Forest Hill School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.8m in reserve, 16% 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 | £9.9m | £9.6m | +£292k | -£4k | 1,251 |
2019-20 | £9.7m | £9.4m | +£287k | £583k | 1,214 |
2020-21 | £9.7m | £9.1m | +£554k | £1.1m | 1,188 |
2021-22 | £9.7m | £9.3m | +£396k | £1.5m | 1,121 |
2022-23 | £9.7m | £10.0m | -£322k | £1.2m | 1,094 |
2023-24 | £10.2m | £9.8m | +£420k | £1.6m | 1,095 |
2024-25 | £10.9m | £10.6m | +£207k | £1.8m | 1,072 |
2025-26 | £11.5m | £11.5m | -£3k | £1.8m | 1,081 |
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 83% of them. It spends £10,653 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,385.
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 | £5,141 | £5,131 | £4,803–£5,363 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £822 | £730 | £357–£941 |
Supply staff | £300 | £124 | £56–£208 |
Admin and clerical | £712 | £572 | £408–£673 |
Premises | £1,355 | £460 | £363–£595 |
Energy | £305 | £153 | £134–£200 |
Learning resources & ICT | £751 | £452 | £361–£630 |
Bought-in services | £435 | £162 | £98–£296 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Harris Girls Academy Bromley Large reserves
- Heathcote School & Science College Tight
- Leigh Academy Blackheath Large reserves
- Isleworth and Syon School for Boys Large reserves
- Leytonstone School Large reserves
- Ada Lovelace Church of England High School Tight
- The St Marylebone CofE School Heading for deficit
- Emerson Park Academy Large reserves
- Rivers Academy West London In deficit
- Oasis Academy Coulsdon Large reserves
- The Camden School for Girls Large reserves
- Gumley House RC Convent School, FCJ Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £10.9m | £10,056 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £277k | £256 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £285k | £264 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £673k | £622 |
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 14% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on premises is £1,355 a pupil, against a typical £460 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £435 a pupil, against a typical £162 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £300 a pupil, against a typical £124 for similar schools. What's behind that?
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 Forest Hill School · All Lewisham school finances