Castle Primary School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £76k in reserve, 7% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Somerset · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: CABOT LEARNING FEDERATION 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 | £678k | £684k | -£6k | £37k | 156 |
2019-20 | £732k | £662k | +£70k | £24k | 152 |
2020-21 | £802k | £686k | +£116k | £0 | 138 |
2021-22 | £791k | £716k | +£75k | £0 | 134 |
2022-23 | £848k | £774k | +£74k | £0 | 134 |
2024-25 | £1.0m | £937k | +£110k | £76k | 130 |
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 60% of them. It spends £7,208 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,298.
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 | £3,546 | £3,725 | £3,115–£4,035 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,077 | £1,591 | £1,203–£1,961 |
Supply staff | £38 | £172 | £111–£388 |
Admin and clerical | £523 | £405 | £285–£463 |
Premises | £62 | £440 | £355–£535 |
Energy | £108 | £152 | £107–£174 |
Learning resources & ICT | £169 | £324 | £239–£409 |
Bought-in services | £31 | £163 | £39–£287 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Martin's CofE Primary School Large reserves
- St Thomas' Church of England Primary School Tight
- Purwell Primary School In deficit
- Victoria Road Primary School In deficit
- Wrenbury Primary School Large reserves
- Tattershall Primary School Heading for deficit
- Biscovey Nursery and Infants' Academy Healthy
- Weeting Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Hensingham Primary School Healthy
- Bere Alston Primary Academy Healthy
- North Molton Primary School Healthy
- Bishops Castle Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £998k | £7,677 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £44k | £338 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £49k | £377 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF CASTLE SCHOOL (charity 1206520, Registered) raised £5k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-08 | £5k | £7k |
2025-08 | £7k | £3k |
2024-08 | £9k | £7k |
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.
- 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 admin and clerical is £523 a pupil, against a typical £405 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 Castle Primary School · All Somerset school finances