healthy
- Moor Park Primary School Healthy
- Heron Park Primary Academy Large reserves
- Holycroft Primary School Tight
- Devonshire Junior Academy Large reserves
- Accrington Spring Hill Community Primary School Tight
- Forest Town Primary School Large reserves
- Ripley St John's Church of England Primary School and Nursery Tight
- St Margaret Clitherows RC Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.9m | £8,012 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £407k | £1,134 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £220k | £613 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £108k | £301 |
Money raised by parents
CARDEN PRIMARY PTA (charity 1126204, Registered) raised £22k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-07 | £22k | £30k |
2025-07 | £16k | £14k |
2024-07 | £24k | £13k |
2023-07 | £21k | £20k |
2022-07 | £18k | £17k |
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 would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on energy is £161 a pupil, against a typical £101 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,033 a pupil, against a typical £1,408 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,376 a pupil, against a typical £3,320 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 Carden Nursery and Primary School · All Brighton and Hove school finances