Lime Tree Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £246k in reserve, 10% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Kingston upon Thames · Primary · Foundation 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 | £2.7m | £2.8m | -£53k | £215k | 457 |
2019-20 | £2.8m | £2.9m | -£63k | £153k | 394 |
2020-21 | £2.6m | £2.7m | -£183k | -£31k | 366 |
2021-22 | £2.6m | £2.6m | -£8k | -£39k | 351 |
2022-23 | £2.7m | £2.5m | +£145k | £107k | 305 |
2023-24 | £2.7m | £2.3m | +£358k | £465k | 260 |
2024-25 | £2.5m | £2.5m | -£56k | £408k | 227 |
2025-26 | £2.4m | £2.6m | -£162k | £246k | 203 |
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 £12,729 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,099.
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 | £5,533 | £3,665 | £3,312–£4,100 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £3,530 | £1,708 | £1,467–£2,061 |
Supply staff | £24 | £291 | £80–£948 |
Admin and clerical | £702 | £442 | £359–£552 |
Premises | £555 | £600 | £497–£710 |
Energy | £10 | £121 | £99–£158 |
Learning resources & ICT | £378 | £341 | £275–£466 |
Bought-in services | £631 | £317 | £181–£677 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Orchard Primary School In deficit
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School Tight
- The Minster Nursery and Infants Church of England Academy In deficit
- Thorntree Primary School Large reserves
- New Valley Primary School Healthy
- St Anselm's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- St John Vianney RC Primary School Healthy
- Good Shepherd RC School Large reserves
- Harefield Infant and Junior School Heading for deficit
- Good Shepherd Catholic Primary and Nursery School Heading for deficit
- Addison Primary School Large reserves
- Convent of Jesus and Mary RC Infant School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.2m | £11,059 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £352k | £1,735 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £100k | £491 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £177k | £873 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF LIME TREE PRIMARY SURBITON (charity 1186755, Registered) raised £3k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-12 | £3k | £3k |
2024-12 | £3k | £990 |
2023-12 | £5k | £5k |
2022-12 | £8k | £7k |
2021-12 | £7k | £9k |
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 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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 56% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £3,530 a pupil, against a typical £1,708 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £702 a pupil, against a typical £442 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £5,533 a pupil, against a typical £3,665 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 Lime Tree Primary School · All Kingston upon Thames school finances