The Rushmere Park Academy: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 6 years running; at that rate its £176k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Central Bedfordshire · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ADVANTAGE SCHOOLS 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 | £694k | £766k | -£72k | £0 | 101 |
2020-21 | £784k | £841k | -£57k | £0 | 108 |
2021-22 | £794k | £991k | -£197k | £0 | 136 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£67k | £0 | 153 |
2023-24 | £1.4m | £1.6m | -£170k | £0 | 171 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.6m | -£74k | £176k | 184 |
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 83% of them. It spends £8,495 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,313.
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 | £3,310 | £3,451 | £3,254–£3,579 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,908 | £1,321 | £1,151–£1,485 |
Supply staff | £196 | £129 | £58–£185 |
Admin and clerical | £418 | £333 | £252–£410 |
Premises | £587 | £399 | £329–£499 |
Energy | £109 | £110 | £99–£132 |
Learning resources & ICT | £402 | £295 | £206–£356 |
Bought-in services | £114 | £187 | £108–£271 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Heath Fields Primary School In deficit
- Chambersbury Primary School Large reserves
- Brookfield Infant School Tight
- Abbey CofE Infant School Heading for deficit
- Ashburton Primary School Large reserves
- Chiseldon Primary & Nursery School Large reserves
- Milldene Primary School Healthy
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Titchfield Primary School Healthy
- Farnborough Grange Nursery & Infant Community School Healthy
- Oliver Tomkins Church of England Junior School Large reserves
- Grove Church of England School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.5m | £8,043 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £9k | £49 |
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 support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,908 a pupil, against a typical £1,321 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £587 a pupil, against a typical £399 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £402 a pupil, against a typical £295 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 The Rushmere Park Academy · All Central Bedfordshire school finances