Sir John Heron Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £525k in reserve, 12% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Newham · 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 | £3.3m | £3.4m | -£44k | £323k | 444 |
2019-20 | £3.4m | £3.4m | -£5k | £317k | 440 |
2020-21 | £3.5m | £3.4m | +£79k | £396k | 426 |
2021-22 | £3.7m | £3.6m | +£58k | £455k | 422 |
2022-23 | £3.8m | £3.8m | -£62k | £393k | 446 |
2023-24 | £4.0m | £4.0m | -£41k | £352k | 448 |
2024-25 | £4.1m | £3.9m | +£162k | £514k | 424 |
2025-26 | £4.2m | £4.2m | +£11k | £525k | 420 |
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 70% of them. It spends £10,036 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,674.
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 | £3,788 | £4,161 | £3,700–£4,597 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,756 | £1,717 | £1,390–£2,081 |
Supply staff | £746 | £258 | £78–£519 |
Admin and clerical | £525 | £440 | £354–£508 |
Premises | £455 | £499 | £384–£578 |
Energy | £95 | £122 | £100–£150 |
Learning resources & ICT | £380 | £271 | £214–£367 |
Bought-in services | £287 | £562 | £179–£1,012 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Sebright School Large reserves
- West Twyford Primary School Tight
- North Beckton Primary School Tight
- Ealdham Primary School In deficit
- Grafton Primary School Large reserves
- Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Brook House Primary School Large reserves
- Boxgrove Primary School Large reserves
- Cardwell Primary School In deficit
- Tufnell Park Primary School Heading for deficit
- Keir Hardie Primary School Large reserves
- Selwyn Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.1m | £9,845 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £625k | £1,490 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £249k | £592 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £91k | £218 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Spending on supply staff is £746 a pupil, against a typical £258 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,756 a pupil, against a typical £1,717 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 Sir John Heron Primary School · All Newham school finances