St Mary's Catholic Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £444k in reserve, 29% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Wiltshire · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE DUNSTAN CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL 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 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£340 | £6k | 236 |
2019-20 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£49k | £55k | 187 |
2020-21 | £911k | £1.0m | -£113k | -£58k | 176 |
2021-22 | £990k | £977k | +£13k | -£45k | 166 |
2023-24 | £1.0m | £1.0m | +£11k | £47k | 165 |
2024-25 | £1.6m | £1.1m | +£431k | £444k | 164 |
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 100% of them. It spends £6,866 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,436.
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 | £2,695 | £3,505 | £3,156–£3,856 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £994 | £1,298 | £972–£1,628 |
Supply staff | £220 | £107 | £37–£202 |
Admin and clerical | £384 | £383 | £275–£504 |
Premises | £409 | £376 | £308–£455 |
Energy | £232 | £101 | £86–£119 |
Learning resources & ICT | £323 | £306 | £244–£347 |
Bought-in services | £98 | £180 | £74–£367 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Two Rivers Church of England Primary Healthy
- Dilton Marsh CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Colwall CofE Primary School and Nursery Large reserves
- Our Lady Catholic Primary School In deficit
- Woodcote Primary School In deficit
- St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen In deficit
- Hindhayes Infant School In deficit
- Motcombe CofE Primary School In deficit
- Manor Infant School Tight
- Hawridge and Cholesbury Church of England School In deficit
- Marcham Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School In deficit
- Knaphill Infant School and Nursery Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.0m | £6,311 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £9k | £55 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £155k | £945 |
Money raised by parents
ST MARYS CHIPPENHAM PTA (charity 1185805, Registered) raised £12k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-03 | £12k | £7k |
2025-03 | £10k | £13k |
2024-03 | £11k | £13k |
2023-03 | £9k | £5k |
2022-03 | £14k | £9k |
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 are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 31% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on energy is £232 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 St Mary's Catholic Primary School · All Wiltshire school finances