St Ambrose Barlow Catholic Primary School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £109k, 8% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 4 years running.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Birmingham · Primary · Academy converter.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
A 2025-26 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 | £989k | £1.0m | -£45k | £171k | 209 |
2019-20 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£34k | £138k | 208 |
2020-21 | £1.1m | £980k | +£84k | £222k | 206 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£47k | £175k | 205 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£110k | £65k | 207 |
2023-24 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£32k | £33k | 207 |
2024-25 | £1.4m | £1.6m | -£142k | -£109k | 206 |
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 £7,529 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,202.
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 | £2,852 | £3,402 | £2,958–£3,711 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,268 | £1,410 | £1,143–£1,738 |
Supply staff | £44 | £127 | £24–£213 |
Admin and clerical | £475 | £351 | £280–£437 |
Premises | £554 | £361 | £274–£423 |
Energy | £181 | £113 | £71–£137 |
Learning resources & ICT | £762 | £298 | £214–£366 |
Bought-in services | £222 | £192 | £113–£312 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Greenmeadow Primary School Large reserves
- William de Yaxley Church of England Academy Healthy
- Cam Everlands Primary School Healthy
- St Peter's Methodist Primary School Large reserves
- Pebsham Primary Academy Healthy
- Queens Road Academy Tight
- Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Churchill Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Tight
- Collaton St Mary Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Marshside Primary School Large reserves
- Crockenhill Primary School Large reserves
- The St Peter and St Paul C of E Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £6,265 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £70k | £338 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £68k | £332 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £119k | £577 |
Money raised by parents
ST AMBROSE BARLOW PTA (charity 1207007, Registered) raised £10k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-10 | £10k | £5k |
2024-10 | £9k | £13k |
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 learning resources & ict is £762 a pupil, against a typical £298 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £181 a pupil, against a typical £113 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £554 a pupil, against a typical £361 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 Ambrose Barlow Catholic Primary School · All Birmingham school finances