Dodleston CofE Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £309 reserve runs out in about 0 year.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Cheshire West and Chester · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: CHESTER DIOCESAN ACADEMIES 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 | £515k | £518k | -£3k | £45k | 94 |
2019-20 | £562k | £554k | +£8k | £53k | 92 |
2020-21 | £520k | £508k | +£12k | £66k | 86 |
2021-22 | £594k | £592k | +£2k | £68k | 76 |
2022-23 | £598k | £599k | -£160 | £68k | 86 |
2023-24 | £637k | £656k | -£19k | £48k | 79 |
2024-25 | £662k | £665k | -£3k | £309 | 73 |
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 23% of them. It spends £9,110 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,183.
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 | £6,205 | £4,146 | £3,724–£4,733 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £55 | £1,683 | £1,171–£2,080 |
Supply staff | £55 | £112 | £53–£235 |
Admin and clerical | £452 | £534 | £396–£608 |
Premises | £342 | £419 | £343–£487 |
Energy | £137 | £141 | £107–£174 |
Learning resources & ICT | £301 | £481 | £373–£555 |
Bought-in services | £274 | £281 | £142–£401 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Wood Street Infant School and Nursery In deficit
- Goodly Dale Primary School Healthy
- Stanton St Quintin Primary and Nursery School Large reserves
- Goldsborough Church of England Primary School Healthy
- Newtown Soberton Infant School Healthy
- Broadway First School Heading for deficit
- Fowlmere Primary School In deficit
- Brisley Church of England Primary Academy Tight
- Blackshaw Moor CofE First School Large reserves
- Beckley Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Newdigate CofE Endowed Aided Infant School Large reserves
- St Anne's Fulshaw C of E Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £632k | £8,658 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £20k | £274 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £30k | £411 |
Money raised by parents
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND FRIENDS OF DODLESTON SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (charity 1100062, Registered) raised £5k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £5k | £5k |
2024-09 | £6k | £6k |
2023-09 | £6k | £5k |
2022-09 | £7k | £4k |
2021-09 | £71 | £585 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 22% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on teachers is £6,205 a pupil, against a typical £4,146 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 Dodleston CofE Primary School · All Cheshire West and Chester school finances