Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £166k reserve runs out in about 3 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Birmingham · Secondary · Voluntary aided 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 | £4.2m | £4.2m | +£34k | £84k | 622 |
2019-20 | £4.8m | £4.6m | +£167k | £252k | 652 |
2020-21 | £4.8m | £4.9m | -£87k | £165k | 691 |
2021-22 | £5.4m | £5.4m | +£84k | £249k | 724 |
2022-23 | £6.1m | £6.0m | +£116k | £365k | 759 |
2023-24 | £6.8m | £6.7m | +£54k | £419k | 776 |
2024-25 | £7.1m | £7.3m | -£191k | £228k | 778 |
2025-26 | £7.5m | £7.5m | -£62k | £166k | 796 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 secondary 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 20% of them. It spends £9,477 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,541.
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 | £5,226 | £4,582 | £4,181–£5,224 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,072 | £1,130 | £874–£1,308 |
Supply staff | £31 | £184 | £78–£275 |
Admin and clerical | £365 | £435 | £358–£514 |
Premises | £723 | £500 | £394–£609 |
Energy | £156 | £170 | £120–£212 |
Learning resources & ICT | £753 | £450 | £406–£569 |
Bought-in services | £305 | £86 | £34–£167 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Prenton High School for Girls Large reserves
- Sutton Community Academy Tight
- Newsome Academy Healthy
- Shirebrook Academy Large reserves
- Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School Large reserves
- Mulberry Academy Hastings Tight
- David Nieper Academy Large reserves
- Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy Tight
- St Anne's Church of England Academy Large reserves
- The Laurel Academy Heading for deficit
- Melior Community Academy Large reserves
- The St Lawrence Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £7.1m | £8,970 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £111k | £140 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £447k | £562 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £342k | £430 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on bought-in services is £305 a pupil, against a typical £86 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £753 a pupil, against a typical £450 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £723 a pupil, against a typical £500 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 Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School · All Birmingham school finances