Sherwood Foundation School: school finances
Tight
Holds £230k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Sutton · Not applicable · Foundation special 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 | £3.9m | £4.0m | -£122k | -£47k | 114 |
2019-20 | £4.1m | £4.7m | -£625k | -£671k | 129 |
2020-21 | £5.0m | £4.7m | +£239k | -£433k | 144 |
2021-22 | £5.5m | £5.5m | -£15k | -£448k | 152 |
2022-23 | £6.3m | £6.6m | -£299k | -£747k | 167 |
2023-24 | £7.5m | £8.1m | -£654k | -£1.4m | 180 |
2024-25 | £10.6m | £8.9m | +£1.7m | £301k | 183 |
2025-26 | £10.3m | £10.4m | -£71k | £230k | 204 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 special 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 27% of them. It spends £50,788 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £35,830.
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 | £14,624 | £12,606 | £11,334–£13,711 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £15,591 | £12,716 | £10,499–£16,407 |
Supply staff | £1,036 | £1,954 | £565–£3,815 |
Admin and clerical | £3,305 | £1,465 | £962–£2,045 |
Premises | £2,467 | £1,660 | £1,290–£2,221 |
Energy | £840 | £432 | £297–£708 |
Learning resources & ICT | £530 | £725 | £535–£1,323 |
Bought-in services | £10,014 | £818 | £258–£3,948 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Woodside Academy Large reserves
- Oak Lodge School Large reserves
- Shenstone School Tight
- Manor School Large reserves
- Riverside Bridge School Healthy
- Corbets Tey School Healthy
- Dysart School Large reserves
- Watergate School Heading for deficit
- Hedgewood School Large reserves
- Clarendon School Large reserves
- St Philip's School Large reserves
- Linden Lodge School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £10.2m | £49,829 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £7.2m | £35,370 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £55k | £272 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £124k | £608 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on bought-in services is £10,014 a pupil, against a typical £818 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £3,305 a pupil, against a typical £1,465 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £840 a pupil, against a typical £432 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,467 a pupil, against a typical £1,660 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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