Leighton Middle School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £450k in reserve, 11% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Central Bedfordshire · Middle deemed secondary · Community 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 | £2.5m | +£83k | £294k | 556 |
2019-20 | £2.9m | £2.8m | +£69k | £363k | 585 |
2020-21 | £3.1m | £3.0m | +£126k | £489k | 579 |
2021-22 | £3.2m | £3.3m | -£92k | £398k | 597 |
2022-23 | £3.5m | £3.6m | -£20k | £378k | 598 |
2023-24 | £3.8m | £3.8m | +£35k | £413k | 595 |
2024-25 | £4.0m | £4.0m | -£8k | £406k | 600 |
2025-26 | £4.1m | £4.0m | +£44k | £450k | 597 |
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 77% of them. It spends £6,725 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,869.
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 | £3,949 | £3,935 | £3,675–£4,346 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £908 | £645 | £543–£898 |
Supply staff | £32 | £120 | £77–£190 |
Admin and clerical | £451 | £389 | £264–£513 |
Premises | £469 | £347 | £280–£455 |
Energy | £107 | £109 | £88–£157 |
Learning resources & ICT | £223 | £462 | £366–£613 |
Bought-in services | £147 | £88 | £53–£144 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Francis Xavier School - a Joint Catholic and Church of England Voluntary Academy Large reserves
- Pioneer Secondary Academy Large reserves
- Langtree School Large reserves
- Trevelyan Middle School Large reserves
- Bowland High Large reserves
- Morpeth Newminster Middle School Large reserves
- The High School Leckhampton Tight
- Bridgnorth Endowed School In deficit
- Aston Fields Middle School In deficit
- Holyport College Large reserves
- Sexey's School In deficit
- Hexham Middle School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.9m | £6,564 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £234k | £391 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £116k | £195 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £141k | £236 |
Money raised by parents
LEIGHTON MIDDLE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (charity 1090651, Registered) raised £0 in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £0 | £0 |
2024-08 | £0 | £0 |
2023-08 | £253 | £4k |
2022-08 | £2k | £3k |
2021-08 | £1k | £2k |
Matched to this school by name and postcode from the Charity Commission register. Parent associations' money isn't in the school's accounts above.
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?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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 Leighton Middle School · All Central Bedfordshire school finances