The Pines Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £44k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Suffolk · Primary · Free schools.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ANGLIAN LEARNING 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 | £837k | £580k | +£257k | £304k | 61 |
2019-20 | £755k | £606k | +£149k | £274k | 110 |
2020-21 | £928k | £727k | +£201k | £447k | 152 |
2021-22 | £891k | £928k | -£37k | £370k | 178 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | +£11k | £332k | 210 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£151k | £0 | 224 |
2024-25 | £1.4m | £1.5m | -£106k | £44k | 234 |
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 27% of them. It spends £6,595 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,584.
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 | £3,032 | £3,010 | £2,747–£3,208 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,769 | £1,105 | £977–£1,439 |
Supply staff | £150 | £101 | £34–£123 |
Admin and clerical | £231 | £296 | £263–£363 |
Premises | £343 | £336 | £286–£421 |
Energy | £180 | £98 | £72–£115 |
Learning resources & ICT | £248 | £318 | £257–£358 |
Bought-in services | £43 | £172 | £99–£260 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Oak Cottage Primary School Large reserves
- Holly Mount Roman Catholic Primary School, Bury Tight
- Little Kingshill Combined School In deficit
- Halewood Church of England Primary Academy Large reserves
- Ladybrook Primary School Healthy
- Polehampton Church of England Junior School Healthy
- Abbey Gates Primary School Large reserves
- Greenmount Primary School In deficit
- Greenways Primary Academy Large reserves
- Mellor Primary School Healthy
- Busbridge CofE Aided Junior School Healthy
- Uplands Primary School and Nursery Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.4m | £5,863 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £72k | £308 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £65k | £278 |
Money raised by parents
THE PINES PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION (charity 1187692, Registered) raised £9k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-04 | £9k | £7k |
2024-04 | £7k | £5k |
2023-04 | £2k | £1k |
2022-04 | £418 | £283 |
2021-04 | £0 | £153 |
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.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on energy is £180 a pupil, against a typical £98 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,769 a pupil, against a typical £1,105 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £150 a pupil, against a typical £101 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 The Pines Primary School · All Suffolk school finances