Co-op Academy Portland: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 6 years running; at that rate its £94k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Wirral · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE CO-OPERATIVE ACADEMIES 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, 2019-20 to 2024-25
Income and spending, 2019-20 to 2024-25
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019-20 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£121k | £161k | 153 |
2020-21 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£37k | £124k | 150 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£47k | £77k | 178 |
2022-23 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£113k | £54k | 193 |
2023-24 | £1.5m | £1.5m | -£4k | £72k | 188 |
2024-25 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£59k | £94k | 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 30% of them. It spends £8,198 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,741.
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 | £4,416 | £3,471 | £3,304–£3,693 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £891 | £1,601 | £1,305–£1,892 |
Supply staff | £619 | £191 | £87–£449 |
Admin and clerical | £238 | £369 | £326–£456 |
Premises | £1,124 | £435 | £335–£558 |
Energy | £193 | £129 | £91–£156 |
Learning resources & ICT | £25 | £321 | £253–£363 |
Bought-in services | £10 | £207 | £83–£342 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Colburn Community Primary School Large reserves
- Longshaw Infant School Large reserves
- St James' Church of England Junior School Large reserves
- Kirkstead Junior Academy Healthy
- Water Mill Primary School Large reserves
- Waverley Academy Healthy
- Belmont Community Primary School Large reserves
- St. Clare's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Large reserves
- St Stephen's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Ash Croft Primary Academy Large reserves
- St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Preston Large reserves
- Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.6m | £7,703 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £78k | £386 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £41k | £203 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on supply staff is £619 a pupil, against a typical £191 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £1,124 a pupil, against a typical £435 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £193 a pupil, against a typical £129 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,416 a pupil, against a typical £3,471 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 Co-op Academy Portland · All Wirral school finances