The Rowan School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 5 years running; at that rate its £101k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Sheffield · 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 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£121k | £425k | 98 |
2019-20 | £2.1m | £2.1m | +£75k | £500k | 98 |
2020-21 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£93k | £593k | 96 |
2021-22 | £2.3m | £2.5m | -£121k | £472k | 96 |
2022-23 | £2.5m | £2.8m | -£243k | £230k | 99 |
2023-24 | £2.9m | £2.9m | -£8k | £222k | 101 |
2024-25 | £3.2m | £3.3m | -£77k | £145k | 100 |
2025-26 | £3.5m | £3.5m | -£43k | £101k | 96 |
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 33% of them. It spends £36,549 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £30,025.
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 | £15,188 | £11,434 | £9,937–£12,313 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £13,213 | £9,920 | £7,740–£12,547 |
Supply staff | £287 | £646 | £145–£1,267 |
Admin and clerical | £1,607 | £1,247 | £986–£1,543 |
Premises | £1,353 | £1,431 | £1,348–£1,753 |
Energy | £231 | £426 | £319–£623 |
Learning resources & ICT | £540 | £758 | £573–£1,407 |
Bought-in services | £2,739 | £616 | £268–£1,638 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Endeavour Academy Large reserves
- Woolley Wood School Tight
- Foxfields Academy Tight
- Barrs Court School Large reserves
- Springwell School Large reserves
- Fiveways Special School In deficit
- Icknield School Tight
- Brookfield School In deficit
- Archdale School Healthy
- Quest Academy Large reserves
- Adelaide School Large reserves
- Harford Manor School, Norwich Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.4m | £35,448 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.7m | £17,292 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £81k | £844 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £62k | £650 |
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 £2,739 a pupil, against a typical £616 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £15,188 a pupil, against a typical £11,434 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 The Rowan School · All Sheffield school finances