Thornford CofE Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £8k, 1% 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). Dorset · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' 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 | £631k | £593k | +£38k | -£2k | 108 |
2019-20 | £620k | £608k | +£12k | £31k | 104 |
2020-21 | £606k | £601k | +£5k | £16k | 100 |
2021-22 | £641k | £628k | +£13k | -£4k | 102 |
2022-23 | £599k | £0 | +£599k | £0 | 100 |
2023-24 | £621k | £0 | +£621k | £0 | 100 |
2024-25 | £680k | £0 | +£680k | -£8k | 99 |
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.
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 | £0 | £3,830 | £3,660–£3,968 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £0 | £1,299 | £946–£1,546 |
Supply staff | £0 | £141 | £63–£270 |
Admin and clerical | £0 | £371 | £273–£479 |
Premises | £0 | £385 | £292–£504 |
Energy | £0 | £115 | £92–£144 |
Learning resources & ICT | £0 | £408 | £279–£526 |
Bought-in services | £0 | £226 | £161–£297 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School In deficit
- Guilsborough Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Sturton CofE Primary School In deficit
- Long Sutton CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Banham Primary School Large reserves
- Loddington CofE (VA) Primary School Large reserves
- Burton Bradstock Church of England Voluntary Controlled School Tight
- Bishop Carpenter Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Trinity Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Culworth Church of England Primary Academy Large reserves
- Creeting St Mary Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Bishop Monkton Church of England Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £680k | £6,869 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF THORNFORD SCHOOL (charity 1190043, Registered) raised £6k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £6k | £4k |
2024-08 | £5k | £4k |
2023-08 | £6k | £4k |
2022-08 | £8k | £3k |
2021-08 | £4k | £4k |
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 8% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- 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 Thornford CofE Primary School · All Dorset school finances