Sydenham School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.7m in reserve, 12% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lewisham · Secondary · Community school.
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 | £9.4m | £9.3m | +£88k | £101k | 1,418 |
2019-20 | £9.7m | £9.6m | +£145k | £246k | 1,412 |
2020-21 | £10.2m | £9.8m | +£312k | £558k | 1,455 |
2021-22 | £10.8m | £10.6m | +£158k | £716k | 1,450 |
2022-23 | £11.1m | £11.0m | +£114k | £830k | 1,441 |
2023-24 | £12.1m | £11.9m | +£224k | £1.1m | 1,447 |
2024-25 | £12.8m | £12.5m | +£312k | £1.4m | 1,507 |
2025-26 | £13.6m | £13.3m | +£328k | £1.7m | 1,468 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 secondary schools in 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 £9,047 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,405.
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 | £5,140 | £4,894 | £4,709–£5,195 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £955 | £671 | £505–£921 |
Supply staff | £236 | £146 | £101–£316 |
Admin and clerical | £604 | £506 | £408–£625 |
Premises | £570 | £431 | £377–£605 |
Energy | £146 | £139 | £118–£190 |
Learning resources & ICT | £489 | £518 | £428–£572 |
Bought-in services | £359 | £145 | £91–£212 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Lampton Academy Healthy
- Carshalton High School for Girls Large reserves
- Chingford Foundation School Large reserves
- Southgate School In deficit
- The Charter School East Dulwich Healthy
- Swakeleys School for Girls Large reserves
- Ricards Lodge High School In deficit
- Oaks Park High School Large reserves
- William Perkin Church of England High School Tight
- Lift Bexleyheath Large reserves
- Orion Coopers Large reserves
- Queens Park Community School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £13.4m | £9,110 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £242k | £165 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £398k | £271 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £342k | £233 |
Money raised by parents
SYDENHAM SCHOOL PTA (charity 1193294, Registered) raised £8k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £8k | £7k |
2024-09 | £6k | £8k |
2023-09 | £5k | £6k |
2022-09 | £12k | £5k |
2021-09 | £16k | £9k |
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?
- Spending on bought-in services is £359 a pupil, against a typical £145 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 Sydenham School · All Lewisham school finances