Mersey Vale Primary School

URN 106059·Primary·Community school·Compare

Flags

4 high

Staff costs at 83.2% of incomeReserves declining over 3 years (7% to 0%)Reserves at -4.0% of incomeReserves declining over 3 years (4% to -4%)Staff costs at 81.2% of incomeIn-year deficit of 3.6%Overall absence at 8.7%In-year deficit of 4.2%Reserves at 0.3% of incomeStaff costs at 79.3% of incomeIn-year deficit of 2.1%Reserves at 4.2% of income

Finance: 2025/26Ofsted: Apr 2024Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2026/27Attendance: 2025/26

Per-pupil income

£7,669.49

+£1,367

2024/25

Staff costs % of income

83.2%

+2.0pp

DfE review threshold: 78%

Reserves

-4.0%

−4.3pp

of income

In-year balance

-4.2%

−0.6pp

of income

Key indicators

Staff costs at 83.2% of income

Sector median is approximately 75%. Current level: 83.2%.

Reserves declining over 3 years (7% to 0%)

Reserves have fallen in each of the last 3 years, from 6.8% to 0.3%.

Reserves at -4.0% of income

DfE considers reserves below 5% of income a vulnerability indicator. Current level: -4.0%.

Reserves declining over 3 years (4% to -4%)

Reserves have fallen in each of the last 3 years, from 4.2% to -4.0%.

Staff costs at 81.2% of income

Sector median is approximately 75%. Current level: 81.2%.

In-year deficit of 3.6%

School spent more than it earned this year. Deficit is 3.6% of income.

Overall absence at 8.7%

National average is approximately 6.2%. Current level: 8.7%.

In-year deficit of 4.2%

School spent more than it earned this year. Deficit is 4.2% of income.

Reserves at 0.3% of income

DfE considers reserves below 5% of income a vulnerability indicator. Current level: 0.3%.

Staff costs at 79.3% of income

Sector median is approximately 75%. Current level: 79.3%.

In-year deficit of 2.1%

School spent more than it earned this year. Deficit is 2.1% of income.

Reserves at 4.2% of income

DfE considers reserves below 5% of income a vulnerability indicator. Current level: 4.2%.

Latest Ofsted inspection

Good

24 April 2024 · S5 Inspection

Quality of education

Good

Behaviour & attitudes

Good

Personal development

Good

Leadership & management

Good

SafeguardingEffective

Performance snapshot

Expected standard (reading)71.0%

Expected standard (writing)71.0%

Expected standard (maths)83.0%

Combined (RWM)ⓘPercentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths at the end of primary school.63.0%

2024/25 · KS2

School demographics

Pupils on roll

158

Capacity

210 (75%)

Free school meals

36.5%

English additional lang.

58.9%

Ethnicity

White British 19.6%Asian 53.9%Black 6.3%Mixed 6.3%Chinese 1.3%Other 7.6%

Age range: 3–11

Context: similar schools

Methodology

Your school compared against 30 similar primary schools in North West, matched by FSM%, SEN%, and size. Differences reflect school strategy and context, not performance.

Peer range Middle 50% Median Your school

Staff costs % of income

81.2%97th percentile

School: 81.2%Median: 74.4%Mean: 73.9%SD: 5.3

Reserves % of income

0.3%23th percentile

School: 0.3%Median: 6.4%Mean: 4.6%SD: 6.2

Overall absence %

6.1%70th percentile

School: 6.1%Median: 5.4%Mean: 5.6%SD: 1.1

Persistent absence %

17.7%77th percentile

School: 17.7%Median: 13.2%Mean: 14.8%SD: 5.9

KS2 combined %

63%67th percentile

School: 63%Median: 60%Mean: 60%SD: 13

Pupil:teacher ratio

17.213th percentile

School: 17.2Median: 20.1Mean: 21.0SD: 4.9

Financial health score

Methodology

8/ 100

Reserves health2/40

Peer percentile + trajectory. DfE range: 5-20% of income.

Staff cost sustainability1/35

Peer percentile + agency/supply adjustment. DfE threshold: 80%.

Revenue resilience5/25

In-year balance + pupil trend + income diversity.

Workforce

FTE teachersⓘFull-time equivalent: a measure of workforce size where part-time staff are counted proportionally.

10.0

Pupil:teacher ratioⓘNumber of pupils per full-time equivalent teacher. Lower generally indicates smaller class sizes.

15.3

Mean salary

£53,363

Turnover

—

Vacancy rate

0.0%

Sickness (days)

—

Attendance

Overall absence

6.1%

National avg: 6.2%

Persistent absenceⓘPupils missing 10% or more of school sessions. A key DfE attendance measure.

17.7%

10%+ sessions missed

Authorised absence

4.3%

Unauthorised absence

1.8%

2024/25 · 164 pupils

Financial

Income and expenditure — year-by-year table

Year	Total income	Total expenditure	Staff costs	Staff %ⓘTotal staff-related spending as a proportion of income. DfE review threshold: 78% of income.	In-year balanceⓘIncome minus expenditure for the year, as a percentage of income. Negative means spending exceeded income.	ReservesⓘAccumulated surplus funds carried forward. Expressed as a percentage of annual income.	Reserves %	Per-pupil income
2021/22	£1.1m	£1.1m	£886k	78.7%	-£13k	£77k	6.8%	£5,521
2022/23	£1.2m	£1.2m	£964k	79.3%	-£26k	£51k	4.2%	£5,843
2023/24	£1.3m	£1.3m	£1.1m	81.2%	-£47k	£4k	0.3%	£6,303
2024/25	£1.4m	£1.5m	£1.2m	83.2%	-£59k	-£56k	-4.0%	£7,669

Cost breakdown — 2024/25

Teaching staff

£741k

51% of spend

Support staff

£258k

18% of spend

Premises

£52k

4% of spend

Other costs

£241k

17% of spend

Detailed expenditure — 2023/24 line items

Staffing

Teaching staff

£741k50.9%

Supply teaching

£00.0%

Agency supply

£18k1.2%

Education support

£258k17.7%

Admin & clerical

£73k5.0%

Premises staff

£31k2.1%

Catering staff

£00.0%

Other staff

£59k4.1%

Non-staff costs

Energy

£19k1.3%

Building maintenance

£17k1.2%

Cleaning & caretaking

£4k0.3%

Rent & rates

£19k1.3%

Water & sewerage

£6k0.4%

ICT & technology

£11k0.8%

Learning resources

£29k2.0%

Catering supplies

£62k4.3%

Exam fees

£00.0%

Legal & professional

£40k2.8%

Auditor costs

£40k2.8%

Admin supplies

£4k0.3%

Other insurance

£5k0.4%

As percentage of income

Admin staff

5.2%

Energy

1.4%

ICT

0.8%

Premises (total)

4.9%

Supply staff

1.7%

Catering

4.5%

Professional services

5.8%

Performance

Key Stage 2 results

Year	Reading	Writing	Maths	Combined (RWM)ⓘPercentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths at the end of primary school.	Pupils
2024/25	71.0%	71.0%	83.0%	63.0%	—
2023/24	—%	—%	—%	59.0%	—
2022/23	—%	—%	—%	47.0%	—

Workforce

Workforce census

Year	FTE teachersⓘFull-time equivalent: a measure of workforce size where part-time staff are counted proportionally.	Pupil:teacher ratioⓘNumber of pupils per full-time equivalent teacher. Lower generally indicates smaller class sizes.	Mean salary	Turnover	Vacancy rate	Sickness (days)	Admin FTEⓘFull-time equivalent administrative and clerical staff. Part-time roles counted proportionally.	Admin HCⓘAdministrative staff headcount (all individuals regardless of hours).
2021/22	—	18.9	£40,630	9.3%	0.0%	6.7	—	—
2022/23	—	21.2	£41,721	0.0%	0.0%	4.9	—	—
2023/24	—	19.1	£43,965	0.0%	0.0%	5.5	—	—
2024/25	—	17.2	£45,986	0.0%	0.0%	7.3	—	—
2025/26	10.0	15.3	£53,363	—%	0.0%	—	1.0	2

Attendance

Overall absence

6.1%

National avg: 6.2%

Persistent absence

17.7%

Pupils missing 10%+ of sessions

Authorised absence

4.3%

2024/25

Unauthorised absence

1.8%

2024/25

Absence composition — 2024/25

Authorised 4.3%Unauthorised 1.8%

Absence — year-by-year table

Year	Overall	National avg	vs National	Persistent	Authorised	Unauthorised	Pupils
2013/14	4.7%	4.4%	+0.3pp	11.4%	3.3%	1.4%	176
2014/15	5.6%	4.5%	+1.1pp	13.4%	4.3%	1.3%	179
2015/16	4.4%	4.5%	-0.1pp	12.6%	3.3%	1.0%	182
2016/17	4.7%	4.6%	+0.2pp	13.0%	3.5%	1.2%	185
2017/18	4.0%	4.8%	-0.7pp	9.1%	2.9%	1.1%	186
2018/19	4.5%	4.6%	-0.1pp	11.3%	3.1%	1.5%	185
2020/21	5.7%	4.5%	+1.2pp	15.9%	3.5%	2.2%	176
2021/22	7.3%	7.1%	+0.2pp	24.0%	4.6%	2.7%	175
2022/23	8.7%	6.8%	+1.8pp	30.3%	5.7%	3.0%	178
2023/24	6.7%	6.6%	+0.1pp	21.4%	4.3%	2.3%	173
2024/25	6.1%	6.2%	-0.1pp	17.7%	4.3%	1.8%	164

Ofsted

Latest inspection

24 April 2024 · S5 Inspection

Good

Quality of education

Good

Behaviour & attitudes

Good

Personal development

Good

Leadership & management

Good

Safeguarding:Effective

Inspection history (1 earlier inspection)

Date	School name	Overall	Quality of education	Leadership	Safeguarding
18 Jan 2010	—	Outstanding	—	Outstanding	—