High Down Infant School: school finances
Tight
Holds £4k 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). North Somerset · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP 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 | £1.3m | +£29k | £40k | 272 |
2019-20 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£38k | £29k | 279 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£24k | £14k | 270 |
2021-22 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£39k | £8k | 284 |
2022-23 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£38k | £6k | 265 |
2023-24 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£44k | -£18k | 251 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.3m | +£106k | £4k | 202 |
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 23% of them. It spends £6,668 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,494.
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 | £3,173 | £3,149 | £2,973–£3,497 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,748 | £1,195 | £971–£1,458 |
Supply staff | £213 | £84 | £34–£166 |
Admin and clerical | £198 | £318 | £282–£374 |
Premises | £307 | £323 | £263–£407 |
Energy | £144 | £94 | £79–£108 |
Learning resources & ICT | £134 | £276 | £210–£379 |
Bought-in services | £89 | £158 | £107–£201 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Dominic's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary's Church of England Primary School, East Grinstead Heading for deficit
- Shadwell Primary School In deficit
- Warren Mead Infant School Large reserves
- Greysbrooke Primary School In deficit
- Dean Valley Community Primary School In deficit
- Eaglesfield Paddle CofE Primary Academy Healthy
- Gentleshaw Primary Academy Large reserves
- Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- Cranbourne Primary School In deficit
- St Cross Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Church Langton Church of England Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.4m | £6,960 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £63k | £312 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £47k | £233 |
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 26% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £213 a pupil, against a typical £84 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £144 a pupil, against a typical £94 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,748 a pupil, against a typical £1,195 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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