St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham: school finances
Tight
Holds £33k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Essex · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE DIOCESE OF CHELMSFORD VINE SCHOOLS TRUST can move money between its schools. The reserve includes this school's per-pupil share of the trust's central reserve.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
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 | £746k | £726k | +£20k | £30k | 149 |
2020-21 | £979k | £1.1m | -£86k | -£16k | 153 |
2021-22 | £902k | £775k | +£127k | £76k | 134 |
2022-23 | £867k | £697k | +£170k | £99k | 146 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £966k | +£266k | -£3k | 122 |
2024-25 | £1.6m | £791k | +£777k | £33k | 81 |
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 37% of them. It spends £9,765 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,851.
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 | £1,926 | £3,956 | £3,599–£4,362 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,556 | £1,503 | £1,102–£1,898 |
Supply staff | £457 | £133 | £54–£348 |
Admin and clerical | £2,568 | £410 | £317–£513 |
Premises | £556 | £430 | £279–£600 |
Energy | £148 | £131 | £90–£167 |
Learning resources & ICT | £444 | £433 | £283–£515 |
Bought-in services | £247 | £243 | £135–£440 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Henshaw Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Longworth Primary School In deficit
- Burley Gate CofE Primary School Large reserves
- East Meon Church of England Controlled Primary School Large reserves
- Sandringham and West Newton Church of England Primary Academy Tight
- Pembridge CofE Primary School In deficit
- Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Lockerley Church of England Endowed Primary School Large reserves
- Welford Sibbertoft and Sulby Endowed School Large reserves
- Bridstow CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Caton Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.5m | £18,148 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £8k | £99 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £84k | £1,037 |
Money raised by parents
TILLINGHAM ST NICHOLAS PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (charity 1021580, Registered) raised £14k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £14k | £17k |
2024-09 | £12k | £12k |
2023-09 | £11k | £13k |
2022-09 | £20k | £11k |
2021-09 | £8k | £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.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 46% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £2,568 a pupil, against a typical £410 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £457 a pupil, against a typical £133 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.
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