Guston Church of England Primary School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £120k in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Kent · Primary · Academy converter.
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 2025-26
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £789k | £790k | -£1k | £38k | 156 |
2019-20 | £811k | £802k | +£9k | £47k | 162 |
2020-21 | £889k | £854k | +£35k | £83k | 156 |
2021-22 | £951k | £980k | -£29k | £54k | 154 |
2022-23 | £954k | £968k | -£14k | £40k | 151 |
2023-24 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£18k | £58k | 155 |
2024-25 | £1.1m | £1.1m | -£24k | £34k | 152 |
2025-26 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£86k | £120k | 133 |
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 77% of them. It spends £8,102 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,231.
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 | £3,780 | £3,725 | £3,166–£3,968 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,766 | £1,667 | £1,192–£1,910 |
Supply staff | £43 | £205 | £73–£443 |
Admin and clerical | £425 | £385 | £279–£450 |
Premises | £374 | £430 | £330–£528 |
Energy | £59 | £128 | £78–£166 |
Learning resources & ICT | £395 | £393 | £259–£543 |
Bought-in services | £347 | £112 | £68–£201 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Green Flying High Academy Tight
- White Mere Community Primary School In deficit
- New Mill Junior School In deficit
- Cam Woodfield Infant School In deficit
- Meadowcroft Community Primary School In deficit
- Callowell Primary Academy In deficit
- Sutton St James Community Primary School Large reserves
- Weston Hills CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Wateringbury Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- The Ashbeach Primary School In deficit
- Plaistow Hill Primary and Nursery School Large reserves
- St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.1m | £8,599 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £43k | £322 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £74k | £554 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £20k | £154 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF GUSTON SCHOOL (charity 1195540, Registered) raised £13k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £13k | £13k |
2024-08 | £6k | £13k |
2023-08 | £8k | £3k |
2022-10 | £9k | £1k |
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?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 15% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £347 a pupil, against a typical £112 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 Guston Church of England Primary School · All Kent school finances