Dearham Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £171k, 12% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 4 years running.
Latest full year 2023-24, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Cumberland · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: CHANGING LIVES LEARNING TRUST can move money between its schools. The DfE doesn't publish this school's share of the trust's central reserve for this year, so the reserve shown is the school's own.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2019-20 to 2023-24
Income and spending, 2019-20 to 2023-24
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019-20 | £1.9m | £1.7m | +£238k | -£82k | 284 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.6m | -£199k | £105k | 280 |
2021-22 | £1.4m | £1.5m | -£78k | £38k | 260 |
2022-23 | £1.4m | £1.9m | -£508k | -£80k | 224 |
2023-24 | £1.5m | £1.5m | -£37k | -£171k | 224 |
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 7% of them. It spends £6,710 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,369.
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 | £2,897 | £3,147 | £2,851–£3,659 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,853 | £1,235 | £925–£1,615 |
Supply staff | £54 | £161 | £81–£280 |
Admin and clerical | £228 | £323 | £246–£439 |
Premises | £259 | £339 | £292–£431 |
Energy | £112 | £104 | £79–£137 |
Learning resources & ICT | £339 | £258 | £194–£333 |
Bought-in services | £62 | £146 | £51–£251 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Stephen's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Lace Hill Academy In deficit
- Meppershall Church of England Academy Tight
- Lydiate Primary School Healthy
- Priors Wood Primary School Large reserves
- Parsons Down Junior School Heading for deficit
- Nansloe Academy Healthy
- Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Morley Meadow Primary School Large reserves
- South Malling CofE Primary and Nursery School In deficit
- Glemsford Primary Academy Healthy
- St Uny CofE Academy Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2023-24
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.4m | £6,272 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £93k | £415 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £61k | £272 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF DEARHAM SCHOOL (charity 1136639, Registered) raised £12k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £12k | £8k |
2024-08 | £2k | £0 |
2023-08 | £394 | £374 |
2022-08 | £4k | £2k |
2021-08 | £1k | £912 |
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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with its trust, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 21% since 2019-20. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,853 a pupil, against a typical £1,235 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 Dearham Primary School · All Cumberland school finances