Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £671k in reserve, 5% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Liverpool · 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 | £8.8m | £8.6m | +£201k | £532k | 1,315 |
2019-20 | £8.8m | £8.6m | +£204k | £736k | 1,306 |
2020-21 | £8.6m | £8.6m | +£48k | £784k | 1,362 |
2021-22 | £9.7m | £9.9m | -£205k | £580k | 1,383 |
2022-23 | £10.4m | £10.3m | +£108k | £687k | 1,360 |
2023-24 | £11.1m | £10.9m | +£194k | £882k | 1,338 |
2024-25 | £12.0m | £12.3m | -£290k | £591k | 1,324 |
2025-26 | £12.5m | £12.4m | +£80k | £671k | 1,341 |
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 30% of them. It spends £9,260 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,843.
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 | £5,031 | £4,313 | £4,107–£4,673 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £927 | £949 | £668–£1,167 |
Supply staff | £30 | £111 | £38–£165 |
Admin and clerical | £760 | £370 | £247–£495 |
Premises | £735 | £384 | £305–£618 |
Energy | £183 | £135 | £93–£187 |
Learning resources & ICT | £372 | £442 | £338–£519 |
Bought-in services | £280 | £78 | £59–£217 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Dixons Middleton Academy Large reserves
- Holy Trinity CofE Secondary School, Crawley Tight
- The Priory Ruskin Academy Large reserves
- Stockport School Large reserves
- Batley Girls' High School Large reserves
- Cornwallis Academy Healthy
- The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College Large reserves
- Brockhill Park Performing Arts College Large reserves
- Weavers Academy Large reserves
- St Wilfrid's RC College Large reserves
- West Coventry Academy In deficit
- The Thetford Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £11.4m | £8,499 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £438k | £327 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £476k | £355 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £1.1m | £821 |
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 £280 a pupil, against a typical £78 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £760 a pupil, against a typical £370 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £735 a pupil, against a typical £384 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 Heenan Catholic High School · All Liverpool school finances