Plains Farm Academy: school finances
Healthy
Holds £46k in reserve, 3% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Sunderland · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: INSPIRE 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 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£59k | £294k | 198 |
2019-20 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£75k | £308k | 195 |
2020-21 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£62k | £311k | 198 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£29k | £206k | 188 |
2022-23 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£40k | £138k | 185 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£27k | £68k | 181 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£65k | £46k | 174 |
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 27% of them. It spends £8,006 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,352.
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 | £3,107 | £3,832 | £3,636–£4,165 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,037 | £1,612 | £1,228–£2,057 |
Supply staff | £830 | £119 | £65–£287 |
Admin and clerical | £392 | £427 | £337–£526 |
Premises | £646 | £444 | £377–£639 |
Energy | £179 | £133 | £104–£161 |
Learning resources & ICT | £507 | £323 | £227–£421 |
Bought-in services | £294 | £255 | £154–£388 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy Healthy
- Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery Healthy
- Charing Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Marlfields Primary School Large reserves
- Broomhill Junior School Large reserves
- Roach Vale Primary School Large reserves
- Waterside Primary School Large reserves
- The Grove Primary School Large reserves
- Christ Church CofE Primary School In deficit
- St Michael with St Thomas CE Primary School In deficit
- St Philip's Church of England Primary School Heading for deficit
- Brookside Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.4m | £7,902 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £51k | £294 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £83k | £478 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Pupil numbers have fallen 12% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £830 a pupil, against a typical £119 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £507 a pupil, against a typical £323 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £179 a pupil, against a typical £133 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.
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