Thatcham Park CofE Primary: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £51k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). West Berkshire · 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 | £1.7m | £1.7m | -£4k | £89k | 378 |
2019-20 | £1.7m | £1.8m | -£44k | £44k | 372 |
2020-21 | £1.8m | £1.7m | +£52k | £96k | 355 |
2021-22 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£105k | £202k | 372 |
2022-23 | £2.1m | £2.2m | -£59k | £143k | 396 |
2023-24 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£24k | £119k | 399 |
2024-25 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£6k | £113k | 382 |
2025-26 | £2.6m | £2.6m | -£62k | £51k | 388 |
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 £6,792 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,149.
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 | £2,855 | £3,085 | £2,877–£3,300 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,894 | £1,107 | £882–£1,296 |
Supply staff | £305 | £116 | £49–£270 |
Admin and clerical | £293 | £277 | £237–£364 |
Premises | £295 | £325 | £250–£378 |
Energy | £48 | £102 | £79–£115 |
Learning resources & ICT | £270 | £239 | £161–£306 |
Bought-in services | £121 | £105 | £64–£184 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Moreton Christ Church CofE Primary School Healthy
- Abbots Hall Primary School Tight
- Overton Church of England Primary School Heading for deficit
- South Wilford Endowed CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Briercliffe Primary School Tight
- Clifford Community Primary School & Nursery Large reserves
- St Mary's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Millbrook Junior School Healthy
- Heycroft Primary School Large reserves
- Wilthorpe Primary School Healthy
- Rydon Primary School Large reserves
- Park Lane Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.5m | £6,442 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £80k | £207 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £122k | £315 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £74k | £190 |
Money raised by parents
THATCHAM PARK C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL PTA (charity 1126449, Registered) raised £15k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £15k | £10k |
2024-08 | £20k | £13k |
2023-08 | £19k | £17k |
2022-08 | £19k | £32k |
2021-08 | £13k | £18k |
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 £305 a pupil, against a typical £116 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,894 a pupil, against a typical £1,107 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 Thatcham Park CofE Primary · All West Berkshire school finances