Castle School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £2.1m in reserve, 43% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Walsall · Not applicable · Community 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 | £2.6m | £2.6m | +£66k | £157k | 158 |
2019-20 | £3.0m | £2.9m | +£117k | £274k | 188 |
2020-21 | £3.3m | £3.1m | +£296k | £569k | 187 |
2021-22 | £3.7m | £3.9m | -£167k | £402k | 195 |
2022-23 | £4.0m | £3.9m | +£39k | £441k | 218 |
2023-24 | £4.6m | £4.2m | +£418k | £859k | 225 |
2024-25 | £4.8m | £3.9m | +£833k | £1.7m | 230 |
2025-26 | £4.9m | £4.5m | +£453k | £2.1m | 247 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 special 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 100% of them. It spends £18,149 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,188.
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 | £7,392 | £9,820 | £8,420–£10,815 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £4,534 | £9,713 | £7,557–£11,620 |
Supply staff | £124 | £428 | £136–£1,198 |
Admin and clerical | £612 | £970 | £717–£1,278 |
Premises | £1,720 | £1,296 | £1,020–£1,748 |
Energy | £305 | £314 | £236–£497 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,270 | £741 | £425–£1,039 |
Bought-in services | £1,241 | £463 | £331–£732 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Oakwood School Large reserves
- The Cedars Academy Large reserves
- Beacon Hill School In deficit
- Wilson Stuart School Large reserves
- Ellen Tinkham School In deficit
- Danecourt School Healthy
- Princes School Large reserves
- Watermill School Large reserves
- Newton Bridge Academy Healthy
- Broadfield Specialist School Healthy
- Westfield Arts College Healthy
- Castle School, Cambridge In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.6m | £22,742 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.3m | £9,390 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £142k | £576 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £48k | £194 |
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 £1,241 a pupil, against a typical £463 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,270 a pupil, against a typical £741 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 Castle School · All Walsall school finances