Higher Failsworth Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £357k in reserve, 13% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Oldham · 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 | £2.3m | £2.3m | +£2k | £124k | 422 |
2019-20 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£6k | £118k | 431 |
2020-21 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£153k | £271k | 419 |
2021-22 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£25k | £296k | 407 |
2022-23 | £2.3m | £2.4m | -£20k | £276k | 423 |
2023-24 | £2.5m | £2.5m | +£57k | £333k | 434 |
2024-25 | £2.7m | £2.7m | +£32k | £365k | 435 |
2025-26 | £2.8m | £2.8m | -£8k | £357k | 396 |
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 73% of them. It spends £7,111 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,787.
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 | £2,865 | £3,130 | £2,906–£3,448 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,713 | £1,386 | £1,204–£1,725 |
Supply staff | £400 | £135 | £38–£254 |
Admin and clerical | £248 | £299 | £217–£340 |
Premises | £449 | £320 | £291–£430 |
Energy | £132 | £104 | £90–£122 |
Learning resources & ICT | £208 | £248 | £192–£324 |
Bought-in services | £421 | £118 | £59–£256 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Bowburn Primary School Large reserves
- Frizinghall Primary School Healthy
- Woodseats Primary School Tight
- St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Catholic Academy Large reserves
- King's Northway Primary Academy Heading for deficit
- Lings Primary School Large reserves
- Shaw Primary Academy Large reserves
- Moat Farm Infant School Large reserves
- Hurst Drive Primary School Healthy
- Park Primary School Large reserves
- St Stephen's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Healthy
- Place Farm Primary Academy Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.7m | £6,915 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £92k | £232 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £186k | £470 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £106k | £268 |
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 bought-in services is £421 a pupil, against a typical £118 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £400 a pupil, against a typical £135 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 Higher Failsworth Primary School · All Oldham school finances