Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £4k, 0% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Bedford · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: DIOCESE OF ST ALBANS 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 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£19k | £202k | 296 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £1.5m | -£181k | -£33k | 258 |
2020-21 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£82k | -£40k | 246 |
2021-22 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£84k | -£22k | 231 |
2022-23 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£119k | -£150k | 214 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£53k | -£206k | 217 |
2024-25 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£46k | -£4k | 192 |
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 17% of them. It spends £6,857 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,038.
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 | £3,470 | £3,338 | £2,992–£3,478 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,304 | £1,571 | £1,132–£1,778 |
Supply staff | £73 | £98 | £34–£340 |
Admin and clerical | £275 | £328 | £263–£397 |
Premises | £462 | £373 | £287–£418 |
Energy | £182 | £108 | £81–£132 |
Learning resources & ICT | £177 | £278 | £187–£348 |
Bought-in services | £109 | £201 | £103–£333 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Orchard Primary School Large reserves
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Airedale Infant Academy Large reserves
- Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School Tight
- Holtsmere End Infant and Nursery School Large reserves
- Skellingthorpe the Holt Primary School Healthy
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Ingol, Preston Large reserves
- Hillshott Infant School and Nursery Large reserves
- Folkestone, St Martin's Church of England Primary School Heading for deficit
- St Alphege Church of England Infant School Large reserves
- St John's Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Wiveliscombe Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £6,753 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £48k | £249 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £66k | £343 |
Money raised by parents
Friends of Great Barford Primary Academy (charity 1149953, Registered) raised £127 in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £127 | £330 |
2024-08 | £6k | £8k |
2023-08 | £9k | £6k |
2022-08 | £6k | £4k |
2021-08 | £751 | £2k |
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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with its trust, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 35% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on energy is £182 a pupil, against a typical £108 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £462 a pupil, against a typical £373 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 Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy · All Bedford school finances