Balsall Common Primary School: school finances
Tight
Holds £78k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Solihull · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: CENTRAL SCHOOLS TRUST can move money between its schools. The reserve includes this school's per-pupil share of the trust's central reserve.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2024-25
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2024-25
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £3.2m | £3.2m | +£6k | £65k | 698 |
2019-20 | £3.3m | £3.3m | -£61k | £20k | 691 |
2020-21 | £3.3m | £3.6m | -£249k | -£112k | 686 |
2021-22 | £3.9m | £3.6m | +£325k | £203k | 685 |
2022-23 | £4.1m | £3.8m | +£277k | £0 | 669 |
2023-24 | £4.1m | £3.8m | +£389k | £0 | 655 |
2024-25 | £4.2m | £4.0m | +£141k | £78k | 640 |
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 £6,292 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,254.
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 | £3,267 | £2,982 | £2,852–£3,094 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,439 | £1,183 | £1,072–£1,308 |
Supply staff | £0 | £88 | £17–£160 |
Admin and clerical | £186 | £284 | £212–£332 |
Premises | £408 | £298 | £265–£366 |
Energy | £114 | £78 | £66–£101 |
Learning resources & ICT | £185 | £283 | £239–£369 |
Bought-in services | £0 | £99 | £51–£155 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Discovery School Tight
- Grove Wood Primary School Large reserves
- Mangotsfield Church of England Primary School Heading for deficit
- Hallam Nursery & Primary School Large reserves
- Priory Rise School Large reserves
- Moorlands Primary School Healthy
- Swingate Primary School Healthy
- Elmbridge Primary School Tight
- St Mary's CofE Primary School In deficit
- Greystones Primary School Heading for deficit
- University of Cambridge Primary School In deficit
- Ravenscote Junior School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.7m | £5,826 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £98k | £153 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £439k | £686 |
Money raised by parents
BALSALL COMMON PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (charity 528879, Registered) raised £40k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £40k | £54k |
2024-08 | £29k | £36k |
2023-08 | £52k | £56k |
2022-08 | £43k | £40k |
2021-08 | £12k | £16k |
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 would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 8% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on energy is £114 a pupil, against a typical £78 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £408 a pupil, against a typical £298 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,439 a pupil, against a typical £1,183 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.
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