St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £171k in reserve, 16% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Dorset · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: PLYMOUTH CAST 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 | £879k | £775k | +£104k | £43k | 199 |
2019-20 | £906k | £833k | +£73k | £63k | 193 |
2020-21 | £927k | £844k | +£83k | £92k | 194 |
2021-22 | £991k | £910k | +£81k | £103k | 203 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£62k | £165k | 188 |
2023-24 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£101k | £254k | 184 |
2024-25 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£18k | £171k | 180 |
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 70% of them. It spends £6,017 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,234.
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 | £4,489 | £3,296 | £3,079–£3,589 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £0 | £1,418 | £1,260–£1,667 |
Supply staff | £0 | £89 | £31–£227 |
Admin and clerical | £478 | £322 | £276–£381 |
Premises | £161 | £391 | £285–£433 |
Energy | £0 | £99 | £89–£120 |
Learning resources & ICT | £511 | £308 | £255–£364 |
Bought-in services | £0 | £181 | £61–£286 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Our Lady's RC Primary School Large reserves
- Huish Episcopi Primary School In deficit
- Kingswood Primary School Large reserves
- Kirkby Stephen Primary School Large reserves
- Sandhurst Primary School Heading for deficit
- Wolvey CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Washingwell Community Primary School In deficit
- Totternhoe Church of England Academy Healthy
- Cambrai Primary School Tight
- Barnwood Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- St Lawrence Primary School Large reserves
- Prestwood Junior School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.1m | £6,117 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £49k | £272 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 10% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £511 a pupil, against a typical £308 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £478 a pupil, against a typical £322 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,489 a pupil, against a typical £3,296 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 Primary School, Swanage · All Dorset school finances