Cragside CofE Controlled Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £40k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Northumberland · Primary · Voluntary controlled 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 | £1.5m | £1.5m | -£12k | £12k | 355 |
2019-20 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£36k | -£24k | 352 |
2020-21 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£131k | £108k | 358 |
2021-22 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£82k | £190k | 360 |
2022-23 | £2.0m | £2.0m | +£17k | £207k | 357 |
2023-24 | £2.2m | £2.2m | +£7k | £214k | 329 |
2024-25 | £2.2m | £2.3m | -£93k | £120k | 332 |
2025-26 | £2.3m | £2.4m | -£80k | £40k | 336 |
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 20% of them. It spends £7,061 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,195.
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 | £3,576 | £3,081 | £2,946–£3,295 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,030 | £1,282 | £1,048–£1,477 |
Supply staff | £343 | £108 | £48–£228 |
Admin and clerical | £289 | £285 | £209–£344 |
Premises | £352 | £305 | £256–£339 |
Energy | £137 | £76 | £68–£106 |
Learning resources & ICT | £482 | £262 | £222–£321 |
Bought-in services | £224 | £145 | £90–£204 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Westmoor Primary School Healthy
- Northbourne Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Kirkheaton Primary School Large reserves
- Signhills Academy Large reserves
- Greystoke Primary School Large reserves
- Ringmer Primary and Nursery School Large reserves
- Trenance Learning Academy Large reserves
- St Bede's Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Woodlands Park Primary School Large reserves
- Morgans Primary School & Nursery Healthy
- St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Havant Healthy
- St Monica's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.2m | £6,591 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £88k | £263 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £85k | £252 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £78k | £232 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF CRAGSIDE C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL (charity 1203568, Registered) raised £12k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £12k | £12k |
2024-08 | £14k | £3k |
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 is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on supply staff is £343 a pupil, against a typical £108 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £482 a pupil, against a typical £262 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £137 a pupil, against a typical £76 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £224 a pupil, against a typical £145 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 Cragside CofE Controlled Primary School · All Northumberland school finances