Watling Lower School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £63k, 5% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Central Bedfordshire · Primary · Academy converter.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
A 2024-25 return is published too, but it covers part of a year or leaves out the income or reserve figure, so the latest complete year is shown.
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 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£41k | -£72k | 186 |
2019-20 | £1.0m | £1.0m | +£7k | -£66k | 176 |
2020-21 | £954k | £932k | +£22k | -£44k | 181 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.0m | +£15k | -£28k | 180 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£64k | -£92k | 180 |
2023-24 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£15k | -£108k | 184 |
2024-25 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£45k | -£63k | 180 |
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 3% of them. It spends £6,805 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,704.
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 | £2,412 | £3,304 | £3,059–£3,472 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,118 | £1,201 | £1,046–£1,492 |
Supply staff | £232 | £120 | £37–£240 |
Admin and clerical | £377 | £338 | £278–£394 |
Premises | £336 | £295 | £219–£373 |
Energy | £219 | £94 | £79–£122 |
Learning resources & ICT | £185 | £294 | £193–£361 |
Bought-in services | £92 | £182 | £107–£272 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Filumena's Catholic Primary School Large reserves
- Saint Paulinus Catholic Primary School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy Large reserves
- Thorney Island Community Primary School Large reserves
- Melbourne Primary School Large reserves
- Thurlstone Primary School Tight
- Oakley Infant School Healthy
- Birches First School Large reserves
- Worlebury St Pauls Church School Healthy
- Hackleton CofE Primary School Large reserves
- St Mark's CofE Primary School In deficit
- Otley the Whartons Primary School Heading for deficit
- The Bliss Charity School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £6,787 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £82k | £460 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £27k | £150 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £48k | £269 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF WATLING LOWER SCHOOL (charity 1218348, Registered)
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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on energy is £219 a pupil, against a typical £94 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £2,118 a pupil, against a typical £1,201 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 Watling Lower School · All Central Bedfordshire school finances