St Joseph's Catholic Primary School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £211k reserve runs out in about 3 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Luton · 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 | £3.7m | £3.7m | -£23k | £93k | 822 |
2019-20 | £3.8m | £3.7m | +£69k | £163k | 806 |
2020-21 | £3.8m | £3.7m | +£129k | £292k | 790 |
2021-22 | £4.0m | £3.9m | +£163k | £455k | 759 |
2022-23 | £4.0m | £4.0m | +£10k | £465k | 730 |
2023-24 | £4.1m | £4.2m | -£83k | £382k | 742 |
2024-25 | £4.2m | £4.4m | -£171k | £211k | 708 |
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 47% of them. It spends £6,184 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,297.
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 | £3,243 | £3,015 | £2,624–£3,197 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,253 | £1,231 | £993–£1,405 |
Supply staff | £20 | £95 | £31–£214 |
Admin and clerical | £279 | £347 | £261–£453 |
Premises | £317 | £299 | £246–£363 |
Energy | £96 | £84 | £68–£108 |
Learning resources & ICT | £215 | £256 | £170–£311 |
Bought-in services | £103 | £121 | £54–£240 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Bushmead Primary & Nursery School In deficit
- Tudor Court Primary School Tight
- Moulsham Junior School Large reserves
- Abbey Mead Primary Academy Large reserves
- Thomas A Becket Junior School Healthy
- Earlswood Infant and Nursery School Healthy
- Drove Primary School Large reserves
- Bothal Academy Large reserves
- Bourne Westfield Primary Academy Large reserves
- Churchtown Primary School Large reserves
- Great Denham Primary School In deficit
- Coppice Primary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.0m | £5,658 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £177k | £250 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £183k | £258 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £201k | £284 |
Money raised by parents
Friends of St Joseph`s Catholic Primary School (charity 1130948, Registered) raised £3k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £3k | £9k |
2024-08 | £6k | £3k |
2023-08 | £13k | £7k |
2022-08 | £17k | £18k |
2021-08 | £10k | £4k |
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 14% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- 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 Joseph's Catholic Primary School · All Luton school finances