Fir Tree Primary School and Nursery: school finances
Tight
Holds £0 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). West Berkshire · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: NEWBURY 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 | £1.3m | £1.1m | +£117k | £84k | 185 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £807k | +£462k | £0 | 192 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£87k | £84k | 205 |
2021-22 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£129k | £123k | 209 |
2022-23 | £1.5m | £1.3m | +£224k | £0 | 230 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £1.4m | +£410k | £0 | 238 |
2024-25 | £2.0m | £1.6m | +£410k | £0 | 236 |
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 3% of them. It spends £6,904 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,251.
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 | £4,251 | £3,327 | £3,042–£3,454 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £0 | £1,533 | £1,285–£1,919 |
Supply staff | £0 | £120 | £68–£282 |
Admin and clerical | £1,091 | £347 | £276–£443 |
Premises | £807 | £432 | £381–£526 |
Energy | £0 | £101 | £85–£127 |
Learning resources & ICT | £331 | £271 | £243–£394 |
Bought-in services | £4 | £166 | £94–£269 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Peter's Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Forres Primary Academy Large reserves
- Propps Hall Junior Infant and Nursery School Large reserves
- Roundthorn Primary Academy Healthy
- St Elisabeth's Church of England Primary Large reserves
- St Mark's RC Primary School Tight
- St Paul's Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Heartwood CofE VC Primary & Nursery School Large reserves
- Oxford Road Community School Large reserves
- St Benedict's Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior School Large reserves
- Tuxford Primary Academy Tight
- St Peter's Church of England Aided Junior School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.9m | £7,983 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £237k | £1,006 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £156k | £662 |
Money raised by parents
Fir Tree Primary PTFA (charity 1198130, Registered) raised £2k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £2k | £3k |
2024-08 | £16k | £13k |
2023-08 | £4k | £3k |
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?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,091 a pupil, against a typical £347 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £807 a pupil, against a typical £432 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,251 a pupil, against a typical £3,327 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 Fir Tree Primary School and Nursery · All West Berkshire school finances