St Mary's Catholic Academy: school finances
Tight
Holds £13k 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). Staffordshire · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ST GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC MULTI-ACADEMY 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 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£63k | £15k | 184 |
2019-20 | £1.0m | £961k | +£80k | £15k | 175 |
2020-21 | £1.1m | £992k | +£100k | £75k | 166 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£34k | £5k | 176 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£8k | -£17k | 168 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£24k | £4k | 157 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£23k | £13k | 154 |
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 £7,974 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,429.
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 | £4,019 | £3,647 | £3,095–£4,126 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,130 | £1,315 | £1,096–£1,754 |
Supply staff | £325 | £140 | £49–£228 |
Admin and clerical | £240 | £323 | £246–£392 |
Premises | £325 | £376 | £315–£420 |
Energy | £162 | £132 | £90–£187 |
Learning resources & ICT | £403 | £330 | £240–£442 |
Bought-in services | £416 | £149 | £77–£246 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Hipswell Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary's CofE Primary School In deficit
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Margaret Wix Primary School Large reserves
- St Nicholas CEVC Primary School Tight
- St Benedict's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- West Lynn Primary School Large reserves
- Tornedale Infant Academy Large reserves
- Cawston Church of England Primary Academy Tight
- Scartho Infants' School and Nursery Large reserves
- Ashchurch Primary School Large reserves
- Alton Infant School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £7,734 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £84k | £545 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £60k | £390 |
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 16% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £416 a pupil, against a typical £149 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £325 a pupil, against a typical £140 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 St Mary's Catholic Academy · All Staffordshire school finances