Foundry College: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £611k in reserve, 20% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Wokingham · Not applicable · Pupil referral unit.
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 | £1.4m | £1.3m | +£113k | £501k | 43 |
2019-20 | £1.5m | £1.5m | -£59k | £441k | 56 |
2020-21 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£70k | £512k | 34 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.7m | -£125k | £387k | 36 |
2022-23 | £2.1m | £1.9m | +£165k | £552k | 43 |
2023-24 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£116k | £668k | 38 |
2024-25 | £2.4m | £2.7m | -£238k | £430k | 55 |
2025-26 | £3.0m | £2.9m | +£181k | £611k | 49 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 alternative-provision 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 57% of them. It spends £58,336 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £34,050.
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 | £22,899 | £15,362 | £13,266–£21,666 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £18,447 | £5,838 | £3,706–£8,401 |
Supply staff | £2,964 | £588 | £49–£1,451 |
Admin and clerical | £2,953 | £2,249 | £1,685–£3,150 |
Premises | £559 | £1,526 | £941–£2,202 |
Energy | £388 | £390 | £276–£594 |
Learning resources & ICT | £870 | £1,597 | £1,221–£3,129 |
Bought-in services | £5,726 | £684 | £158–£1,337 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- OA - Suffolk Large reserves
- North Herts Education Support Centre Large reserves
- Inspired Pathways Tight
- Burton PRU Large reserves
- Christchurch Learning Centre In deficit
- Links Hatfield Academy Large reserves
- Kassia Academy and Support Services Healthy
- Dacorum Education Support Centre In deficit
- Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases Large reserves
- Tor School Large reserves
- Ethos College Large reserves
- Kettlebrook Short Stay School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.8m | £57,434 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.5m | £51,857 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £8k | £171 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £225k | £4,588 |
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 £5,726 a pupil, against a typical £684 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £2,964 a pupil, against a typical £588 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £18,447 a pupil, against a typical £5,838 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.
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